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(TIMES ZM) Zambia’s emerald potential exhibited in US

Zambia’s emerald potential exhibited in US
January 23, 2013
By JUDITH NAMUTOWE -

The potential of Zambian emeralds has been exhibited in the United States by GEMIFIEDS Plc, where a stunning 1,354 carats of the country’s emerald beads were showcased by a local television icon Lara Spencer.

The 11th Gem award hosted by Gemifields Plc, the company that operates Kagem emerald mine in Lufwanyama District on the Copperbelt, was held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City last week.

This is according to a statement made available in Lusaka yesterday.

Gemfields chief executive officer Ian Harebottle, alongside presenter Brooke Shields and ABC’s Good Morning America host and event MC Lara Spencer, who wowed the audience in Gemfields’ multi-strand necklace with 1,354 carats of Zambian emerald beads attended the event.

The event, honoured industry icons, including Stellene Volandes, Style director of Town and Country, who received the organisation’s GEM award for Journalistic excellence and Matthew Runci, former president and chief executive officer of Jewellers of America, who received the GEM award for Lifetime Achievement.

Mr Harebottle said the event demonstrated Gemfields’ commitment to promoting Zambian emeralds to the international jewellery industry at the highest levels.

“It also shows that Zambia’s gemstones are being internationally recognised as the finest in the world.” Mr Harebottle said.

Gemfields Plc is a leading gemstone miner listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.

The company owns 75 per cent of the Kagem mine in Lufwanyama, in partnership with the Zambian Government.

Besides the Kagem emerald mine, Gemfields has a 50 per cent interest in the Kariba Amethyst mine in Zambia.

The company also owns controlling stakes in highly prospective ruby deposits in Mozambique and various licences in Madagascar including ruby, emerald and sapphires deposits.

The GEM awards recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies whose work amplifies the Jewellery information centre’s mission.

Labels: EMERALDS

posted by MrK @ 2:28 PM