Who we are / about us / traceability / how we get our stones / our prices etc.....

We are Gems of East Africa, www.gemsofeastafrica.com, a London, UK-based wholesale and retail, mine direct gemstone dealer, selling facet rough, precision cut stones, and selected rare fine crystals, online through our website. We are a 4th generation gem dealer, buying directly from small-scale artisanal miners at source providing ethically sourced, traceable gemstones at much below wholesale prices to everyone in the gem trade as well as the general public.

Built from DECADES of experience and "ON GROUND" sourcing as well as SOLID and extensive networks with miners.
We are a "TIER 1" SUPPLIER THAT SUPPLIES: THE GENERAL PUBLIC, GEM DEALERS, JEWELLERS, RETAILERS, SMALL/LARGE COLLECTORS, JEWELLERY DESIGNERS, HOBBYISTS, ENTHUSIASTS, ANYONE BUILDING A PERSONAL OR HEIRLOOM GEM COLLECTION, LITERALLY EVERYONE, ANYONE CAN BUY FROM US!!

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A TRADE BUYER TO BUY FROM US AT THESE PRICES.

We solve the problems associated with quality gem sourcing by providing a platform where it is: easy to buy, easy to pay using PayPal/Cards, Fast/Cost Effective FedEx ship or Registered Mail, selected gemstones, mine direct and ethically sourced, we are members of various gem associations too. All stones are perfectly graded, selected gemstones. We have been online since 2002 (20 years).

We add new material every day.

You don't need to go through masses of mine-run material offered through the general internet, looking for good stones, or worry on grading issues and how to how you are going to ship the stones out of Africa, we have already done it for you!

We just upload everything that comes into this website as it comes in.

We work to bespoke orders too and have access to almost all stones coming out of the East African region. We are a 4th generation gem dealer, buying directly from small-scale artisanal miners at source providing ethically sourced, traceable gemstones at much below wholesale prices to everyone.

We sell to the general public as well as to the entire gem community including gemstone dealers, jewelers, designers, wholesalers, re-sellers, retailers, investors as well as personal gem and crystal collectors buying to create or expand their own collections! We have been serving the gem community online since 2002.

We buy directly from miners at the source, by selecting the best stones one by one. Initially, only selling wholesale to the trade, now selling to anyone, all at the same low price as we would sell to a gem dealer or wholesaler from this website.

We buy PRIMARILY from small scale community-based miners whom we’ve known personally over decades and whom we’ve built long term, ‘WIN WIN’ relationships with. All our stones are Ethically Sourced and Traceable.

We select the best, one by one, buying only the best, cleanest, brightest and most visually appealing stones from miner lots and offering them out here on our website.

Having been in the gem trade for so long, we have plenty of experience in buying and perfect grading of rough stones, which is not as easy as it seems. Once graded, we buy stones based on quality and appeal factors in rough. In cut, we put emphasis on the importance of good cutting on a stone and understand how a perfect cut dramatically adds value to the stone.

Unless we state 'native cut', all stones are cut to excellent precision standards with a high polish.

We set the standard in facet rough grading of gemstones.

We are very well known by the miners in East Africa and get to see firsthand, material, as it comes out of the mines and in some cases within hours of it being mined.

We speak local languages fluently and work very well with local miners and understand their needs. We know almost all miners in East Africa and they know us. We have built relationships with them of trust and long-term supply based on respect and trust and in many cases guide them in their mining activities.

Since most are small artisanal, community, or family-based mining activities, many of the nearby villages and communities are involved in the mining and hence share in the profit for their community’s upliftment and well-being.

Sourcing at ground level direct from the miner who pulls it out of the ground, sometimes on his small farm or nearby, gives us unmatched access to a huge variety of stones in all types and all sizes and grades, all coming in from different locations, which we then add on this website.

Literally, you never know what stones come in next, so please subscribe to our email lists for updates as stones are added.

Shipping - Local UK $5 per pack, International tracked and signed $20 per pack, 48 hours to the US and 2-5 days anywhere else: FedEx International PRIORITY shipping at a special rate of ONLY $40 per pack, this will get to you in 48 hours on business days. Choose shipping options on checkout. We love what we do and are passionate about getting the best gemstones to you so you can experience excellence in gemstones and the bliss that comes with it. All photos are as accurate as possible, non-enhanced.

MEMBERS OF: The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) (UK), International Gem Society (IGS)

Payments are via PayPal, Shopify Payments, Bitcoin and other crypto, Bank Transfer, all major Credit Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Buy from us, we would love to do business with you, and have you on board for the long term!