Trusted at the Source

Every gem begins long before it reaches a designer’s bench. Through close partnerships with the mines and people behind the material, we follow that journey from discovery at the source to the finished gem. Explore the stories behind the stones we bring to market.

Malawi, SE Africa

Malawi Magenta Garnet

Mine Location: Malawi (single deposit)
Mining Method: Artisanal and small-scale mining using expanding grout (“crackamite”) rather than dynamite. Rough material is uncovered by hand, then washed, sorted, and graded before cutting.

This deposit is the source of the vivid magenta garnets that have quietly captured the attention of designers around the world.

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Read About It On Our Blog

Tanzania, Africa

Tanzanite Mines

Mine Location: Merelani Hills, Tanzania
Coordinates: 3°32'21.0"S 37°00'39.0"E
Mining Method: Hand-dug shafts supported by timber beams; material is brought to the surface and sorted locally before export.

At the base of Mount Kilimanjaro lies the world’s only source of Tanzanite. Within the narrow Merelani Hills, vanadium-rich rock formed crystals that shift between violet and deep blue, a color found nowhere else on earth.

Prima’s relationship with this region runs deep, shaped by years of connection to the people and the place where these stones are found. Our team has spent time in Merelani documenting the landscape, the miners who descend each day into the shafts, and the first moments when rough crystals meet the light.

Every Tanzanite that reaches our vault carries that journey forward.