antiquesandartireland.com

A collection of bespoke Zambian emerald jewellery is to be auctioned to protect the Asian elephant.  Sotheby’s will conduct the sale on October 14, 2011 at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai.  Sponsors are the World Land Trust and ethical coloured gemstones mining company, Gemfields, together with Jaguar Land Rover and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA India).  Gemfields has picked ten leading jewellers from around India to create a one-of-a-kind piece or set of jewellery, incorporating Zambian emeralds.  The jewellers are Abaran Jewellers (Bangalore), Anmol Jewellers (Mumbai), Gem Palace (Jaipur), Khanna Jewellers (New Delhi), Meena Jewellers(Hyderabad), Narayan Jewellers (Baroda), Nirav Modi (Mumbai), Sawansukha Jewellers (Kolkata), Talwarsons Jewellers (Chandigarh) and Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers (Chennai).

The aim of the charity auction is to create awareness and raise crucial funds for the conservation initiatives of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) for the Asian Elephant in India. Auctioneer Lord Poltimore, deputy chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, said: “Sotheby’s is delighted to be supporting ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ charity auction in Mumbai this coming October, which will generate much-needed funds for the protection of the Asian Elephant. The combination of jewellers and gemstones has resulted in some truly magnificent jewellery pieces of outstanding workmanship, inspired by the very cause they will be sold to benefit. We very much look forward to playing a modest role in raising funds for this worthy cause.”

The sale follows the success of ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ in London in the summer of 2010.