Blessed with Bountiful Bling

Bling will always be buzzing, and South Africa has plenty of it. Gold and diamonds are some of the world's most precious natural resources, and they are bountiful in South Africa. A seam of gold found in the Witwatersrand ridge in Gauteng triggered a huge gold rush at the turn of the 19th century, and to this day South Africa is a world leader in gold mining. By then diamonds had already been discovered in Kimberley, and later in 1905 in Cullinan near Pretoria, where the world's largest diamond was found.

Best Jewellery Design

Egoli, as Johannesburg is affectionately known, loosely translates as 'City of Gold', and over 60% of the gold mined here each year is consumed in the gold jewellery sector. AngloGold Ashanti is the primary supporter of the gold jewellery market, running several projects designed to increase gold's desirability and the demand for it. In both South Africa and Brazil, AngloGold Ashanti has staged gold jewellery design competitions, including the world's largest gold jewellery design competition, AuDITIONS. It also has a 25% investment in South Africa's largest gold jewellery manufacturer, Oroafrica.

Preserving Gold Art

At the Gold of Africa Museum thousands of years of legend, ritual and craftsmanship are displayed in the world's most comprehensive collection of artefacts from the gold-rich kingdoms of Africa. The museum was established by AngloGold Ashanti to help preserve the artistry of African goldsmithing and inspire modern gold jewellery design. Set in one of the oldest colonial houses in South Africa, this beautifully restored landmark houses temporary exhibitions, a museum shop and wine cellar, a coffee shop and garden courtyard, as well as a state-of-the-art goldsmith's workshop.

Carats for Character

Gold jewellery never goes out of style, and for good reason, because gold is as wearer-friendly as it is beautiful. Pure gold doesn't react with other elements to create tarnish (a metal stain on the skin). When it comes to purchasing quality gold jewellery, it is important to understand the carat classification, the system used to describe the percentage of pure gold a piece contains. The higher the carat number, the higher the percentage of gold in the piece. Carats range in denominations from 24K, which is 100% gold, to 10K,which is approximately 41% gold.

Eternal Rush

South Africa's diamond heritage stems from a pretty little pebble picked up on the bank of the Orange River in 1867, not far from Hopetown, south of Kimberley in the northern Cape. Two years later a Griqua shepherd found the stone – later named 'Star of Africa' - that would set off the diamond rush that transformed South Africa from a struggling agricultural state to a leading industrial nation. Synonymous with diamonds is the word “forever”, which is why most people - especially couples - choose them as a symbol of their affection andeternal love.

Buying Diamonds

Diamonds are said to be a girl's best friend, but you need to be careful when you buy them. There are many ways to make a flawed or cheap diamond look better, and remember, the biggest stones aren’t always the best. When you are shopping for a diamond, ask to see a copy of its certificate, as this is your only guarantee of the quality and value of that diamond, and be mindful ofthe 4 C's:

Carat weight – a diamond's carat is the actual weight of the diamond, not the size. One carat is equal to 200 milligrams, and one ounce contains 142 carats. It is important to note that the weight of a diamond does not necessarily determine its diameter size.
Clarity – the fewer irregularities or imperfections, the more valuable the diamond is.
Colour - colourless diamonds are the most valuable. However, diamonds with colour are popular for non-proposal gifts. Diamond colours range from D (colourless) to Z.
Cut (not shape) - cut is what gives a diamond its brilliance and determines the number of facets in it. The "round brilliant" cut is the most popular diamond cut.