Gems with Origin is more than a mine-to-market gemstone wholesaler. Our dream is to dignify the work done in source countries by maximizing the added value in-country, and shine a light on the natural beauty of the gemstones.
The reason why we chose our name, Gems with Origin, is because we are proud that our sapphires are from Madagascar. It was especially important to us to highlight the provenance as we do not believe that certain origins should dictate prices and signify quality.
Our founder Alice was born and raised in Madagascar. After studying at the GIA, and at the University of Cambridge where she met Bedour, they both graduated and embarked on the adventure for a more sustainable industry. While Gems with Origin has been in the works since 2022, we are happy to go live in 2025.
It is important to us to understand every aspect of the supply chain here in Madagascar where Alice is based to oversee the purchase of rough gemstones. We are now operating from Bahrain, where Bedour now oversees logistics and plays an essential part in making this dream come true. This decision was taken to make our gemstones more accessible, in terms of shipping, returns and prices.
Beyond providing responsibly sourced and cut gemstones, we aim to only work with unheated sapphires. All our mine to market sapphires are bought directly at the mine, rough and they are individually selected for their vivid colors and saturation.
Moreover, all the rough gemstones we buy we cut locally in Madagascar. This allows us to keep the added value from the trade in country and benefit communities.
Our work is to emphasize the beauty and shine a positive light on Malagasy origin gemstones. So we pick naturally vivid and saturated rough gemstones, from eye clean to included qualities.
Each gemstone mined and cut in-country supports the livelihood of people who have been paid fairly and are working in safe decent working conditions. Upskilling communities by training people to cut and polish could be a key development strategy for the future. This is why we are committed to continuous initiatives that are socially oriented for the improvement of the quality of life of communities working in the gemstone trade.
By sourcing gemstones following our guidelines, and by cutting them in-country, we are supporting the local economy one gem at a time! Read more about the developmental impacts that the mining industry could have in Madagascar.
OUr sourcing protocol
At Gems With Origin, we prioritize responsible gemstone sourcing by promoting sustainability, protecting human rights, and ensuring supply chain transparency. Our approach is inspired by the CRAFT Code, adheres to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, and aligns with the ethical standards of the Responsible Jewelry Council (RJC). Our practices are adapted to Madagascar's unique context, which we consider in our case a conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
Indeed, according to the OECD, conflict-affected and high-risk areas are regions characterized by armed conflict, widespread violence, or other risks of harm to people. Armed conflict can take various forms, including international or non-international conflicts, wars of liberation, insurgencies, or civil wars. High-risk areas may also include regions facing political instability, repression, weak institutions, insecurity, the collapse of civil infrastructure, or widespread violence. These areas often experience severe human rights abuses and violations of national or international law.
In addition to these criteria, we also consider factors such as high corruption rates, predatory behaviors, and a lack of government involvement or formalization in determining high-risk areas.
We classify Madagascar as a high-risk area based on both the OECD’s criteria and our own standards. This ensures our sourcing practices are rooted in accountability and respect for the communities and environments connected to our gemstones.
Furthermore, our approach is based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aim to maximize our impact in every area we source from.
Our protocol is based on the desire to maximize the added value locally and to uplift the communities. We believe that the path to do so is via education, and especially through the development of the industries supporting mining. Further than responsible sourcing, we want to responsibly cut, keeping our supply chain in-country is our contribution to the beneficiation of the colored gemstone industry for the local communities.