A special collection of jewellery created by a handful of select designers in India for the ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ initiative, will be put up for auction at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai on October 14, 2011 by Sotheby’s. This will be the grand finale close of the ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ initiative in India this year. A percentage of profits from each jewel will go towards the World Land Trust’s ‘Indian Elephant Corridor’ project.

The initiative – ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ is a dynamic project designed to create awareness and raise vital funds for the protection of the critically endangered Asian Elephant. India is home to 60 percent of the world’s Asian Elephant population, making their survival in India critical to the survival of the whole species. This initiative is being supported by ethical mining company Gemfields, The World Land Trust & Wildlife Trust of India, Land Rover and the Gemological Institute of America (GIA India), who have collaborated with 10 world-class Indian jewellers to create a bespoke Zambian Emerald Jewellery Collection for raising funds and awareness. The collections are inspired by the elephants themselves and the corridors that are home to an abundant biodiversity of flora and fauna. Of the pieces created by designers – 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 highlight is a Ganesha sculpture with a 638 carat Gemfields Zambian emerald created by renowned artist, Arzan Khambatta. Other pieces include - by Narayan Jewellers - A Bracelet created with Zambian Emeralds of 53.46 Carats, Diamonds of 58.92 Carats set in 18k White Gold; a ring made in 18k White Gold with 12.03 Carats of Zambian Emeralds and 11.88 Carats of diamonds; by Nirav Modi –a Brooch made in 18k White Gold with 14.39 Carats of Zambian Emeralds and 28.8 Carats of diamond; by Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers – a set of Necklace and Earrings in 18k Yellow Gold set with Zambian Emeralds of 146.48 Carats and Diamonds of 21.87 Carats; by Sawansukha Jewellers –Necklace and Earrings made in 22k and 18k Yellow Gold with Zambian Emeralds of 347.35 Carats and Diamonds of 29.19 Carats.

The collection is currently touring across India to each of the designers’ boutiques and will finally arrive at the Taj for the auction on October 14.

Bollywood Actress Madhuri Dixit has joined hands and become the Indian Brand Ambassador for ‘Emeralds For Elephants’ 2011. Also, this is Sotheby’s first ever jewellery auction in India.