The auction which concluded the Gemfields ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ exhibition churned a staggering total of US$750,000 with US$150,000 going to the World Land Trust and Wildlife Trust of India’s conservation projects in India. The event held at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, hosted India’s glitterati and jewellery designed by leading designers dedicated to the cause.

Each jeweller used unique Zambian emeralds in their designs, which formed the ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ collection. Ambassador for the ‘Emeralds for Elephants’ project and Bollywood actress, Madhuri Dixit, spoke at the event, ‘This collaboration demonstrates that everyone has something to give, and I believe that we all need to give something back to the natural world we share with these animals’.

Ian Harebottle, CEO of Gemfields states; ‘We are thrilled with the results of the auction, especially as this is the first time that auction of this kind has been held in India. We are honoured to have worked with so many great partners on this project, from Indian’s top jewellers and retailers”. Other entities who supported the auction in Mumbai were Jaguar Land Rover, Gemological Institute of America (India), Taj Mahal Palace Hotels and Resorts and Sotheby’s who provided the auctioneer.

Other patrons of the World Land Trust include Sir David Attenborough, who offered his support by saying: “It is within our power to protect them or watch them become extinct. Let us choose the first route.” The evet also hosted personalities like the England Cricketing legend and World Land Trust patron, David Gower, the Maharaja of Udaipur - His Highness Arvind Singh Mewar, Princess of Panna and Princess Diya Kumari, bollywood celebrities Tisca Chopra, Sophie Choudhry, Kaykasshan Patel, fashion designer Pria Kataria Puri, renowned writer Shobha De, Shaina NC, Natasha and Adar Poonawala, Aarti Surendranath, Rhea Pillai, Sharmilla Khanna, Madhoo Shah, Laila Lamba, Malvika Sangghvi, Mona Narang, Debbie Hitkari to name a few.

The World Land Trust and Wildlife Trust of India work together to create a network of wildlife corridors so elephants can follow their migratory routes whilst minimising human-Elephant conflict. Gemfields, one of the world’s leading coloured gemstone producers brings ethically mined Zambian emeralds to the market.