Gemfields announces the publication of a new book exploring real-life gemstone adventures across Africa over the last 60 years
No Stone Unturned: The Hunt for African Gems takes readers on a thrilling rollercoaster ride with 24 adventure stories based on true events spanning the last 60 years. These tales, recounted by captivating personalities from the gem trade to author Richa Goyal Sikri, capture the fast-paced and dramatic nature of the business, as well as historical moments related to notable gem deposits in Africa. Each story brings to life the exhilarating highs and perilous lows of the trade, offering an insightful look into the vibrant journey of coloured gemstones from mine to market.
“The spirit of adventure deep-rooted in the coloured gemstone industry is rarely captured, and the wonderful characters that make this industry so colourful too often take their stories to the grave,” remarks Gemfields’ CEO Sean Gilbertson. “Gemfields commissioned this book in 2020 to capture some of these stories and to honour legendary individuals from the industry and tell their tales of courage, luck, energy, passion and expertise. Richa has diligently captured countless hours of stories and injected her energetic writing style to create a first-of-a-kind work that inspires and intrigues readers as they accompany marvellous personalities on journeys through the world of coloured gemstones.”
Richa Goyal Sikri has a bachelor’s degree in commerce and a master’s degree in business administration. She has completed several courses with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), including ‘Colored Stone Grading’ and ‘Gem Identification’. She spent the first 20 years of her career in various leadership positions within the travel and tourism industry working with clients across Asia, Africa and other international markets. In 2014, as a connoisseur of gems and jewellery, she began curating educational visits to mines and gem-cutting centres globally for groups of aficionados seeking to better understand the journey of a gem from mine to market. Based on her experiences, Richa debuted her unique storytelling style on Instagram in 2017, garnering widespread interest and engagement from the press and industry stakeholders.
Since 2018, Richa has pursued the second chapter in her career in the gem and jewellery sector, delivering talks, projects, digital storytelling campaigns and articles for many notable organisations, including the Art Science Museum in Singapore, renowned jewellery companies like Buccellati and Fabergé, publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Robb Report, India Today and Vogue and prestigious industry bodies worldwide.
Richa lives with her husband and son in Singapore and experiences FOMO every time someone calls her from a gemstone mine. No Stone Unturned is her first book, published by Austin Macauley Publishers, and is available on austinmacauley.com, online retail platforms like Amazon and all major booksellers.