Experiences at The Diamond Works Institute
There are many exciting experiences behind the sparkle at Diamonds Works Institute. Arrive solo, as a family, with your fiancé, with friends, in a tour group – whatever your company style – and explore the history of diamonds and tanzanite, their legends, myths, and celebrity owners.
Watch these gems being cut and fine jewellery being made in our artisan workshop just metres in front of your nose and sample South Africa’s famous wine and chocolate from the heart of Africa, where the cocoa beans come from the same earth as tanzanite. Step onto the red carpet or back in time into the depths of the Kimberley Mine.
You are welcome to book or simply walk in and explore at your leisure or with a Diamond Works’ guide. We’ll be waiting to welcome you.
Our Signature Tanzanite and Diamond Tour
Free tour in Cape Town
Start with a glass of South African bubbly or a creamy cappuccino while your guide gets a sense of what fascinates you most. They will then tweak the tour to your interests, whether it’s tanzanite or diamond history, celebrity diamonds, the more technical aspects, or a combination of interests.
Usually, we start with the history exhibit, which houses real pieces from Kimberley’s diamond rush from the 19th and 20th centuries. Your guide will tell you the stories behind the miners’ belongings, original scales that weighed rough diamonds, and a life-size replica of the Cullinan Diamond that forever changed South Africa’s diamond story. You can also explore the Kimberley Mine yourself with the help of virtual reality (read more about our VR experience below).
We then move on to our artisan workshop, where you can peer through glass screens into working studios, watching our diamond cutters transform rough stones into brilliant gems and our master resident goldsmiths creating custom jewellery pieces.
Finally, the tour takes you to the bling, with the exhibits about royal, celebrity, and iconic diamonds and tanzanite and, of course, our glittering jewellery collections themselves.
The showroom holds everything from black diamonds to fancy yellow diamonds and tanzanite – a gem found only in a single 4km strip of Tanzanian earth. Your guide might share how this extraordinary stone baffled gemologists when first discovered in 1967 or tell tales of historic diamonds that changed hands between royalty and Hollywood stars.
Virtual Reality Experience of the Kimberley Mine
Free activity in Cape Town
Step back to the late 1800s in The Diamond Works Institute’s virtual reality ‘time machine’. Inside an intriguing geometric structure on the showroom floor, slip on a VR headset and find yourself in the depths of the Kimberley Mine, South Africa, during the diamond rush. A British miner will appear before you, sharing tales of diamond fever while you explore his personal belongings and hunt for a diamond of your own! The five-minute journey brings the diamond rush to life in a way history books never could.
Augmented Reality Experience with the Elizabeth Taylor Diamond Necklace
Free Activity in Cape Town
Ever wondered what it must feel like to be a diamond-donned Hollywood starlet? Our special augmented reality photo booth allows you to see yourself on the red carpet wearing the Taylor-Burton Diamond in Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary necklace. For extra sparkle, grab one of the costume tiaras hanging outside the booth or take a few dazzling selfies. You can also download a photo of your red-carpet alter-ego onto your phone. It’s quite the rush!
Deetlefs White Pinotage and Afrikoa Chocolate Tastings
Free activity in Cape Town
Gems, chocolate, and wine are all connected. Like the tanzanite formed in Tanzania’s ancient earth and the diamonds shaped by millions of years of African geological forces, vineyards, grapes, and cocoa beans are pure expressions of African terrain. Each taste – whether it’s a white Pinotage born from South African soil or chocolate from Tanzanian cocoa beans – carries the signature of the continent’s unique climate and ancient volcanic history.
At The Diamond Works Institute in Cape Town, you can experience Africa’s gems, wine, and chocolate with a combined tour and tasting. Sip your way through three shades of Pinotage, South Africa’s famed varietal, from Deetlefs, an esteemed wine estate dating back to 1822 in the Western Cape.
You can also choose an Afrikoa chocolate tasting – this African-born brand uses cocoa beans from Tanzania, making it the perfect accompaniment to viewing and learning about the violet-blue gems found in the same earth as cacao trees – tanzanite.
Custom Jewellery Design Experience
Free Activity in Cape Town
Work directly with Russell and Nathan Lavigre, our third-generation master goldsmiths, to design your own jewellery piece. This father-son team brings decades of expertise to your custom design – Russell has spent 28 years perfecting his craft, while Nathan grew up in the workshop, developing an innate understanding of how metals and gems work together. They’ll guide you through what’s possible, knowing instantly which stone shapes will work best with your chosen design. Each custom piece they create carries a bit of South African soul, combining local metals, African gems, and generations of craftsmanship.
FAQs
Are the tours family-friendly?
Yes, the tours are accessible to all ages (apart from the Deetlefs wine tasting). Tweens, teens, and young adults will especially enjoy the AR photo booth for dazzling selfies, and there is a safe relaxation corner with activity books, high-speed Wi-Fi, sofas, coffee, chocolate, and a laptop counter.
Do the experiences appeal to adults or kids?
The experiences are interesting for both kids and adults and are tweaked according to the audience. The exhibits are interactive, with elements like AR and VR experiences that appeal to younger ages and elements like fascinating information boards for adults.
Do I have to book, or can I just walk in?
You can walk in or book if you prefer. For bigger groups, booking is advised. Booking ahead also gives us a chance to better customise your experience.
Are the tours and experiences free?
The Signature Tanzanite and Diamond Tour, AR and VR experiences, and viewing the collections are all free (of all the free activities in Cape Town, these are the most sparkling!) Please enquire about the Deetlefs Wine Tasting and Afrikoa Chocolate Tasting, as the price is dependent on how many people and tastings are involved. Appointments with our master goldsmiths for custom jewellery design are free, and they will provide you with a quote for your pieces.
Do I have to tour the exhibits with a guide, or can I browse at my leisure?
You can browse at your leisure and/or book with one of our knowledgeable guides to show you around – they know all the fascinating stories and have in-depth knowledge about all things diamonds and tanzanite.
How do I book my tour/experience?
You can call 021 425 1970 or email [email protected]
Are you open seven days a week and on public holidays?
We are open every day from 9 am to 7 pm and on public holidays.