A RICH HISTORY
Our founding family, the Gupta Group, have a long and rich history in the gemstone world. The family’s gemstone empire, founded by Hilde Marte's grandfather in-law, Mr.SS Gupta, spanned across the globe, from Africa, to Columbia, Brazil and Kashmir. Hilde Marte carries on the legacy of her husband's family in the gem world, together with her talented partner Tone, herself a goldsmith trained in the United Kingdom.
A RICH HISTORY
Our founding family, the Gupta Group, have a long and rich history in the gemstone world. The family’s gemstone empire, founded by Hilde Marte's grandfather in-law, Mr.SS Gupta, spanned across the globe, from Africa, to Columbia, Brazil and Kashmir. Hilde Marte carries on the legacy of her husband's family in the gem world, together with her talented partner Tone, herself a goldsmith trained in the United Kingdom.
"A tree's beauty lies in its branches, leaves and fruits..
but its strength lies in its roots"
Our founding family, the Gupta Group, have a long and rich history in the gemstone world. The family’s gemstone empire, founded by Hilde Marte's grandfather in-law, Mr.SS Gupta, spanned across the globe, from Africa, to Columbia, Brazil and Kashmir. Hilde Marte carries on the legacy of her husband's family in the gem world, together with her talented partner Tone, herself a goldsmith trained in the United Kingdom.
THE STORY BEGINS
JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 1947
Soon after the end of the British colonisation of India, Mr.SS Gupta leaves the magical pink city of Jaipur on adventurous expeditions around the world in search of Emeralds, Rubies and Sapphires.
In the early 1950s the newly liberated Indian continent was throwing up exceptional opportunities in both business and commerce. Mr.SS Gupta, a then young motivated entrepreneur, dreamt of putting his beloved native place - Jaipur, on the international map of fame. His love for gemstones took him on adventurous and dangerous journeys around the world, at a time when global travel was daring, pricey and filled with racism.
Jaipur, 'the Pink City', 1940s
Lusaka, 1954
EARLY EXPLORATIONS
IN SEARCH OF GEMS
Gupta’s adventurous and keen business spirit took him across the world, from Africa to Columbia to Brazil in search of the finest Gemstone mines.
With his determination and his zest for discovery, Gupta's travels took him to mines of southern Africa in search of emeralds, rubies and amythest. Here he was successful in partnering with the local Governments to establish eeme From there, to the countries of Columbia and Brazil in search of the World’s finest Emeralds and to Himalayan regions of Kashmir in search of magnificent Sapphires.
A NAME IN THE GEM AND JEWELLERY BUSINESS
DOUBLE S GUPTA
By the mid 1960s, SS Gupta had established a successful world-wide gemstone empire and put Jaipur on the world gemstone stage, after its Maharajas. It earned him his famous nickname 'Double S' as he still fondly called in the Jaipur.
By now, Gupta was interacting with the world’s largest gemstone and diamond mine owners, Governments, Maharajas and international Jewellers. Double SS had had established a truly astounding gem business by the mid 1960s. The family was also the pioneers in synthetic or Burma diamonds globally, importing stones to India from Switzerland and France. Their pioneering initiates created employment for thousands, helped establish many gem and jewellery business houses, and contributed into making Jaipur one of the largest gemstone polishing centers of the World.
SS Gupta, or 'Double S' facilitated on his return
home on every global success
NOW A GEMSTONE EMPIRE
A GEMSTONE MINING
CONGLOMERATE
By the mid 1970s - 1980s, the family business grew into a gemstone empire, owning Emerald, Ruby and Sapphire mines in Africa, South Africa, Columbia, Brazil and Kashmir
Between 1970-1980s the group's list of gemstone mines around the world grew from Emerald, to Ruby, Sapphire and Amethyst mines. With a global gemstone reach, the group also set up a diamond business out of Singapore. They also expanded their business reach and were one of the founders of the synthetic stone industry in partnership with Swaroski. By the end of the century, National Geographic magazine credited them as the largest emerald gemstone dealers in the world in value as well as volume.
The sorting stations
Gravelotte Emerald Mine, South Africa 1978
ON THE GEM WORLD STAGE
KAGEM EMERALD MINE
The group’s most famous trophy of their many gem assets was the World’s largest Emerald mine - Kagem Mining Ltd in Zambia, Africa.
The group’s most famous trophy was the World’s largest Emerald mine - Kagem Mining Ltd which was a multinational consortium with a Israeli Gemstone corporation & the Zambian government to founded in 1984. After three decades of successful mining and making Kagem the World's most famous Emerald mine, it has today been merged with Gemfields Inc, now listed on the London stock exchange. The Kagem mine will remain a legacy of the groups success in the Gem World.
Kagem Emerald Mine
The Famous Kagem Auctions 1990-2010
SETTING THE NEW GEM TREND
THE GEM AUCTIONS
Between 1990 and 2010,the Gupta Group began the trend of organised coloured gemstone auctions, improving transparency, encouraging ethical mining practices, and professionalising the coloured gem business
With the global business evolving, the Group began the famous trend of organised coloured gemstone auctions in Zambia, London, Singapore and India. This was a big step forward in improving transparency, establishing ethical mining practices, and helping to professionalise the coloured gem world business in all ways. In many ways, they did for the Coloured gemstone world, what the De Beers family had done for Diamonds. With invitations to all large global coloured gemstone traders, the family had truly established the equal and fair opportunity principals of the business.
KEEPING ALIVE A RICH HERITAGE
ARTISIANS OF THE MAHARAJAS
Along with establishing Jaipur as a gemstone centre in the World, the group provided employment for thousands of skilled craftsman, and ensured that this unique knowledge passed down the dynasties, continued to this day.
Rajasthan, which literally translates to the “Land of Kings,” is a state in India most famous for its rich history, its colorful art, culture, and heritage. In a land where several kings, emperors and royals ruled, the dynasties brought with them their skills and knowledge of the arts especially in the gem and jewellery craft. It has always been at the root of the Gupta Group’s philosophy to keep alive these unique skills and rich knowledge passed down from generation to generation. Artisians are both chosen for their skill and passion, and young apprentices trained in these rich methods.
A rich art passed down the generations
Tone, Hilde Marte & Akshat Gupta (SS's Grandson)
CARRYING ON THE LEGACY
MNARA IS BORN
Marrying the Grandson of Mr.SS Gupta, Hilde Marte has access to this global network of the largest gemstone miners in the world, legendary stone cutters, gemstone traders and jewellers with her talented partner Tone, herself a goldsmith trained in london.
The MNARA team is able to utilize their rich family gem network and expertise both in stone buying and jewellery production. They are able to source gemstones directly from the mines at great prices, using the expert family knowledge in buying, and doing away with the many hands that the gems typically travel through before they reach a jeweller. Moreover they are able to often source rare gemstones, that may not make the ordinary market and are exposed to the select few. With her partner, Tone at the helm of production, herself a goldsmith trained in London, the MNARA team’s production is some of the finest in the World, and in many of their high jewellery pieces employs in-house the rich and exquisite craftsmanship of India passed through the generations of Royalty.