Every piece is certified
Every Prins & Prins jewel is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity, detailing its unique characteristics, specifications and a replacement value for Insurance. Where applicable, independent Gemmological Laboratory Reports are also provided. These documents reflect our commitment to transparency, exceptional craftsmanship, and uncompromising quality, a lasting assurance of your jewellery’s authenticity.
Created with Love and Care by award-winning Designers and Goldsmiths
Every piece is designed and finished by hand inside Huguenot House, by our own goldsmiths and GIA gemmologists, above a private museum of gems and jewellery. Forty four years on one corner of Cape Town, trusted by families, collectors and royalty.
From the bench to your hand.
Every commission moves through these five stages.
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The Stone
The gems are graded against international GIA standards and the quality of the metal to be used is verified by sophisticated XRF analyses.
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The Drawing
Ideas are sketched by hand, 3-D images created by computer, discussed and refined with the client before any metal is melted.
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The Bench
The item is made at the goldsmith’s bench, set and polished by experts, with strict control over quality at each stage of production.
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Final Quality Assessment
Final quality assessment is made by jewellery experts, the required paperwork and certification prepared and the item packed in a quality Prins & Prins jewellery box.
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The Viewing
The client is invited for viewing, a photo or video is taken of a smiling couple, and a bottle of “Kaapse Vonkel” may be popped.
Three pieces you may be drawn to.
Answers to questions often asked.
The questions our clients ask most, answered plainly.
Do I need an appointment?
You are welcome during our opening hours, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday 09:00 to 13:00, closed Sundays and public holidays. For a private experience we recommend booking a viewing. Book a private viewing.
Where are you located?
In Huguenot House, at 66 Loop Street, on the corner of Hout and Loop Streets, Cape Town City Centre. We have been trading from this building, which we own, since 1993.
Where can I park?
Drive up or down Buitengracht Street and park on Heritage Square, then walk two blocks down to the corner of Loop and Hout Street. Or park at the Strand Street Parkade about 200 metres from us.
Do you offer tours?
Yes, and they are free: an educational talk on how diamonds are mined, graded and priced; a cultural tour of historic Huguenot House; and a museum and goldsmiths tour where you can watch our craftsmen at work. NB. A multi-language audio guide of the museum can be downloaded on your cell phone.
Why buy from Prins & Prins rather than a chain or a brand?
We are an independent, family house that has controlled the entire process since 1982, from sourcing and gem grading to design and goldsmithing, all under one roof in a building we own. You deal directly with the people who source and make your piece, with GIA gemmologists on the bench and forty four years of reputation behind every sale.
Can I buy remotely, or see a piece before I decide?
Yes. We will send detailed images and full grading information, talk you through a piece by phone or video, and ship it fully insured. Many of our international clients buy this way, and you are always welcome to view in person by appointment first.
Can international visitors claim the VAT back?
Yes. All purchases include 15% Value Added Tax, which is refundable to international travellers on non-South African passports when claimed on departure from South Africa. We assist every international client with the instructions and advice to reclaim it.
Do you offer gift wrapping or gift vouchers?
Yes, we offer both gift wrapping and gift vouchers. And if you would like to arrange a surprise for a loved one in-store, we will gladly help you plan it.
Is my personal information safe?
Yes. Online payments are encrypted through a secure gateway and card details are never stored. We handle your information in line with South Africa's POPIA. Read our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Are your diamonds natural?
Yes, we trade in natural diamonds and gemstones only. We never keep synthetic or lab-grown stones on the premises, so there is no possibility of natural and lab-grown being mixed.
Do you sell lab-grown diamonds?
Of Course Not. Our entire house is built on natural diamonds and gemstones, and that is all we hold and sell.
Do you sell tanzanite and coloured gemstones?
Yes. Alongside natural diamonds we are well known for our tanzanite, and we work with sapphire, emerald, ruby and a wide range of fine coloured gemstones, loose or set.
Do you sell loose diamonds?
Yes. You are welcome to choose a loose, certified diamond and have us design a setting around it, or simply acquire the stone on its own.
Are your diamonds conflict-free and ethically sourced?
Yes. We fully support the Kimberley Process, and every valuation certificate we issue guarantees our diamonds are conflict-free and our precious metals are sourced from responsible suppliers.
How do I choose a diamond, and what are the 4Cs?
Our consultants will guide you through cut, colour, clarity and carat, and help you balance them to your taste and budget. You are welcome to compare stones in person in our Gem Laboratory.
Do pieces come with certificates?
Diamonds and coloured gemstones are accompanied by a grading report from an independent laboratory or our in-house gemmologist, and all jewellery includes a valuation certificate for insurance.
Can you grade or certify diamonds I already own?
Yes. Our in-house Gemmological Laboratory, run by GIA Graduate Gemmologists, will identify, grade and value your diamonds and gemstones and issue certificates.
I am buying an engagement ring and do not know where to start.
Begin with a relaxed consultation. We will guide you on diamonds, styles and budget, and can work entirely in confidence for a surprise proposal. If you are unsure of the finger size, we offer one complimentary resizing within three months of purchase.
Can your team design a custom piece for me?
Yes. Bespoke commissions are the heart of what we do, designed and made by hand in our Aurum Art Atelier, and every piece passes our strict internal quality control.
What is the advantage of an in-house team?
Everything happens under one roof, from sourcing and grading to design and the final setting, so quality, confidentiality and craftsmanship are controlled at every step.
Can you work with my own materials, heirloom stones or old gold?
Absolutely. We can remodel an heirloom or use your own gold and diamonds to create something entirely new. If your gold is of a strange alloy, we will credit you for the value of the gold.
How long does the custom design process take?
Most commissions take around two to three weeks, depending on complexity and stone sourcing. We give you a clear timeline at your consultation.
Can I request changes during the design process?
Yes. You approve the design at each stage and we refine it until it is exactly right, before any metal is cut.
Is there a minimum budget for bespoke commissions?
There is no fixed minimum. We work across a wide range of budgets and will advise honestly on what is achievable for yours.
Do you provide insurance valuations?
Yes. A professional valuation ensures correct replacement in the event of loss. Remember, it is your right to have lost jewellery replaced by a jeweller of your choice, not from a catalogue of mass-produced items.
Do you re-size, repair or restore jewellery, and restring pearls?
Yes. Our experienced goldsmiths handle re-sizing, claw re-tipping, stone replacement, laser welding and the full restoration of antique and inherited pieces. We advise that regularly worn pearls are restrung every one to two years.
Can you repair or value jewellery I did not buy from you?
Yes. Our goldsmiths repair, restore and re-size jewellery regardless of where it was made, and our gemmologists can value pieces you already own for insurance.
Do you buy jewellery or offer trade-in?
Yes. We are one of the few jewellers with a Second-Hand Permit to buy diamonds and precious-metal jewellery from the public. We also offer a brokerage service and accept trade-ins towards a new piece.
Which payment methods do you accept?
American Express, Visa and Mastercard, as well as EFT and wire transfers. Online payments are encrypted via a secure gateway and card details are never stored after purchase.
Do you deliver, and can you ship internationally?
Yes. Fully insured hand-to-hand next-day delivery within South Africa, and secure insured courier worldwide with full customs documentation.
Can I return or exchange a piece?
Bought in store, we generally accept a change of mind return within 30 days as a matter of goodwill, in original unaltered condition, with the invoice and any grading or valuation documents. Bought through this website, ECTA gives you 7 days from delivery to cancel without reason, which does not apply to bespoke, engraved or specially made pieces. We may also allow an exchange within 12 months for a piece of equal or greater value, credited at the market related value of your piece at the time of the exchange rather than the price you paid. See our full Policies, Guarantees and Warranty.
What guarantees do I receive?
Complimentary cleaning, stone tightening, prong inspection and polishing for the lifetime of your piece, excluding rhodium plating. A free update of your insurance valuation for five years, the option to upgrade or exchange your diamonds in future, and a brochure on how to care for your jewellery.
Is there a warranty on your jewellery?
Yes, a six month limited manufacturer's warranty covering qualifying defects in materials and craftsmanship. For the lifetime of your piece you are also welcome to complimentary ultrasonic cleaning, stone tightening, prong inspection and polishing, excluding rhodium plating. Full detail is in our Policies, Guarantees and Warranty.
How do I care for my jewellery?
We supply a care brochure with every purchase, and you are always welcome to bring your piece in for professional cleaning.
Do you train goldsmiths?
Yes. Since 2005, we offer two-year internships to Jewellery Manufacturing graduates from Stellenbosch University and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. We are a registered MQA training provider, and Dr Prins mentors each intern personally.
Has Prins & Prins won awards?
Our designers and goldsmiths have competed since 1994 in PlatAfrica, regarded as the Oscars of the South African jewellery industry, and in the De Beers Shining Light Awards. The house record stands at twelve PlatAfrica awards and three De Beers awards, from thirty one designs entered and nineteen placed results. The most recent is Vuyani Gumede's First Prize in the Student category at PlatAfrica 2024. Every piece is shown on our Awards and Press page.
Do you publish a newsletter or books?
Dr Petré Prins is the author of three industry handbooks, and our newsletter, The Diamond Bulletin, is now in its 46th year of publication. He founded it in 1980 while general manager of Monex Diamonds, and carried it on after buying the company and renaming it Prins and Prins in 1982. It is probably the oldest newsletter of its kind in the South African diamond industry. To subscribe, contact consultants@prinsandprins.com.