About Zam Gems

Buddhist lore has it that the Lord Buddha sprinkled dew on the mountainside of Sri Pada which then crystallized to form gem deposits, to help the Island and its impoverished inhabitants. The Arab traders that visited the Island used to say the gems found in Sri Lanka were the crystallized tears of repentance cried by the first man, Adam, since many of Sri Lanka’s major gem fields are located close the famed Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada), where Adam is said to have descended from heaven.

ZAM GEMS is synonymous with the very best of gemstones mined in Sri Lanka and is one of the leading exporters of precious stones and jewellery in the country. Zam Gems has enjoyed tremendous success in over 40 years since its incorporation, due to its commitment to sourcing a variety of the finest gemstones Sri Lanka has to offer and combining them with skilled artisan design and workmanship to create exquisite pieces of jewelry. Today, Zam Gems is a proudly recognized Ceylonese brand with a strong customer base from around the world, from gem connoisseurs and jewelry enthusiasts in Japan to China to the United States and Europe.

Zam Gems had very humble beginnings as a sole proprietorship in the 1970’s, when Chairman Z. A. M. Refai (or Zam, as he is known in the industry) started conducting business by visiting the hotel rooms of guests to Sri Lanka, who were interested in seeing and purchasing the famous Ceylonese gemstones they had heard much about. He eventually established himself by opening an outlet called ‘El Dorado’ at the Macan Markar arcade in Galle Face in 1972. This small boutique grew into Zam Gems with the opening of the Head Office showroom in Colombo in 1976. Zam Refai had managed to win over many of the international guests with his fine gemstones as well as his exemplary reputation for honesty and business ethics, building an international network of business contacts and lifelong friends. This reputation in a trade built on the cornerstones of trust, honesty and relationships was instrumental in the rapid rise of Zam Gems.

The success of Zam Gems in the local industry was both phenomenal and unprecedented, as Zam Refai quickly moved from selling gemstones to designing and creating jewelry inlaid with fine Ceylonese gemstones. Historically, Sri Lanka’s fine gemstones were often exported to leading names in the international jewelry industry to be used as raw materials in their jewelry manufacturing processes. Zam Refai had a vision to change this by adding value to the local gem industry by manufacturing and selling his own brand of local Sri Lankan jewelry, seeking to establish Sri Lanka as a source not just for fine gemstones, but also for equally high quality jewelry and workmanship. Soon, his reputation for producing fine jewelry gained him access to a lucrative niche market of foreign visitors and locals looking for high quality Sri Lankan jewelry products. Zam Gems had established itself firmly as the pioneer and leader in the Sri Lankan jewelry industry, opening retail showrooms in all of Colombo’s major five-star hotels.

From the 1970’s up until the early 21^st century, Sri Lanka was embroiled in a bitter Civil War that constantly threatened the economic stability and hindered the arrivals of foreign visitors to Sri Lanka. In such a tough business climate, Zam Refai’s keen eye made him look externally, especially at the strong Japanese market where he had noticed a great demand for fine Ceylon gemstones. Joined in efforts by his effervescent son Ahsan Refai, Zam Gems was taken abroad.

Zam Gems first opened its doors to the people of Tokyo, Japan in 1990, and then pursued a policy of rapid expansion, entering up-market Resorts, Hotels, Luxury Shopping Malls and Duty-Free Airports in Maldives, Malaysia, Qatar, the UAE and China by 2010. This rapid outward expansion tested the mettle of this young Ceylonese brand on the international scene, and provided valuable experiences to the young team.

Following the end of the Civil War, and in the positive boom of the post-war economic climate, Zam Gems has focused on developing its strengths within Sri Lanka. Zam Gems expanded rapidly to cater to the growing demand for Sri Lankan gemstones from the ever-increasing influx of tourists that visit the Paradise Isle. Zam Gems currently has 15+ domestic retail showrooms in up-market luxury hotels and shopping malls, as well as flagship stores in Colombo, Kandy and Galle, and showrooms in the Duty-Free Area of Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri Lanka. The flagship stores in Colombo, Kandy and Galle are equipped with a certified Gem Lab, Gem Lapidary, Jewelry Manufacturing Factory as well as a fascinating educational Gem Museum. Zam Gems ensures that every gem or piece of jewelry sold is backed by proper certification of authenticity and warranty against defects.