FAQ
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Joanna Hardy is an international fine jewellery specialist, author, broadcaster, and global sapphire expert with over 45 years of experience, known for her work at Sotheby’s and BBC Antiques Roadshow.
Jessica Diamond is a jewellery journalist, editor and stylist with nearly 20 years experience, currently serving as the watch & jewellery director at The Times and The Sunday Times and Conde Nast Traveller.
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This trip offers one thing that money can’t ordinarily buy: access.
You will be hosted by Joanna Hardy and Jessica Diamond, two of the UK’s top jewellery experts.
You will be granted access to a working artisanal sapphire mine, hear Joanna talk about the history of Sri Lanka’s gemstones and have the opportunity to purchase gemstones from some of Sri Lanka’s top gemstone dealers – all vetted by Joanna and Jessica.
Back in the UK you will be able to harness their decades of experience and knowledge to help you get your gemstone set into a piece of jewellery. Their combined knowledge of the contemporary jewellery scene is unmatched, and you will have personal access to it.
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The trip is 5 nights and 6 days. The experience will continue when you arrive back in the UK during the process of getting your gemstone set.
We are currently offering 2 trips:
22nd – 27th April 2026
27th April – 2nd May 2026
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We want to keep the experience small and intimate, and by taking exclusive-use of Malabar Hill hotel we are offering only 12 rooms per trip.
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A 5 night bed and breakfast stay at Malabar Hill hotel, a complimentary 60 minute spa treatment at the hotel, welcome dinner and gemstone talk by Joanna Hardy, private transfers to and from the airport, group tour of the Lunuganga estate and lunch, group tour of a sapphire mine, access to the gemstone buying day and lunch at Trebartha East the Round House, farewell dinner, a cocktail, beer and wine at every meal that’s part of the itinerary, airport transfers and group transfers within the itinerary and a follow-up consultation and advice on creating your bespoke jewel.
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International flights/travel to Sri Lanka, taxes, visa fees, personal medical/travel insurance (which you must have), meals and excursions that are not part of the itinerary, additional non-included drinks, personal items at the hotel (e.g. telephone calls, laundry, etc) and any tips you may wish to leave, the cost of the gemstone, the cost of making the gemstone into a piece of jewellery back in the UK.
Please read our full terms and conditions before booking.
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Yes you will need a visa to travel to Sri Lanka.
Please check here for inoculations.
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Simply get in touch and we will share more information.
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To reserve your space a 50% deposit is required per person payable via bank transfer to Hardy & Diamond Ltd.
100% of the deposit is refundable up to 30 days from the date we confirm your booking.
After 30 days the deposit is non-refundable.
The 50% balance is payable no less than 60 days prior to departure.
Please note the balance is non-refundable.
If you don't pay the balance before or on the due dates of 21st February 2026 for Trip 1 and 26th February 2026 for Trip 2 we will assume you are no longer wishing to attend the trip and may fill your space with another guest.
Please ensure you have proper and adequate travel insurance before you book and that you've read our Terms and Conditions.
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No prior knowledge is needed, Joanna and Jess will be on hand to share their enthusiasm and love of jewellery with the hope and aim that it rubs off on all the guests.
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Joanna will give an insightful talk celebrating Sri Lanka’s sapphire heritage, drawing on her unprecedented expertise as a global sapphire expert.
Guests will visit a sapphire mine where our mine guide and Joanna will share further knowledge about gemstones and mining.
During our gemstone buying day Joanna and Jess will share their knowledge of stones and help you choose a stone that you love.
On the last day in Sri Lanka Joanna and Jess will begin to talk to guests about jewellers that they love who could set your stone and styles that you might like.
In addition, Joanna and Jessica will be with you for the duration of your trip for you to ask them anything gemmological or jewellery related!
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Yes. You will have an exclusive visit to a fully vetted, working artisanal sapphire mine near Ratnapura, Sri Lanka
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There is no pressure to buy gemstones, guests can decide if they wish to purchase a gemstone or not.
We hope that the opportunity and experience will help you to look at gemstones in a different way and that it inspires you to buy one and begin your gemstone journey.
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It will all depend on what the miners have found and what we and the dealers consider to be the best quality offering, but typically sapphires, tourmalines, citrines, spinels, topaz, aquamarine and garnets are all found in Sri Lanka.
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Back in the UK, Joanna and Jess will harness their expertise and relationships to guide you through designing and setting your gemstone into jewellery.
They will help by introducing you to some of the UK’s top jewellers and goldsmiths, to design and set your gemstone based on your taste and budget.
The process is highly personalised, with one-on-one introductions to designers tailored to your taste and budget for an heirloom-worthy result.
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Prices will vary depending on size, colour and quality but to give a rough guide you can expect to pay from £1,500 for a 1 carat blue sapphire.
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It will depend hugely on what you want to do with it and whether you’re adding additional stones, details like engraving or enamel, and the amount of gold required.
As a very approximate starting point for a simple ring setting you can expect to pay from £3,000 to include the design, gold and labour.
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Please do get in touch for any enquiries about future trips, any bespoke Hardy & Diamond Gemstone Journey requests or corporate enquiries.
If you have any further questions, please do get in touch using the form below or email info@hardydiamond.com
