The Museum of Gems & Jewellery – A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Cape Town
Tucked within the historic home of Prins & Prins Diamonds in Cape Town’s city centre lies a truly captivating discovery: the Museum of Gems & Jewellery. Set in the beautifully restored 18th-century Huguenot House, this intimate museum invites visitors on a journey that spans billions of years, offering a fascinating glimpse
into South Africa’s rich geological and cultural heritage.
The museum is the vision of Dr Petré Prins, founder of Prins & Prins Diamonds — one of Cape Town’s most respected and multi-award-winning family jewellers, established in 1982. Located within the property's original 215-year-old wine cellar, the museum is a rare space where science, art, and history intersect to tell the story of our country’s most precious natural treasures.
Visitors begin their journey deep beneath the Earth’s surface, over three billion years ago, when diamonds were first formed. Exhibits trace these gems’ extraordinary ascent to the surface deep from within the earth's mantle through ancient volcanic pipes, followed by their discovery and dispersion across South Africa’s Atlantic coastline through to the rough coastline of Namibia. From the legendary Cullinan Diamond — the largest diamond ever unearthed — to rare gemstones, the Museum brings the geological wonder of our land to life.
Yet, the museum is more than a tribute to stones. It also illuminates South Africa’s vast mineral wealth, including its gold and platinum deposits, and how these resources have shaped — and been shaped by — the region’s social, economic, and political history.
A highlight for many is the exhibit featuring the oldest known piece of jewellery, dated to 75,000 BC and discovered in the Blombos Cave, just 325 kilometres from Cape Town. This ancient item stands as a powerful testament to humanity’s enduring relationship with personal adornment.
Visitors can also explore the legacy of ancient African kingdoms that once traded gold and other artifacts, and engage with The Function of Jewellery — a thought-provoking exhibit that delves into how jewellery has expressed identity, status, love, belief, and tradition across centuries and cultures.
With its blend of storytelling, science, cultural heritage, and aesthetic beauty — all housed within an authentically Cape Town setting — the Museum of Gems & Jewellery offers an enriching and memorable experience for history lovers, gem enthusiasts, families, and curious travellers alike.
Admission is free, and all are welcome to explore this hidden treasure at the heart of the Mother City.
