tours cape town south africa
Experiences at The Diamond Works Institute
There are many exciting experiences behind the sparkle at Diamonds Works Institute. Arrive solo, as a family, with your fiancé, with friends, in a tour group – whatever your company style – and explore the history of diamonds and tanzanite, their legends, myths, and celebrity owners.
Watch these gems being cut and fine jewellery being made in our artisan workshop just metres in front of your nose and sample South Africa’s famous wine and chocolate from the heart of Africa, where the cocoa beans come from the same earth as tanzanite. Step onto the red carpet or back in time into the depths of the Kimberley Mine.
You are welcome to book or simply walk in and explore at your leisure or with a Diamond Works’ guide. We’ll be waiting to welcome you.
Free tour in Cape Town
Start with a glass of South African bubbly or a creamy cappuccino while your guide gets a sense of what fascinates you most. They will then tweak the tour to your interests, whether it’s tanzanite or diamond history, celebrity diamonds, the more technical aspects, or a combination of interests.
Usually, we start with the history exhibit, which houses real pieces from Kimberley’s diamond rush from the 19th and 20th centuries. Your guide will tell you the stories behind the miners’ belongings, original scales that weighed rough diamonds, and a life-size replica of the Cullinan Diamond that forever changed South Africa’s diamond story. You can also explore the Kimberley Mine yourself with the help of virtual reality (read more about our VR experience below).
We then move on to our artisan workshop, where you can peer through glass screens into working studios, watching our diamond cutters transform rough stones into brilliant gems and our master resident goldsmiths creating custom jewellery pieces.
Finally, the tour takes you to the bling, with the exhibits about royal, celebrity, and iconic diamonds and tanzanite and, of course, our glittering jewellery collections themselves.
The showroom holds everything from black diamonds to fancy yellow diamonds and tanzanite – a gem found only in a single 4km strip of Tanzanian earth. Your guide might share how this extraordinary stone baffled gemologists when first discovered in 1967 or tell tales of historic diamonds that changed hands between royalty and Hollywood stars.
FAQs
Are the tours family-friendly?
Yes, the tours are accessible to all ages (apart from the Deetlefs wine tasting). Tweens, teens, and young adults will especially enjoy the AR photo booth for dazzling selfies, and there is a safe relaxation corner with activity books, high-speed Wi-Fi, sofas, coffee, chocolate, and a laptop counter.
Do the experiences appeal to adults or kids?
The experiences are interesting for both kids and adults and are tweaked according to the audience. The exhibits are interactive, with elements like AR and VR experiences that appeal to younger ages and elements like fascinating information boards for adults.
Do I have to book, or can I just walk in?
You can walk in or book if you prefer. For bigger groups, booking is advised. Booking ahead also gives us a chance to better customise your experience.
Are the tours and experiences free?
The Signature Tanzanite and Diamond Tour, AR and VR experiences, and viewing the collections are all free (of all the free activities in Cape Town, these are the most sparkling!) Please enquire about the Deetlefs Wine Tasting and Afrikoa Chocolate Tasting, as the price is dependent on how many people and tastings are involved. Appointments with our master goldsmiths for custom jewellery design are free, and they will provide you with a quote for your pieces.
Do I have to tour the exhibits with a guide, or can I browse at my leisure?
You can browse at your leisure and/or book with one of our knowledgeable guides to show you around – they know all the fascinating stories and have in-depth knowledge about all things diamonds and tanzanite.
How do I book my tour/experience?
You can call 021 425 1970 or email [email protected]
Are you open seven days a week and on public holidays?
We are open every day from 9 am to 7 pm and on public holidays.
