COLOMBO: Founder of Zam Gems, Z A M . Reffai Hajiar passed away peacefully on Saturday morning August 7.
Zam Gems 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.
Marhoom Reffai had been a popular philanthropist who never said No to any charitable activities.
His remains will be moved to Oddamavady burial grounds on Saturday.
