An African Gem Journey
An
African
Gem
Journey
Our name, Lithos Africa, stands as a symbol of our family’s century’s old history in Africa and our passion for Colored Gemstones.
The ancient Greek word for Gems: “Lithos” pays homage to our Greek roots and our expertise in Gemstones and “Africa” represents our home and the source of our unique and beautiful Gems.
We are INVOLVED IN every step
from mine to masterpiece
FROM SOURCE
We take pride in responsibly sourcing our gemstones either from our mines or from small-scale miners. We promote Africa through its gems and its people.
THROUGH OUR LAPIDARY
We cut and polish each gem at our local workshop. We create local employment and skill-transfer for Tanzanians and promote « Made in Africa ».
TO JEWELLERY CREATION
We create our jewellery in collaboration with international designers that are centered around our African gemstones.
OUR HISTORY IN TANZANIA
1940s – A TANZANIAN MINING LEGACY
Emmanuel’s son, Dimitri, carried on his father’s legacy of exploration and mining, as he prospected for minerals in the Pare Mountains and Masai lands, where he led countless safaris (expeditions) in the 1940s and 50s in search for precious minerals.
Dimitri lived a fascinating life, both as an outdoorsman exploring uncharted bush, and as a young idealist, supporting the independence of Tanganyika. Dimitri discovered the world of Gemstones through fellow Greek-Tanzanian miners who were among the first to commercially mine Tanzanite and other precious gemstones in the late 1960s and 70s.
1985 – CREATING LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES
During the years spent working and living with fellow small-scale miners in the bush, Dimitri witnessed the many hardships and challenges they faced. He understood the need to create economic opportunities and access to stable markets. This is why he established one of the country’s first lapidary-workshops in 1985; where he would cut and polish the gemstones he sourced directly from the miners. In the process, he created employment and transfer of skill to young Tanzanians, furthering his mission of adding value locally.
2014 – A NEW CHAPTER
In 2014, Marie and Dimitri’s son, Alexander joined them as a gemmologist to carry on with the family’s values and mission of Lithos Africa. He re-envisioned the brand by growing the lapidary and setting up the atelier, from where he created new collections of jewellery and African Art. These are showcased in the brand’s latest boutiques he designed in a style that captures the essence of Lithos Africa.
1904 – SETTING ROOTS IN EAST-AFRICA
Our family’s history in Tanganyika (currently Tanzania) starts with Emmanuel N. Mantheakis who left his native island of Crete at 18 years of age seeking a better chance in life. In 1904, he reached the shores of Zanzibar before crossing to the continent and settling down in the port town of Tanga.
Emmanuel started working on the construction of the first East-African railway line (the Usambara line) where he would trek on foot from the coast to lake Victoria to recruit labour. He later established several successful sisal estates on the foothills of the Usambara Mountain range. He kept this explorer’s spirit through his life, founding in 1949 his own gold mine.
1983 – A PASSION FOR GEMSTONES
Dimitri’s son Kimon, commonly called Dimitri Jr, inherited his family’s passion for exploration and mining from a young age. He embarked in 1984 on a lifelong quest searching for earth’s most precious of minerals: fine gemstones. His audacious and enterprising spirit led him on numerous expeditions prospecting for new gem deposits or joining thousands of miners in a ‘gem rush’ to stake his claim.
His life as a miner in the ‘golden age’ of Tanzanian gemstones’ discoveries, has undoubtedly made Dimitri one of the most experienced experts in the East-African Gemstone industry. He worked in all the major gem deposits of Tanzania and re-discovered the Chrysoprase Deposits of Haneti. On his journey, he partnered and worked directly with miners of some of Tanzania’s most famous gemstones, notably Tanzanites from the hills of Merelani.
1996 – FOUNDING LITHOS AFRICA
Lithos Africa was founded by Dimitri and his French wife Marie in 1996 who joined him as a gemmologist and designer, to create bespoke pieces of jewellery with the gems sourced by Dimitri. Together, they opened the first of many luxury jewellery boutiques in Tanzania where, over the years, they displayed their unique creations. Lithos Africa carries their ethos and mission to source responsibly and cut locally while achieving world class quality and design.
1904 – SETTING ROOTS IN EAST-AFRICA
Our family’s history in Tanganyika (currently Tanzania) starts with Emmanuel N. Mantheakis who left his native island of Crete at 18 years of age seeking a better chance in life. In 1904, he reached the shores of Zanzibar before crossing to the continent and settling down in the port town of Tanga.
Emmanuel started working on the construction of the first East-African railway line (the Usambara line) where he would trek on foot from the coast to lake Victoria to recruit labour. He later established several successful sisal estates on the foothills of the Usambara Mountain range. He kept this explorer’s spirit through his life, founding in 1949 his own gold mine.
1940s – A TANZANIAN MINING LEGACY
Emmanuel’s son, Dimitri, carried on his father’s legacy of exploration and mining, as he prospected for minerals in the Pare Mountains and Masai lands, where he led countless safaris (expeditions) in the 1940s and 50s in search for precious minerals.
Dimitri lived a fascinating life, both as an outdoorsman exploring uncharted bush, and as a young idealist, supporting the independence of Tanganyika. Dimitri discovered the world of Gemstones through fellow Greek-Tanzanian miners who were among the first to commercially mine Tanzanite and other precious gemstones in the late 1960s and 70s.
1983 – A PASSION FOR GEMSTONES
Dimitri’s son Kimon, commonly called Dimitri Jr, inherited his family’s passion for exploration and mining from a young age. He embarked in 1984 on a lifelong quest searching for earth’s most precious of minerals: fine gemstones. His audacious and enterprising spirit led him on numerous expeditions prospecting for new gem deposits or joining thousands of miners in a ‘gem rush’ to stake his claim.
His life as a miner in the ‘golden age’ of Tanzanian gemstones’ discoveries, has undoubtedly made Dimitri one of the most experienced experts in the East-African Gemstone industry. He worked in all the major gem deposits of Tanzania and re-discovered the Chrysoprase Deposits of Haneti. On his journey, he partnered and worked directly with miners of some of Tanzania’s most famous gemstones, notably Tanzanites from the hills of Merelani.
1985 – CREATING LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES
During the years spent working and living with fellow small-scale miners in the bush, Dimitri witnessed the many hardships and challenges they faced. He understood the need to create economic opportunities and access to stable markets. This is why he established one of the country’s first lapidary-workshops in 1985; where he would cut and polish the gemstones he sourced directly from the miners. In the process, he created employment and transfer of skill to young Tanzanians, furthering his mission of adding value locally.
1996 – FOUNDING LITHOS AFRICA
Lithos Africa was founded by Dimitri and his French wife Marie in 1996 who joined him as a gemmologist and designer, to create bespoke pieces of jewellery with the gems sourced by Dimitri. Together, they opened the first of many luxury jewellery boutiques in Tanzania where, over the years, they displayed their unique creations. Lithos Africa carries their ethos and mission to source responsibly and cut locally while achieving world class quality and design.
2014 – A NEW CHAPTER
In 2014, Marie and Dimitri’s son, Alexander joined them as a gemmologist to carry on with the family’s values and mission of Lithos Africa. He re-envisioned the brand by growing the lapidary and setting up the atelier, from where he created new collections of jewellery and African Art. These are showcased in the brand’s latest boutiques he designed in a style that captures the essence of Lithos Africa.