Indian supplier VD Global will provide diamonds to AthleteGEM in a new joint venture that aims to “reignite” the industry using investment-driven sports memorabilia.
AthleteGEM is the brainchild of VD’s CEO of luxury, Bhavya Vaghasia, and Danny White, the CEO of White Rocks, which helps private jewelry clients negotiate their purchases. The company will create memorabilia containing a polished diamond laser inscribed with an athlete’s signature, personal message and an exclusive edition number, formed into a wearable collectible, White told Rapaport News Tuesday. The purchaser will also receive a story card detailing the athlete’s journey and the significance of the diamond, as well as a digital time capsule featuring a personal message from the chosen athlete.
In the first cohort, the venture has signed 100 athletes across diverse sports, including its most well-known of the set, Hugues Fabrice Zango from Burkina Faso, who holds the world indoor record in the triple jump. AthleteGEM will issue 21 diamond collectibles for each athlete. Within that group, diamonds will be available in various carat sizes to fit different budgets, White explained.
“The natural-diamond industry needs a spark — a return to the power of story,” said White. “Athletes, with their unparalleled journeys of resilience and triumph, are the perfect partners to reignite that flame. Together, we’re not just saving an industry; we’re giving it a new soul.”
Next month, AthleteGEM intends to release a second round of diamond mementos, featuring a new set of athletes. In phase two of the project, each purchaser will receive both a rough, uncut diamond, which symbolizes the athlete’s raw journey, as well as a polished diamond, representing refined brilliance and success, White noted. Buyers will be able to work together with their chosen athlete and designers to customize their diamonds into bespoke pendants, rings or bracelets.
“Fans are hungry for collectibles that carry real significance and lasting value,” White added. “Our diamond collectibles offer just that — a tangible piece of an athlete’s journey that will endure for generations.”
Image: Some of the athletes with their memorabilia. (AthleteGEM)
