In April 2007, His Excellency, the former President of Botswana, Mr. Festus Mogae, officially opened Pluczenik’s new factory in Gaborone. The objectives included improving the company’s access to high quality diamonds and beneficiating the diamond industry in Botswana by creating new and sustained employment opportunities and thereby creating skills development for the citizens of Botswana.

Today, the company can look back with pride at the achievements realised. Employing 250 employees, Pluczenik has succeeded in providing professional training and employment opportunities to the citizens. A full-time training department is in operation to train Botswana citizens in the skills of diamond manufacturing, and this too has been very successfully implemented. We train inexperienced employees to give them skills to cut and polish diamonds to international standards, in partnership with local development agencies. Many Batswana are now in management functions at Pluczenik’s diamond factory, and skill development is a high priority with our management. 50% of our workers have worked for us for over ten years and built up specialized expertise in cutting and polishing Round & Fancy shaped diamonds. Several have travelled to Belgium & India to gain greater experience. The technical skills developed are outstanding in the global marketplace. All training & development is undertaken by our own employees, mostly citizens. A strong Production Management team and a skilled workforce ensures a very high standard finished product.

Pluczenik is strongly committed to health care, so medical insurance is provided to employees, and the company has an active Welfare committee, which organizes awareness events and CSR activities at the Ramaphatle Primary School, where donations and student guidance & counselling is undertaken by our employees. Our employees are provided a wide variety of skills and training and development in-house and with external training. Pluczenik employees excel at Football, Netball, Cricket, Table Tennis, Darts & Chess through training provided by its own management and participation in national sports leagues.

Founded in 1948, Pluczenik is one of the world’s leading Diamantaires, and has been a major De Beers Sight-holder for over 70 years. A recognised industry leader, Pluczenik markets and manufactures diamonds and diamond jewellery for all consumer segments globally.

The company is known in the industry as “The Name Behind Diamonds,” with offices on every continent and manufacturing in Antwerp, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, China, India, Thailand and the UAE. Pluczenik has sales offices in Antwerp (head office), Tel Aviv, New York, Detroit, Dubai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Mumbai, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Looking forward, our relationship with Southern Africa continues, as Pluczenik is further extending its investment in the region. The company is a Sightholder in Namibia and South Africa.