A visit to Diamani Jewellers is like visiting an old friend. The owner, Mario, sparkles with friendliness like one of the many diamond-encrusted pieces in his collection. A passion for jewelry and gemology runs throughout Mario’s family, as his father and brother both pursued careers in the discipline. Mario promised himself at a young age that he would follow this dream and one day open his own jewelry design and repair business.
His career journey began as he studied abroad in California at the Gemological Institute of America with his brother. He went on to do a semester at a European Institute before completing his program and spending three additional years at George Brown College in Toronto.
After he completed his extensive education, Mario decided to move to London to open the shop of his dreams. Many of his peers and idols in the business were in London and he felt it was important to do business alongside them. Having a downtown location was especially important because, to him, it was the “hub” of the city and he wanted to be in the true heart of London.
He described his design process as “very transformational” and that the secret to his success is not how much he can add to a design but how much he can take away. To Mario, simplicity is key and he approaches each project with great care. As demonstrated by the years he spent at different schools early in his career, Mario also has a desire to continue to learn and improve his business in any way he can.
Even though Mario has won an award for his skills, his passion for connection is what drives him forward. His favorite part of the job is getting to be a part of the story of his clients as they create history through a tangible item he has made or restored. In his store is a binder full of “Thank You” cards from numerous clients over the 25 years that Diamani Jewellers has been around and his family explained that this is only a fraction of the praise Mario receives for his work. Although he will not admit it himself, he is truly an expert in his craft, driven by his inherited passion and authentic connection to his clients.
After their schooling, Mario’s brother did not come back to Canada and decided to set up his own gemology business in the United States. They are still incredibly close and this seems to be due to, among other things, their common passion for jewelry. Perhaps it is the familial ties that this discipline has created in Mario’s life that have led him to believe so passionately in his work. In his own words, jewelry “is a commemoration of a sentimental journey, and above all, beautiful jewelry is simply a CELEBRATION!”
