On Thursday evening I attended the launch of the new online luxury jewelry and bullion bar service 24ct, not being very sure what the event was about until I arrived at Bizerca Bistro, the function held in the semi-covered and impressively decorated courtyard of Bizerca, sparkling with a bespoke collection of jewelry, and gold and silver bars in different sizes.

I was invited by Tin Can PR, whom I have dealt with for its client KWV.  The courtyard was dressed with cocktail tables covered with black tablecloths, and four pedestals set up on which models with very high heels stood to display the jewelry, and gold and silver bars.  In the centre a small tree served as the display focus for jewelry boxes, a clever way of displaying the rings and pendants, as well as minted gold, silver, and platinum bars. Noticeable was the heavy presence of smartly dressed security staff, to protect the precious display. Large format posters were hung with an #OutofAfrica theme, depicting that the metals come from Africa.

Michael Vincer, a director of Metal Concentrators SA (Pty) Ltd, came to chat to us, and told us that the company has operated for 25 years, having refineries in Cape Town, Pretoria, and in Mauritius. They supply jewelers with gold, silver and platinum to make jewelry, and increasingly
design and manufacture it too. It is our country’s largest independent precious metal refinery. The main focus of the business is to sell gold to banks and to their jewelry retail customers.  Comparisons were made with Krugerrands, a form of payment, but only being 22ct gold (the balance is made up of copper) compared to the 24ct of the 24.ct gold bars. 24.ct is VATable, while Krugerrands are not. Krugerrands are more expensive.  The gold, silver, and platinum bars can be used in the manufacture of jewellry, or cashed-in in times of need.

The Bizerca Bistro staff came around regularly, initially serving sparkling wine, and then coming regularly with different delectable canapés prepared by Chef Laurent of Bizerca, including a curried cauliflower soup, scrumptious bruschetta with Norwegian salmon, roasted tomato and tapenade tarts, chicken and red wine stew, parcels of chips bound with mustard-coated roast beef, lamb meatballs, crème brûlèe, and chocolate brownies.

We were told that the 100g gold bar costs R45000, the 50g R22500, and the 10g R4500, but prices are influenced by the daily gold price.  The bars are SABS approved. The company received a double responsible practices certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council last year, reflecting that the items sold are ethically and morally sound.

It was an interesting function, as we learnt something about a topic that we previously knew little about, but all desire! For me personally it was a particularly lucky evening!

Disclosure: We were provided with the hashtag and Twitter details for the event when we arrived, and we Tweeted as we normally would, especially the lovely canapés by Chef Laurent.  It was a surprise to be called up as one of five Twitter finalists, and we each had to pick a glass of sparkling wine, each of which had a stone at the bottom of it.  We were told that only one of the five glasses had a diamond in it, the other glasses containing cubic zirconia.  Sam Stern, owner Bernard Stern’s daughter, tested each of the stones with a special instrument, and I could not believe that my stone was the 0,31 carat diamond!  On leaving the function, all the guests received a goodie bag with a 10g silver bar with the media release!

24ct, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Mauritius. Tel (012) 000 4440  www.metcon.co.za www.24carat.co.za Twitter: @24ctZA

Bizerca Bistro, Shortmarket Street, Cape Town.  Tel (021) 423-8888    www.bizerca.com  Twitter:@BizercaBistro

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage  Facebook:  click here