VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Every VANLELES Diamonds creation is an homage to the beauty of Africa. Vania Leles started the jewelry brand to showcase the gemstones and diamonds of her home continent. Each ethically sourced piece is inspired by African history and landscapes, with precious stones transformed into stunning jewelry like dangle earrings, pendant necklaces and cocktail rings.
Leles was born in Guinea-Bissau and later studied in Lisbon and London. Her work as a model took her to Paris and New York until she settled in London. In 2003, she had the idea for a jewelry brand while on a fine jewelry shoot. Someone on set told her that Africa was the origin of some of the world’s most precious and semi-precious stones. Yet when she did some research, she discovered that there was a lack of fine jewelry African designers working with these stones.
Leles decided to establish her own African and female-led jewelry house, but her mother urged her to slow down. “She suggested I get ten years of experience before launching my own company,” Leles told Introspective. Taking her advice, she quit modeling, earned a gemology degree from GIA London and was hired as a gemologist by Graff. She later worked at De Beers and Sotheby’s.
In 2011, Leles launched VANLELES Diamonds. She opened a store on New Bond Street in London, a major center of the international jewelry trade. She began small, taking commissions for engagement rings and tennis bracelets. In 2015, a loyal client became an investor, and Leles relocated to the prestigious Brook Street.
When designing, Leles told The Study, she envisions her pieces for “a dynamic and elegant woman who isn’t afraid to wear grand jewelry with the same ease while in jeans and a white shirt or in a gown.”
Since the beginning, Leles has maintained a strict policy of only sourcing diamonds from certified conflict-free suppliers. This includes stones from all over the African continent, including Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.
On 1stDibs, find VANLELES Diamonds earrings, necklaces, rings and more.
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Modern VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Modern VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Romantic VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Romantic VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Coral, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Romantic VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Rubelite, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, 18k Go...
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold, Titanium
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Amethyst, Sapphire, Purple Sapphire, 18k Gold, T...
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, White Gold
2010s British Romantic VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Pink Sapphire, Tourmaline, Tsavo...
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, Pink Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Rubelite, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Tsavorite, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Rubelite, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Romantic VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Sapphire, Yellow Sapphire, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Pink Sapphire, Sapphire, Rubelite, White Diamond, Diamond, Rose Gold, 18...
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, Topaz, Tourmaline, Blue Topaz, Paraiba, Gold, 18...
21st Century and Contemporary British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Rubelite, White Diamond, Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s Italian Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
2010s British Contemporary VANLELES DIAMONDS Jewelry
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold