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.
18 Karat Yellow Gold, White Diamonds and Turquoise Bracelet
By VANLELES DIAMONDS
Located in Mayfair, London, GB
Our iconic Nile collection features bold shapes and chunky volumes, adorned with our unique Nile arabesque motif. Bracelet crafted in 18K Yellow Gold and Turquoise Round Brilliant D...
Diamond, White Diamond, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$50,814 / item
18 Karat Yellow Gold and White Diamonds Bracelet
By VANLELES DIAMONDS
Located in Mayfair, London, GB
Featuring motifs from North African empires, VANLELES’ Nile Collection, is a meticulously crafted homage to ancient Egypt's spiritual Nile River, featuring opulent designs that celeb...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Cartier Trinity 18 Karat Yellow White and Rose Gold Cuff Bangle Bracelet
By Cartier
Located in Great Neck, NY
Cartier Trinity 18k Yellow White and Rose Gold Cuff Bangle Bracelet Cartier, Circa 1992, wonderful Trinity cuff bangle bracelet made of 18k White, Yellow,...
Diamond, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Diamonds Snake 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet
Located in Marcianise, IT
Beautiful 18 karat yellow gold snake bracelet mounted with natural diamonds and green,blue and red enamel, the bracelet can be adapted to any wrist size as shown in the video. Snake-...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Diamonds Snake 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bangle Bracelet
Located in Marcianise, IT
Beautiful 18 karat yellow gold snake bracelet with green,blue and red enamel. Snake-shaped jewels always have a particular charm and denote grace, seduction and mystery. In many civi...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Vintage Sabbadini 18k Yellow and White Gold Bangle Bracelet with Diamonds
By Sabbadini
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This lovely Late-20th century Sabbadini, flexible bangle bracelet is comprised of repeating slightly puffed links, each edged with delicate gold rope and with three white gold links ...
Diamond, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$3,209 / item
H 2.46 in L 7.25 in
Alex Jona Quartz and Turquoise Rock Crystal 18 Karat Yellow Gold Bracelet
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 Karat yellow gold, rock crystal over quartz and turquoise crazy cut bangle bracelet, weighing 15.02 carats in total. Alex Jon...
Rock Crystal, Crystal, Quartz, Turquoise, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Alex Jona White Diamond 18 Karat Yellow Gold Snake Coil Bracelet
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat brushed yellow gold flexible coil snake bracelet. Two drop cut diamonds weighting 0.19 carats set on the head of the serp...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$6,301 / item
H 2.01 in W 2.33 in
Sacchi Black and White Diamonds Gemstone 18 Karat Yellow Gold Modern Bracelet
By Sacchi Gioielli
Located in Rome, IT
Satin Yellow Gold Modern Bracelet embellished with Black and White Diamonds, from Sacchi’s Anemones Collection, hand-crafted with lost-wax casting technique. Lost-wax casting, one o...
White Diamond, Black Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
$5,485 / item
W 2.04 in D 0.1 in L 2.46 in
Alex Jona White Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Bangle Bracelet
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat brushed white gold bangle bracelet set with 9 white diamonds, 0.14 carats i...
White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Alex Jona White Diamond 18 Karat White Gold Bangle Bracelet
By Alex Jona
Located in Lugano, TI
Alex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, 18 karat white gold bangle bracelet featuring 8 brilliant cut white diamonds, F color, VVS1 clarity, weighing 0.76 carats in total...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Diamond 18K White and Yellow Gold Wrap Cuff Bracelet
Located in Mount Kisco, NY
Textures attract on this contemporary style 2-1/2 inch cuff bracelet in mixed media. Separate but intertwining slender bands of both smoothly polished and twisted patterned 18 karat ...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Solid 18 K yellow and White Gold Cuff Diamond Bracelet Bangle
Located in Zurich, Zollstrasse
Designed as a high polished cuff bracelet/bangle in 18 K white and yellow gold. Decorated with twisted gold wire and set with a total of 190 bri...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamonds, 18 Karat White and Yellow Gold Bracelet
Located in Napoli, Campania
Gorgeous bracelet in 18 karat white gold with decorations in 18 karat yellow gold studded with diamonds. Diamonds 0.11 ct Total Weight 16.30 gr RF +ICAR Internal Diameter 5.6 cm Inn...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
18 Karat White Gold and White Diamonds Bow Bracelet
By VANLELES DIAMONDS
Located in Mayfair, London, GB
FESTIVE SEASON SPECIAL SALES - for the first time we are offering special prices on all our fine jewellery creations for the next 4 weeks. Please note that if shipping within the UK ...
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
18 Karat White Gold, White Diamonds and Ethically Sourced Emeralds Bracelet
By VANLELES DIAMONDS
Located in Mayfair, London, GB
This magnificent bracelet is part of our iconic heritage collection, Legends of Africa. Our Founder and Creative Director Vania celebrates the beauty and strength of her African home...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold, White Gold
18 Karat Gold Diamonds and Ethically Sourced Emeralds Bracelet and Cocktail Ring
By VANLELES DIAMONDS
Located in Mayfair, London, GB
Legends of Africa Our iconic heritage collection. Vania celebrates the beauty and strength of her African homeland with intricate designs, infused with the intensity of the finest ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Emerald, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold