If ever there was an Indiana Jones of the diamond industry, Andrew “Diamond Drew” Lovett is it. Safari Diamond is the culmination of 20 plus years of Drew working directly in the trenches of the diamond and jewelry industry all over the world. Drew’s sheer volume of knowledge and passion for diamonds and his ethical and philanthropic practices in an industry historically fraught with corruption, price gouging and conflict have made him one of the foremost and respected gemologists in the world.

His experience and knowledge of diamonds may be unsurpassed, but it has come at a sometimes hard-earned price. Living and working amongst the local natives and generations of diamond miners in conflict and poverty-stricken Sierra Leone, West Africa over a cumulative period of nearly ten years has earned him the respect of a nation and his peers in the industry, not to mention his fair share of “battle scars”. From being shot at during times of civil conflict in the war-torn country, trapped under vehicles for days at a time, and nearly dying from having the highest recorded temperature of a surviving adult person in the United States (108.2° F!), many of Diamond Drew’s stories sound more like an epic adventure movie than real-life experience.

But Drew is more interested in educating all those he comes across with what he calls “The Real Truth” about diamonds than he is in sharing his remarkable personal experiences. He has been a guest instructor and lecturer at Cal State Fullerton and Rancho Santiago College in Southern California, and has given many free educational seminars on diamonds and the secrets to diamond buying throughout the United States. He meets one-on-one with all of his customers, providing free consultations and custom cuts and designs at incredible prices, solidifying life long relationships with generations of his clients and their families.

Drew is also strongly committed to improving the living conditions and quality of life within the nations he works. Drew has personally donated hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars to the people of Sierra Leone in the form of medical aid and supplies, pharmaceuticals, women’s rights group contributions, shelter and food. He also regularly sponsors charitable events with many organizations and causes in Southern California and across the United States, donating his time, beautiful diamonds and other gems as fundraising giveaways.

Drew currently splits his time and work between his homes and Safari Diamond offices in Orange County, California (where he was raised), Sierra Leone, West Africa, Antwerp, Belgium, and Daytona Beach, Florida. He works with and supplies his diamonds and custom jewelry directly to a network of 250+ top jewelers throughout the United States, and regularly travels all over the world to consult with top politicians, the world’s largest diamond mining operators, wholesalers, investors and other would-be players in the industry.

To find out more about Diamond Drew, his day-to-day life and work, visit his blog or personal picture gallery now. Learn more about Safari Diamond’s history and operations by visiting our From Mine to Market page.