Arya Marafie (centre) receiving the Gübelin “Coloured Gem Professional” Diploma from Juliana Landmann, DGA, CGP3, GIA Coloured Stones Diploma (left) & Carolyn Franco, FGA, CGP3 (right). Lucerne, Switzerland, Feb 2026. Image courtesy of Mayfair Gems
By David Brough
LONDON – Early retirement has triggered a whole new way of life and a brand discovery for Arya Marafie of Mayfair Gems.
After 23 years in the oil and aviation industry, Arya took early retirement. But then almost immediately, he began a quest for a second chapter, which turned into a full-scale immersion into the gemstone and jewellery industry.
The trigger was an expansive coloured gemstone collection – some 2,500 gems, many of them from Brazil, including emeralds, tourmalines and imperial topaz – inherited from his father at around the same time as his first career wrapped up.
Emerald, Octagon, 5.82ct. Certified by EDR. London, UK. May, 2026. Image courtesy of Mayfair Gems
It felt like serendipity.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to have entered an industry that I now love, and I am working on my vision for Mayfair Gems to make a difference in this industry,” Arya said.
Arya registered his company as “Mayfair Gems”, inspired by the London district where he had lived for a long period, offering a wide array of high quality, unique and commercial coloured gemstones to the trade.
He quickly made his mark, headline sponsoring and exhibiting at the London Gem and Mineral Show, and later sponsoring the Bullion Bar, the main networking area, in the upcoming Jewellery Show (September 2-3, 2026), the UK’s largest jewellery trade event.
Arya has taken his task seriously, having recently completed specialist courses with top labs and industry suppliers, at Swiss lab Gubelin, and MagiLABS, a Houston-based provider of state-of-the-art spectroscopy equipment to the international gemmological industry. And he will soon be studying at SSEF in Switzerland.
Arya Marafie (centre) receiving the MagiLABS “Spectroscopy in Gemology” Diploma from Mikko Åström FGA (left) & Alberto Scarani GG (right). Houston, USA, May 2026. Image courtesy of Mayfair Gems
Now he is also turning his attention to assembling a gemstone and jewellery showcase to be presented at the “Mayfair Gems Bullion Bar”.
Tanzanite, Heart, 4.55ct. Certified by GILC. London, UK. May, 2026. Image courtesy of Mayfair Gems
Incorporating exquisite gemstones from his collection, Mayfair-based master craftsman Mark Griffin is presently honing a series of one-off contemporary classic jewellery designs that will feature in the showcase.
Master Craftsman Mark Griffin of ‘Griffin of London’. Mayfair, London, UK. May 2026. Image courtesy of Mark Griffin
Arya says he is developing an ambitious vision for Mayfair Gems, supplying certified traceable, responsibly sourced gemstones while using the latest technologies to help ensure the highest quality standards of his expanding inventory.
One day he hopes to open a Mayfair Gems retail store offering an array of natural coloured gemstones and gemstone-set jewellery.
“I wish to pay back the industry that has so warmly welcomed me, by supporting and contributing to the community and delivering exceptionally high standards,” he says.
Sapphire (unheated), Cushion, 3.36ct. Certified by Bellerophon. London, UK. May 2026. Image courtesy of Mayfair Gems
