Zaha Et Cetera, Bringing Diamond Dreams To Life 

Zaha Et Cetera (ZeC) is a brand synonymous for quality and stylish diamond jewellery in Sri Lanka and Hong Kong. Founder and owner Rahila Refaaq is a talented Sri Lankan entrepreneur who hails from a long family history of being in the diamond jewellery business. Highly experienced from sourcing diamonds to design and delivery, she has carved for herself her own path connecting the vision of delivering on uniquely designed pieces. 

Refaaq says “It's all about bringing the designs to life enabling opportunities to work with diverse clientele and making their dreams a reality. Synonymous for delivering quality and style, she says whatever the client need is ZeC is able to provide a tailor made and personalized solution. Some clients look to her for the total job of design and development, while some bring their own design or their certified stones. She is always happy to work together to create a unique piece for them. Majority of the business, is exclusively hand crafted diamond and colored stones jewellery which is made in her workshop in Hong Kong. ZeC also offers value added services such as after gemological consultation, sales service and maintenance for pre-owned jewellery. 

A past pupil of Bishop’s College, Colombo and a Graduate Gemologist and an accredited Jewelry Professional, from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), and having worked for many years in the International Gemological Institute in Hong Kong as a Senior Gemologist, she has equipped herself with the required knowledge and experience aptly enabling her to envision a growth trajectory for her business. With her proud Sri Lankan heritage, she has established herself a loyal and growing client base both locally and internationally. 

Like any emerging companies, marketing is a challenge says Refaaq and ZeC is very much in line with the current consumer perceptions and trends and thrive in offering a unique online buying proposition to customers at affordable prices with starting prices as low as $250. There is a piece of diamond jewellery for any occasion on ZeC website (www.zahaetcetera.com). Refaaq stated that the biggest challenge would be trying to compete with big time retail stores, which monopolizes a large percentage of consumer purchases due to their diverse branding and advertising and long established relationships with consumers. "That’s a hurdle we as individual jewelers, need to surpass. How we can strive to overcome this is to continue to provide excellent & customised services to our clients with a highlighted price advantage." 

She proudly says that Zaha et Cetera was named after her daughter Zaha, currently a university student in Paris doing her Fashion Marketing Degree, who has been a vivid fashion maker herself. She says that ‘et Cetera’ would someday be able to one day amalgamate and extend the business to something bigger together.