About Kim Rix: media bio
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I passed up the opportunity to appear on Dragons' Den. Was that the biggest mistake of my life?
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My entrepreneurial life began while I was still working full-time in London's corporate jungle, where I honed my skills as a Personal Assistant to top CEOs at places like KPMG, PwC, and Commerzbank. In 2002, I launched the SaVVy Club, a social events business that quickly caught the attention of Channel 4, who wanted to feature it on Secret Millionaire.
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I also attracted the interest of an angel investor from Silicon Valley, eager to mentor me, confirming the potential I had tapped into. During this time, I had a chance meeting with Duncan Bannatyne at a networking event, not realizing at the time who he was. He showed interest in the SaVVy Club and invited me for coffee. Little did I know, his suggestion to apply for Dragons' Den was a significant opportunity. Unaware of the magnitude, I declined, thinking I wasn't ready for that kind of spotlight. Reflecting on it now, it was a moment that taught me valuable lessons about risk-taking and growth.
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Not long afterwards, I married and left the corporate world to work full time on my business.
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From organising events to photographing them. In 2010 I started a photography business which allowed me to work with renowned charities, such as NSPCC and Breast Cancer Care, and achieve a career highlight by capturing the Tour de France (with my images earned a coveted spot on the front page of our local newspaper). I also had the privilege of photographing the International Women's Forum Global Conference in Israel, where I had the honour of taking portraits of some of the world’s most successful women.
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Now, I am an internationally published author and have a successful travel business which combines all my passions: gemstones, travel and photography! Last year, I was quoted by the BBC in the run up to the King’s Coronation.
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Talking points
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Being a female solo traveller: Kim travelled solo 4444kms around the Outback of Australia to research the opals shows for the book. Also for book research, Kim travelled solo around USA, India, Thailand and Great Britain.
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Adoption: Kim was adopted into a multicultural family when she was 6 weeks old.
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Going down gem mines: Kim has experienced what it is like underground, inside a gem mine in Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Australia. Other open-pit gem mines Kim has visited include: Mogok (Myanmar), South Africa, Thailand and USA.
Essential tips for buying gemstones & jewellery around the world: having travelled to each of the countries covered in the book series, Kim has first-hand knowledge of the gem trade.
Caring for your jewellery: many gemstones need special care to prevent them from being ruined. Kim shares her best jewellery care tips.
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Kim's promotional activities
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January 2025 - LUXLife Travel and Tourism Awards 2025 - Gemstone Detective awarded: Best Ethical Gemstone Tourism Enterprise 2025
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December 2024 - Secrets Behind The Sparkle podcast launched by Kim Rix. ​
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December 2024 - Kim was interviewed by Michelle Hands of 'Who Dares Wins' podcast show
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November 2024 - Kim gave three live talks at the London Gem & Mineral Show.
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November 2024 - Kim gave a virtual talk titled "Tanzania's Mining Landscape", hosted by the Goldsmiths Centre
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November 2023 - Kim Rix travelled to Kelvin College in Glasgow to speak to the Jewellery students about her travels and findings.
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November 2023 - Kim Rix was interviewed by Hello Magazine.
October 2023 - Kim Rix was interviewed by Glamour Magazine about her recent trip to Tanzania to research her family heritage.
September 2023 - Gemmology Today magazine (World Gem Foundation) featured Gemstone Detective in Tanzania.
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May 2023 - Gem expert, Kim Rix, was quoted in a BBC article titled "The dazzling crown that will make a King".
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Autumn 2021 - Speaker at the SGA (Scottish Gemmological Association) Autumn Symposium - Buying Gemstones in Myanmar (Burma).
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July 2021 - Guest speaker at Gem-A North West (Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Online talk titled "The Highlights and Pitfalls of Gemstone Tourism'
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May 2019 - Kim Rix featured in Female First magazine - Seven Things You Never Knew About Gemstones
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December 2020 - Interviewed by David Brough of Jewellery Outlook, Gemstone Detective is featured in Jewellery Connoisseur by Rapaport
Kim Rix is a regular contributor to Gemmology Today magazine, issued by the World Gem Foundation.
November 2020 – Gave a (virtual) talk and presentation to the GIA Alumni worldwide.
October 2020 – Was a (virtual) speaker at the Inaugural Jewellery Industry Virtual Fair in Australia
October 2020 - Awarded Portrait Photographer of the Year by 2020 UK Enterprise Awards hosted by SME-News.
September 2020 - Interviewed by David Brough, Jewellery Outlook (podcast)
February 2020 – Presentation: Investing in Gemstones - Kim Rix was a guest speaker on stage at a Kevin Green wealth event (audience 350 people)
July 2019 – Guest speaker at the Globe Trotters Club in London UK about her book travels. (audience 100 travellers)
June 2019 - Interviewed by The Jewellery Editor and featured online.
July 2018 - Interviewed about Gemstone Detective on Outback Radio, Lightning Ridge, Australia
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2018 - Gemstone Detective was featured in fiftyandfab lifestyle blog
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2018 - Gemstone Detective was featured on Over Forty and Mum to One blog
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October 2018 - Gemstone Detective was featured in Travelmag blog
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October 2018 - Gemstone Detective was featured in Jewellery Outlook
