"Emirates Goldsmiths" Launches the first local gemstone at the Middle East Watch and Jewelry Exhibition

Sharjah, June 14, 2017 (WAM) – During its participation in the activities of the 57th edition of the Middle East Watch and Jewelery Exhibition, hosted by the Sharjah Expo Center with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the “Emirates Jewelers” platform witnessed the launch of the first Emirati stone to enter the world of jewelry under the title “Spirit of the Emirates,” which is a natural red jasper stone extracted from the Al-Siji region in the Emirate of Fujairah, in cooperation with the Fujairah Natural Resources Corporation, to constitute a milestone in the national jewelry industry.

The platform recorded the participation of 20 male and female designers from various emirates of the country, including 7 female designers for the first time, in addition to the inspiring and distinguished participation of people of determination through the “Shufa” design, which won the admiration of visitors to the exhibition, while the platform is leading a remarkable transformation with a number of its members moving to the supply stage, as one of the designers has become the first Emirati supplier of gemstones to move between mines and international museums to provide authentic stones for Emirati designers.

The participation of Emirati designers on the platform varies to include creative designs that blend authenticity and contemporaryity, including luxurious goldwork encrusted with diamonds and precious stones, and designs inspired by elements of the Emirati environment and local heritage, in addition to modern collections that meet various tastes and occasions.

His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, confirmed that the Chamber’s support for the “Emirates Jewelers” platform enhances the successes of local designers in presenting new innovations in the world of jewelry, such as the launch of the first Emirati gemstone, which represents a real addition to the value chain in the gold and jewelry sector in the country.

He pointed out that relying on the resources and treasures of the UAE land enhances the added value of the local product and opens new economic horizons, stressing that the platform has gone beyond the concept of empowering design to become a tributary for transforming young talents into active forces in the knowledge and creative economy through an integrated system that includes exploration, supply, manufacturing and marketing, which consolidates the position of Sharjah and the UAE as a leading regional and international center in the luxury jewelry sector.

For her part, Mona Sultan Al Suwaidi, Director of the Executive Office of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Chamber and responsible for the “Emirates Jewelers” platform, explained that the launch of the “Spirit of the Emirates” stone was the result of fruitful cooperation with the Fujairah Natural Resources Foundation, which provided all facilities and support to Emirati designers to benefit from local geological resources.

She said that the platform’s vision has gone beyond the stage of enabling talented people to design and sell directly, to move towards integrated entrepreneurship that includes leading supply chains to provide stones to female designers, as well as the participation of designers with disabilities who present works that reflect distinct creative energies, stressing that these developments consolidate the platform’s transformation from a design incubator into a comprehensive creative system that contributes to building an authentic Emirati identity in the world of jewelry.

As part of what was presented by the “Emirates Jewelers” platform, Emirati designer Fatima Al Muhairi, the first internationally accredited young Emirati expert in gemology, presented two exceptional pieces of art from the Emirati jasper stone on the occasion of this launch. The first piece was titled “The Spirit of the Emirates” and embodies the stone’s journey from the land of the country to the world of jewelry, as the design includes the mountain from which the stone was extracted, the palm tree as a symbol of heritage, the ancient historical buildings inspired by “Al Muwaiji Fort,” and a natural pearl bead that connects the era of diving. The old to new era of local gemstones.

The second and unique piece was called “Heritage,” which is a brooch in the shape of a camel’s head that combines a pearl from the Al Suwaidi Pearl Farm in Ras Al Khaimah and a jasper stone from the Al Siji area in Fujairah to embody the country’s gemstone resources within one piece, as the camel and pearl represent the authentic heirloom passed down by children from grandparents, while the jasper stone represents a sustainable legacy for future generations.

The Emirati jasper stone is distinguished by its natural red color, its high hardness, which ranges between 6.5 and 7 on the Mohs scale, and its waxy to glassy luster, which are characteristics that qualify it to enter the world of luxury jewelry as a certified local stone and enjoy high competition among designers and gemstone collectors.

The “Duri” jewelry brand is participating in the platform, which is a registered Emirati brand that is distinguished by modern designs based on natural pearls and Emirati marine agricultural pearls, and presents exclusive collections inspired by Emirati heritage within an artistic vision that combines elegance and local identity.

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