H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum opens Dubai International Jewellery Week 2014 03.12.2014: Middle East’s Most Influential Jewellery Event Returns to Dubai World Trade Centre His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Middle East’s Most Influential Jewellery Event Returns to Dubai World Trade Centre



His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum officially opened Dubai International Jewellery Week 2014 today, as the 19th edition of the Middle East’s most prestigious and influential jewellery event got underway at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).


The opening day of the four-day show welcomed thousands of visitors as serious spenders and the simply curious got up-close to exclusive jewellery collections, precious gemstones and cutting-edge designs being displayed by 380 exhibitors from more than 30 countries.


Running until 6 December, Dubai International Jewellery Week offers the perfect opportunity for jewellery enthusiasts, collectors, designers, retailers and wholesalers from all over the world to come together and share their passion for the sophisticated industry.


With a 42 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of companies participating in the event’s specialist ‘Dazzling Avenue’, the dedicated area for purveyors of loose diamonds, diamond jewellery, coloured gems and precious stones is expected to be more popular than ever in 2014.


According to the UAE Kimberly Process Office, Dubai’s rough diamond trading in the first nine months of the year increased by eight per cent to 108 million carats at a value of US$10.5 billion – an increase of 15 per cent against the same period last year. A total of 58 million carats were imported from January to September at a value of US$ 4.2 billion, while export in the same period was at 50 million carats with a value of US$ 5.4 billion.


Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC, said: “Dubai International Jewellery Week has established a reputation both regionally and around the world as an essential sourcing, trading and purchasing hub for the regional industry.


With more than 800 international jewellery brands at this year’s event, every budget is catered for and we have some remarkable pieces of jewellery and diverse collections on show that will wow our visitors.”


Dubai International Jewellery Week is back with a range of astonishing pieces including the world’s most expensive pair of boots, designed by Auro Jewels and retailing for US$3.1million (AED11.3million), as well as the highly anticipated Candy collection launch by Gemme Couture.


Ivana Okereke, Managing Director and Designer of Gemme Couture, said, “Some of the most notable pieces that we are showcasing include a stunning 12 carat natural untreated ruby ring with diamonds, a 13 carat tanzanite ring with emeralds and diamonds, and a South Sea pearl necklace with kyanite and amazonite, all handmade.”


Gemme Couture is an exclusive jewellery line created from precious and semi-precious stones and fine South Sea and Tahitian pearls. To mark its participation in this year’s Dubai International Jewellery Week, Gemme Couture has unveiled additional designs to its colourful ‘Candy Collection’, combining the contemporary style of the West with the flair of the East.


Okereke added: “Dubai International Jewellery Week is a very important event for us as it attracts regional retailers and international stakeholders, allowing exhibitors the opportunity to interact with potential retailers from all over the world under one roof.”


The show connects wealthy buyers with suppliers and attracts a mix of leading international brands, regional distributors, retailers, boutique outlets and hundreds of international exhibitors. The popular Hosted Buyer Programme returns with more than 100 top-level buyers from Russia and CIS countries, Turkey, Macedonia, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar due to meet with exhibitors of their choice for focused one-to-one appointments.


GIA Middle East , Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), IGI Dubai, Solitaire Gemmological Laboratories, Australian South Sea Pearls and Rapaport will also be conducting daily seminars at Dubai International Jewellery Week giving visitors to opportunity learn all there is to know about diamonds and jewellery, from making the perfect purchase to the challenges of grading and identifying mounted diamonds.


Running alongside the event is the sixth edition of the Jewellery Design Awards, rewarding amateur and professional designers from across the world for their excellence in jewellery design, innovation and creativity. The awards will take place tomorrow evening (Thursday) at The Address Montgomerie Hotel, Dubai.


The glamorous evening will see 10 winners crowned in ‘Emerging Designers’ and ‘Professional Group’ categories, including two new accolades for ‘Best Festive-Inspired Jewellery Design’ and ‘Best Futuristic Jewellery Design’.


Open to UAE nationals only, the awards for ‘Best Emirati Jewellery Design’ in both categories are expected to be drawn entries from established and emerging Emirati jewellery design artisans. Winners of the Jewellery Design Awards walk away with trophies, certificates and prizes awarded by GIA Middle East, the world’s foremost authority in gemology.


This year, Samsung is running an exclusive Dubai International Jewellery Week Photo Competition, encouraging visitors to find the Samsung promoters on the show floor and take a photo with them for a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy Note 4. Two devices will be given away daily during the four-day show.


To register for Dubai International Jewellery Week or find out the latest show information, visit www.jewelleryshow.com.


Sarah Brook / Katie Johnston,Total Communications Dubai - also photos