This year, the largest and most influential jewelry event in the Middle East and one of Dubai’s biggest trade shows, the Dubai International Jewelry Week, featured over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries to the delight of thousands of consumers.
The fair, staged at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), was divided up into sections such as the Luxury Avenue, Gold Avenue, Dazzling Avenue, and Skilled Avenue, and featured jewels of every shape, size, and color imaginable. Among the thousands of baubles, one feast for the eyes was the extremely rare 50 carat yellow, square cut, flawless diamond, set in an exquisitely designed platinum ring by Dubai-based jeweler Ahmed Kurdi Fine Jewelry and retailing for 20 million (AED).
Another highlight was the Jewelry Design Awards, the most prestigious jewelry design competition in the Middle East. Divided into two categories, emerging and professional designers, the following winners of the competition will see their careers transformed.
Emerging Designers Award Winners
Arabic Influenced Jewelry Design Award: Asma Karim, “Yal Zayed”
Asian/Far East Influenced Jewelry Design Award: Elaheh Jafart, “No. 9”
Bridal Jewelry Design Award: Marwa Mahallati, “Timeless Beauty”
Innovative Jewelry Design Award: Wang Li Chun, “Touching”
Professional Designers Award Winners
Innovative Jewelry Design Award: Vivek Tiwari, “The Krasiviy Ring”
Contemporary Finished Jewelry Piece Award: Lia Staehlin, “Orchid Jewelry Set”
Objet D’Art Award: Naida Akaeva, “Angel Alighted”
Emirati Jewelry Designer of the Year Award Winner: Noora Ali Mattar, “Allah”
Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President of DWTC, organizer of the Dubai International Jewelry Week said, “This region flourishes with creative talent of both budding and professional designers and we are proud to be able to provide a platform to showcase their originality. The quality of submissions definitely gave the judges a difficult task, but all were delighted to see such strong design capability developing here.”
In addition to the significant industry recognition the awards offer, a trophy and comprehensive jewelry course from the internationally renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA) were gifted to each winner.
