JEDDAH: A four-day fifth International Exhibition for Watches and Jewelry opened at the Jeddah Hilton on Tuesday night, where a portrait of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah designed with precious stones is among the exhibits.
Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mohammed Al-Fadl, who toured the exhibition stands put up by national and international participants, said some of the exhibits were eye-catching because of the precious stones and rare designs used in making them.
Al-Fadl and JCCI Secretary-General Mustafa A.K. Sabri who undertook a tour of the exhibits described most of the designs as impressive. As many as 50,000 different items of watches and precious jewelry as well as gems and stones are among the exhibits. “Each exhibition brings better designs and some of them are outstanding,” Sabri remarked.
Krayem Al-Enezi, president of the National Committee of Precious Metals and Precious Stones of the Riyadh-based Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and World Gold Council consultant and Country Manager for Saudi Arabia Bisher A. Diab were among those supporting the exhibition present.
Diab said 60 national and international companies dealing in gold, gems and jewelry were among the participants. “There has been a 40% increase in the number of exhibitors this time over the previous year,” Al-Enezy said, adding that some of the items are studded with rarest stones and some of the jewelry items are beautifully designed.
“There is a marked decrease in gold and jewelry business, however, demand is expected to increase as the wedding season has just begun,” Diab said, adding that sales will peak during May-June, the main period for weddings.”
Osama Kurdi, chairman of the board of directors of Alaqat for International Exhibitions and Conferences, which has organized the event, said the Kingdom’s gems and jewelry business was estimated to be more than SR2.5 billion.
“The exhibition has more of diamonds and precious stones than gold,” Abdul Aziz Wali, a businessman visiting the show remarked while evaluating the various jewelry designs on display.