Jewelry designer Effat Bahamdin makes beautiful, feminine jewelry. Think modern, delicate designs with a bit of an edge. She has established a niche for herself with her jewelry pieces that go with everything without overpowering its wearer. Effat talks about her work and much more in an interview with Arab News:

Who is Effat Bahamdin?

I graduated from the GIA Institute in the United States, specializing in gemology and designing. I have a diploma in diamond calibration.

I worked at a factory and then taught at the Institute for the Future (IFTF) for 10 years. I am a businesswoman in the field of jewelry. The motive behind my entry in the world of jewelry was my desire to be part of this beautiful world. I have always had a passion for designing and coordinating jewelry. When I heard of the existence of training courses in this area, I studied it from the basic to the professional, as these courses are considered to be among the most popular ones. Also, this field has given me a direct access to the world of beauty and creativity.

You grew up in an artistic family, how did that affect your passion and personality?

Of course, I have always had a special place for art in my heart. My father was interested in art from a young age and he collected rare coins and jewelry and attended international auctions to acquire rare coins. So I was lucky to meet prominent artists in my childhood and grew up in a culturally rich environment.

My parents managed to develop my sense of art from a young age and taught me perseverance and hard work.

You design one-of-a-kind jewelry and beads, what lesson would you like to share with young Arab talents?

I would tell them to believe in themselves, build big dreams and work hard. And most importantly, stay steadfast and clear about who you are.

What do you say about the turnout of Saudi women in the field of jewelry? Are there any government and private agencies training those who wish to take up this career?

I see a huge interest in the jewelry designing profession in the recent years among Saudi women, especially after the provision of education in this area. This is in addition to the emergence of several exhibitions for Saudi women and their ability to market their products in these exhibitions. All this has encouraged Saudi women to enter this field and make it into a successful business.

Are you keen to develop and refine your talent through specialized courses and by visiting jewelry exhibitions?

Thankfully, I learned this comprehensive science professionally. However, I am keen to develop myself by visiting international exhibitions, such as the Art Basel Hong Kong, and by participating in international jewelry competitions.

We note that you specialize in beads, in particular. Why beads?

The culture of beads is widespread in Arab societies, and receives people’s attention for beauty purposes, and that was the reason behind my interest in the production of a beads line. I produced a distinctive collection of rough gemstones, and added leather to silver.

What materials do you use in your designs?

Silver, gold, semi-precious stones, precious stones, in addition to gold-plated materials and anything natural such as leather.

Where can our readers find your designs?

They can view the latest designs on my Facebook page: Effatbeads.

Give us some tips on the maintenance of beads.

Beads should not be exposed to perfume or makeup. And most importantly, beads accessories should be the last to be worn and the first to be taken off. Properly storing beads is very important. The best way to store them is returning them to their original box, because the boxes usually take the form of the piece from the inside, so they keep them from folding.

What are your favorite stones?

Coral and turquoise are the closest to my heart.

Tell us about your new collection.

What distinguishes the new collection is the boldness of colors and the use of leather in the bracelets merged with silver and gems.

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