RIYADH, 6 January 2007 — With the price of gold dramatically increasing in recent years and the easy availability of all types of inexpensive jewelry, women in the Kingdom are leaving their personal preferences for gold and instead opt to buy cheap imitation jewelry.
In fact prices have risen so much that many women are even selling their gold. Attractive and affordable imitation jewelry is available in abundance at increasingly affordable prices that vary according to the quality and brand.
“This is a chance for many women and girls to get what they want at affordable prices. This is especially the case since many cannot afford the prices of original products,” said Sara Nasir, a young Saudi woman who buys the costume jewelry.
Meanwhile, Ragda Al-Musa, a mother of three young girls, told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that she finds herself forced to buy costume jewelry to satisfy her “nagging” daughters.
“I do not really trust these products. Besides, I believe that buying them is a waste of money. I advise my daughters to buy branded products as these companies provide high quality products,” she said.
Amida Al-Ghamdi also complained about the poor quality. “These products are made of poor quality stuff and can cause infections. The authorities must ban companies from importing them into the Kingdom. In the least they should highlight the side effects that these products can have,” said Al-Ghamdi.
Shopkeepers that sell such items say that these products tend to be extremely popular.
Ali Muhammad, a shopkeeper, said, “Selling fake jewelry is profitable. However, you must select your products carefully. As store owners we are always conscious that we at the end of the day are dealing with women.”
Muhammad added that his prices are pretty reasonable and range between SR65 and SR250.
“Prices can increase to SR500 if the customer wants something specific,” he added.
Muhammad Ibraheem, another storeowner who sells costume jewelry, said: “We get our products from everywhere — Arab and non-Arab countries. Products and prices vary in order for us to be able to satisfy the largest number of customers that there are.”
Ibraheem admitted that they have a section at their store where they manufacture fake products at the request of customers.
“This is not illegal,” he said, adding, “Most customers go for fake products. There are only a few that seek unique and distinguished original items.”
He also added that at his shop he does not sell items that physically harm people. Instead, he blames local discount shops for selling extremely cheap and poor-quality harmful items.
Maha Al-Mahmoud said she developed skin problems after wearing some fake jewelry. “I bought some accessories at low prices and now I am having to go through some medical treatment that is costing me a lot of money,” she said.
“I have learned my lesson. I prefer to buy a little jewelry even if it is expensive rather than buying extremely poor-quality items. The authorities need to have regulations in place before more people get affected,” she added.
According to skin expert Dr. Aza Abu-Al-Nasir, some women develop skin problems if they wear jewelry made from iron. “Women shouldn’t really buy such items because they can ultimately harm their skin and disfigure them,” she said. “It’s best to buy original gold and silver jewelry though they are expensive.”
