Third edition of the Riyadh International Luxury Week garners huge footfalls, opens doors for local Saudi jewellery designers and international brands 

The show is growing year-on-year to accommodate the demand from locals seeking a diverse range of unique and high-jewellery designs from across the globe

On the evening of May 16, Riyadh International Luxury Week opened to the public in an event inaugurated by Krayem AlEnazi, President, National Committee for Precious Metals and Gemstones – Federation of Saudi Chambers.

Riyadh International Luxury Week followed the inaugural edition of its sister event in Jeddah last week. Held at Al Faisaliah Hotel’s Prince Sultan’s Grand Hall, in the heart of the Saudi capital, the show was open till May 19.

This year’s show has tripled since 2022, featuring local Saudi Arabian designers and brands from the broader Middle East, alongside renowned names from Switzerland, the US, the UK, France, Greece, Brazil, and an extensive Italian Pavilion.

Aficionados and enthusiasts discovered an array of high-quality fine jewellery creations available for immediate purchase, including striking bridal sets and limited jewels. Pieces in more traditional style contrast with avant-garde contemporary creations; pearls, diamonds and coloured gemstones take centre stage, alongside visionary creations crafted with wood marquetry, miniature paintings and micro mosaics; and different cultures merge into one to create a display of creativity and savoir-faire.

“The show went extremely well in terms of visitors and sales. All exhibitors are mostly happy with the progress of the show. Almost 85 per cent of exhibitors confirmed their interest in joining the next edition,” said Nader Freiha, Managing Director MPP Middle East Media LLC and Founder and Managing Director Arabian Expo.

Among the brands presented at Riyadh International Luxury Week were the high jewellery Maison Moussaieff Jewellers, the Brazilian designer Silvia Furmanovich, the pearl specialist Yoko London, the Parisian watchmaker Charles Oudin and Renad Alamoudi, the young Saudi designer who presented a one-off bespoke timepiece originally made for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

They were joined by Ishaia Trading Corp, George Hakim Jewelers, Nsouli, FerriFirenze, Amwaj Jewellery, Renée Jewellers, Blue Diamond Jewellery, Orexport, Daniel K, Azar Gems, Premium Jewels, Shelley & Co., Kamyen, Al Nahar Jewellery, Misk, Aisha Jewels, Pearl Biography, Zoughaib and Co., Carlo Barberis, Lunática, Piranesi, Bellina Gems, Devji Aurum, and many more.

“As a Saudi jeweller, I like to be distinctive. Dalal Jewelry represents the Saudi culture and lifestyle in a modern luxurious way to local and international clients. This exhibition delivered a chance to meet our clients face to face and show our luxurious pieces. Most shoppers who came to our exhibit were women from Riyadh looking for something different and unique which has a story to tell, not just a piece of jewellery but a piece of art in the form of elegant jewellery, rings, bracelets, and also gifts which have a meaning,” said Abeer Alsaeed, founder and designer, Dalal Jewelry.

On May 17-18, two educational seminars were hosted, with a keynote from Krayem AlEnazi. Guest of honour Ishaia Gol, a diamond dealer from New York, was joined by Ziad Khalid, GIA graduate and the senior instructor at DANAT – the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones, and Dr Manal Saleh, owner, Pearls Story Boutique, to address a wide range of topics, including buying gemstones, natural pearls, natural, lab-grown & imitation diamonds, and coloured diamonds.

Platinum sponsor Al Rajhi Bank supported the Riyadh International Luxury Week. Other event sponsors included The National Committee for Precious Metals & Gemstones, DANAT – Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones, Store Makers Middle East, MPP-ME Arabian Watches & Jewellery Magazine – as well as the electric vehicle company Lucid Motors, with a display of its Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance model.

Written by Bushra Satkhed

Retail Jeweller World Exclusive