[Image: Cartier Art Deco emerald ring with diamond and black onyx mounting from 1920.]
Inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, this year’s Abu Dhabi International Jewellery & Watch Show was filled with glamour, as the region’s most prominent enthusiasts witnessed the best show yet. The event sparkled with over 150 exhibitors from all around the world presenting their most elegant contemporary, traditional and vintage jewellery pieces to thousands of visitors.
[Image: Vintage wedding ring given to the Duchess of York from the Prince of Wales in 1983.]
This year’s highlight was the beautifully crafted vintage jewellery collection showcased by the UK’s Trafalgar Jewellers. They attracted the most affluent collectors with vintage pieces over 100 years old. This included a gorgeous Cartier Art Deco platinum set from circa 1920, with a 30 carat high quality Colombian emerald worth £1,250,000 sterling. Collectors also had the chance to purchase a beautiful sapphire and diamond bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels from circa 1980 worth £400,000 sterling, and a stunning vintage Bvlgari platinum and diamond bracelet with approximately 80 carats of diamonds, dated back to around 1935, and valued at £285,000 sterling. The British jewellers also showcased pieces belonging to Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, sister of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
[Image: Vintage Van Cleef & Arpels coral and diamond wide bracelet from 1970.]
At this year’s Ebda’a Award, nine out of 20 participants were qualified during the competition. Sadia Sulaiman won the award in the Pearl Design category, while Maher Elmenshawi earned the award for Glamour Design category, and Amna Al Balooshi raised the UAE flag, winning the award for the Contemporary Emirati category.
Other glamorous prizes included a Dhamani jewellery set worth of AED20,000, which was given to Asma Alhebsi. While Fathi Saleh Abdul Malik won a diamond set from Amwaj worth of AED50,000. Fatema Mohamed won two tickets to Bangkok provided by Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE.
[Image: Presenter Shereen Mitwalli at JWS.]
Additionally, one of the top influencers of the show, Shereen Mitwalli, is giving away her diamond ring worth AED35,000, which was given to her as a gift from Amwaj Jewellery, to one of her lucky followers. The competition will run through for a month. If you think you deserve the ring or know someone who does, make sure you write to Shereen and tell her your story on her Instagram by tagging @shereenmitwalli @jwsabudhabi @amwaj_jewellery with the hashtag #shereenloves.
If you’ve missed this year’s show, make sure you attend the Silver Jubilee Edition of the Abu Dhabi International Jewellery & Watch Show, which is set to take place from May 2 – 6, 2017.
