RIYADH: This year’s Jewelry Salon exhibition opened its doors to the public as part of Riyadh Season with some of the most luxurious and unique designs in the region.
Hosted in the Riyadh Front Exhibition Center, the salon covers 30,000 square meters and will be welcoming visitors until Nov. 6.
The event that has been taking place in the Saudi capital for 10 years is the largest to date in terms of the number of vendors and attendees, as well as diversity of jewels on display.
Visitors can be seen walking around the fall section of the Jewelry Salon's four-season layout at the Riyadh Front Exhibition Center. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
Representatives from more than 16 countries will be showcasing rare stones, diamonds and gold at what is regarded as the biggest jewelry exhibition of its kind in the Middle East.
More than 500 VIPs from throughout the region are expected to visit the salon, with the opening day seeing royals, celebrities, and world business leaders in attendance.
Hatoon Al-Khaldi, an exhibition marketing manager, said that influencers, including Balqees and Fatima Al-Ansari, were also due to make appearances.
Veschetti, an Italian family high-end jewelry business founded in 1949, was in Riyadh for the second time showcasing a collection of hand-crafted pieces inspired by Italian culture and made using rare and precious gems.
Business owner, Chiara Veschetti, told Arab News: “We are very honored and happy to be back here in the unique jewelry exhibition in Riyadh after two years with our collection from Italy.”
An array of precious stones, including the Burmese sapphire sitting at the top of the display, found at Veschetti's exhibit at the Jewelry Salon. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
Another item on display was a carved Burmese sapphire, classified as a “gemological rarity,” found in modern-day Myanmar.
The exhibition was also hosting local designers alongside international industry names such as Piaget, Harry Winston, and Yvel and some of the diamonds on display cannot be seen anywhere else.
One of the exhibits is the world’s most expensive mask, valued at $1.5 million. Created by Yvel during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it contains 250 grams of 18-carat gold and is set with 3,608 natural black and white diamonds.
Luxury watch, rough diamond and gemstone dealers, gold and precious collectibles retailers and gold wholesalers from around the globe were among other exhibition participants.
An array of precious stones, including the Burmese sapphire sitting at the top of the display, found at Veschetti's exhibit at the Jewelry Salon. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
Launched in 2010, the Jewelry Salon was set up as a hub for local female designers to display their work and grow their brands. It has now grown into a regional gathering for jewelry enthusiasts, investors, and local and international businesses.
