Luxury jewelry brands dazzle at Riyadh showcase

House of GOL, a New York-based brand that specializes in colorful diamonds, brought a rare pink diamond to the exhibition. The brand had previously visited ZAH Creative Hub in Riyadh and continued its tour across the Kingdom during Saudi International Luxury Week. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 May 2024
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Luxury jewelry brands dazzle at Riyadh showcase

  • Larsen said that House of GOL specializes in high-end jewelry and many people buy it to reflect their heritage and to pass it down to future generations

RIYADH: Saudi International Luxury Week, which is taking place in Riyadh until May 9, showcases a selection of fine jewelry from around the world.

The event offers a unique opportunity for Saudi clients to acquire exclusive and sophisticated pieces.




FerriFirenze, an Italian brand, is gaining significant acceptance among Saudi clients during the event. (Supplied)

House of GOL, a New York-based brand known for its colorful diamonds, has shown a rare pink diamond at the event.

Anne Larsen, head of business development at House of GOL, has been visiting Saudi Arabia for the past three years to meet clients.




Maitraya is an Indian brand that specializes in Khaleeji and Saudi pearls, led by Sanghvi Maitarya, the seventh-generation representative of his family business. (Supplied)

Larsen said that House of GOL specializes in high-end jewelry and many people buy it to reflect their heritage and to pass it down to future generations.

The brand had previously visited the ZAH creative hub in Riyadh and continued its tours across the Kingdom. House of GOL's participation in the luxury week was in collaboration with Clea Nasr, ZAH's head of marketing.




Maitraya is an Indian brand that specializes in Khaleeji and Saudi pearls, led by Sanghvi Maitarya, the seventh-generation representative of his family business. (Supplied)

"We're here today with House of GOL to support them at a luxury jewelry event, following our earlier private event at ZAH. We support local and international designers through all PR and marketing activities, creating targeted strategies to drive exposure and growth, especially in Saudi Arabia," Nasr said.

The brand stands out by involving its clients in the jewelry creation process, hand drawing and painting the designs and then allowing clients to keep the drawings, adding a personal touch to the design experience.




House of GOL, a New York-based brand that specializes in colorful diamonds, brought a rare pink diamond to the exhibition. (Supplied)

Another standout brand at the event is Maitraya, an Indian company specializing in pure Gulf pearls, including khaleeji and Saudi pearls.

The brand is led by Sanghvi Maitarya, a seventh-generation representative of his family’s pearl business.




House of GOL, a New York-based brand that specializes in colorful diamonds, brought a rare pink diamond to the exhibition. (Supplied)

“My great-grandfather used to travel by boat,” said Maitarya. “This was before the Second World War and the discovery of oil. The oyster industry had declined and no longer produced these kinds of pearls. These are Saudi natural lulu pearls.”

He said that the pearls were no longer found in the Gulf, adding: “We collected them from grandmothers, maharajas, royal families, and other sources around the world.”

FerriFirenze, an Italian brand, is also impressing Saudi clients at the event.

Giulia Lina Callegari, owner of FerriFirenze, said: “We came to Saudi for the first time five years ago. We’ve seen the changes, the enthusiasm, the projects, and we’re always excited to meet local ladies who know jewelry, appreciate style, and often become our guests in Florence.”

FerriFirenze is a family business that began 10 years ago, and Callegari added: “We create jewelry that moves, physically moves when touched, is flexible, and so on. This style of jewelry can only be made by hand in Italy.”

 


Japanese researchers hope to restore coral from Saudi-made structures

Updated 05 January 2026
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Japanese researchers hope to restore coral from Saudi-made structures

  • Coral skeletons made for Saudi Pavilion at Japan expo last year
  • Results of Japanese study to be revealed at Riyadh Expo 2030

TOKYO: Japanese universities are seeking to restore coral reefs and marine ecosystems after receiving artificial structures that Saudi Arabia made and showcased at last year’s Osaka-Kansai Expo.

The coral skeletons were donated to the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa and Kansai University in Osaka Prefecture, Kyodo News reported at the weekend.

The structures are made from calcium carbonate, a material on which corals are believed to grow more easily compared to artificial alternatives such as concrete or metal.

The skeletal structures were created using 3-D printers, with one piece produced a day during the expo, and displayed across an entire wall in the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, which had an area focusing on sustainable marine environments.

Coral reefs serve as habitats for much marine life, but over 40 percent of the world’s 892 species face possible extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The University of the Ryukyus, which received about 150 of the artificial coral skeletons, will place them in waters off the eastern coast of Okinawa’s main island and then examine their impact on the ecosystem.

Kansai University has placed theirs in the sea around Kagoshima Prefecture’s Yoron Island to observe their growth after transplanting coral polyps onto the structures.

The results of the research are expected to be revealed at the Riyadh Expo in 2030.

“I had never imagined that Japan and Saudi Arabia would cooperate on coral research,” said Masato Ueda, a professor specializing in regenerative medicine at Kansai University.

Ueda said he wants to demonstrate to children that “humanity is attempting to restore the environment.”