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This year’s International Jewellery and Watch Show is all set to razzle-dazzle visitors

Tick tock. It’s time for the 22nd edition of Abu Dhabi’s International Jewellery and Watch Show (JWS). The return of this exhibition will see an extensive showcase of gorgeous jewels and limited-edition timepieces from Abu Dhabi and beyond between 13th and 17th March.
This year over 150 exhibitors from 20 countries including Italy, Singapore, Turkey and the USA will be showcasing the latest designs in the industry. Dubbed the leading event for high-end jewellery and watches in the Middle East, the 2014 edition of JWS promises a shiny showcase of jewels and timepieces made from gold, silver, diamonds, precious metals and gems.
The region’s jewellery trends start here. The plethora of swanky jewels makes it the perfect place to buy a unique gift for someone special or spoil yourself with the latest design. Aside from the extensive showcase of international brands, JWS offers a unique opportunity for Emirati jewellery designers through the EBDA’A Award.

EBDA’A Award 2014

allthat02The UAE’s first competition for jewellery designers, the EBDA’A Award, was launched as part of JWS 2013.
The award is open to Emirati artists, designers and students from across the UAE who enter into one of three categories: daywear and casual jewellery; eveningwear; and contemporary interpretation of traditional jewellery. The daywear and casual jewellery category is also open to UAE residents. The winning designers will receive support in promoting their products across the national and international jewellery industry.
This year’s entrants will be judged on creativity and innovation; aesthetics, craftsmanship and wearability; and marketability and topic relevance. The winners of each category will be awarded designer trophies at a ceremony and are invited back each year to participate at JWS.
This year’s edition welcomes back Emirati jewellery artist and entrepreneur Azza Al Qubaisi who will mentor the emerging local designers in the competition.
We caught up with Al Qubaisi to find out how she paved the way for upcoming designers as the first Emirati jewellery artist and why she initiated the EBDA’A award.

How did your career as a jewellery artist begin?
I graduated with a BA in jewellery designing, silversmithing and allied craft at London Guildhall University. That’s when I immediately established my own atelier and workshop and started creating my wearable art pieces. The first exhibition was in 2004 in the Cultural Foundation. After that it became a snowball. In 2005 I started the first locally produced production line of silver jewellery. It’s been growing since then under the brand ARJMST.

Tell us about your brand ARJMST.
It’s the first letters of all my sisters’ and brothers’ names. My pieces reflect a story and a concept that I’m trying to put through in each collection that I create. They’re all one-off pieces that are handmade by myself.

Where do you find the inspiration?
Local culture, the environment. My first collection was about life and the preciousness of water; my second collection was about the beauty of the desert, patterns and what it means to me as an Emirati. After that I started focusing on issues related to sustainability. To me it’s the engagement and the passion I put into my pieces. I try to change the view of what you can find as a souvenir to remember the country with.

What challenges have you faced?
For me it was a very tough ride. I didn’t have a foundation to build myself on; there weren’t any jeweller groups or associations that I could be part of. The industry is not at the level of design; it’s at the level of manufacturing and selling jewellery. It was very tough for me to go anywhere or to start from something that already existed so I had to pave the way for upcoming designers, as I was the first national jewellery designer and maker.

 

allthat03What is the purpose behind the EBDA’A Award 2014 and why is it important?
I faced a lot of different challenges and I think that’s what made me work on establishing this award with the organisers. Finding the clients and exhibiting the work were all things that were very hard. Three winners from each category will get the opportunity to be in the exhibition, see what people think of their design, get a sponsor to produce their piece and be able to engage with big brands. They also get the opportunity to be in the show next year and focus on marketing and selling their pieces. No other jewellery competition provides all that. Of course they get a designer trophy as well as a certificate but I think it’s about the engagement, not just about being awarded. It’s about giving them a real opportunity to meet the people and make the business happen.

What advice will you be giving this year’s competitors?
The main advice I give them is don’t close the door and wait for somebody to knock. Find opportunities. In the end the main one is to believe in themselves and believe that we didn’t pick them for no reason. We’re a very tough committee made of four jury members with very different backgrounds. If they won they should believe they’re good and all they need is to develop their pieces or their collections to start selling.

How would you describe the Emirati jewellery sector at the moment?
It’s a very young scene but it’s upcoming. It needs time to mature and we need to build stronger networks between us to support one another. That’s something nobody teaches you. They think they compete with one another but they don’t realise that actually each designer has their own uniqueness and by collaborating with each other they can actually support the sales.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery that you feel no outfit would be complete without?
When I was young I had an opal pendant that used to be a part of me. I would miss it if I wouldn’t wear it. Now I wear pieces depending on my mood and where I’m going. When you start making your own jewellery you’d rather see it worn by someone else than wear it yourself. At the same time I’ve got my favourites. When I travel to other countries I’d rather buy a designer piece that was handmade and has a story that I would take and make part of my own collection for my children to enjoy in the future. That’s very unique and different.

What will you be showcasing this year?
I’m launching a new brand called Back 2 Burqa. It’s a collaborative platform that I established last year for young designers to work closely with me and create a collection that is inspired by the burqa. I started this about six or seven years ago. I realised a lot of people started using it as an affordable piece that represents local culture. We’ve launched a collection by one of last year’s EBDA’A winners, Salaam Suwaid. I picked her because I wanted somebody who had the talent to work with different mediums that I personally enjoy. She has very similar qualities to myself, and I think that helped me build up the collection and the brand with her.

Stay up to date with Back2Burqa at www.facebook.com/Back2Burqa. To find out more about ARJMST visit: www.arjmst.com

 

What else is going on?

allthat05International seminars from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and International Gemological Institute (IGI) will be held during JWS 2014. This year find out all you need to know about gems at the GIA sessions where the experts will be covering topics from ‘Journey of Emerald’ to ‘Know your Pearls’. Meanwhile IGI explains the fifth ‘C’ of diamonds, Certification, and delves into the world of synthetic stones. The seminars are free for all JWS visitors.
Don’t forget to hold on to your JWS ticket, which puts you in to the daily raffle draw for a chance to win a 2014 Fiat 500 and a host of other exciting prizes.
The International Jewellery and Watch Show 2014 will run from 4pm to 10pm on 13th to 17th March at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Ladies day will be held on 16th March from 11am to 4pm. Tickets are available at the door for AED 25. For more information, visit: www.jws.ae

Sneak Peek

allthat04We’re emerald with envy over this stunning necklace by Dhamani Jewels. Part of the Royal Jewelry Collection, the dazzling and rare Colombian gem is the epitome of transparency, showing off a saturated and homogenous green colour. To view more of Dhamani Jewels’ striking collection, visit their stand at JWS 2014.

Number crunch

7,382: Visitors during the 2013 edition
8,000: Anticipated visitors this year
150+ Exhibitors taking part in 2014
20: Countries represented by exhibitors at the show
10,000m2: Of show area

Rachael Peacock

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