A Jewellers Dream, a Buyers Paradise and a Golden Opportunity for the Middle's East's Jewellery Industry

Jewellery Arabia 2003, the twelfth show in the series of high profile exhibitions serving the Middle East's fine jewellery and luxury watch market, ended on October 18 having reaffirmed its position as the premier event of its kind in the region.

The five-day exhibition, held under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, attracted a record total of 25,178 jewellery trade buyers and private collectors. This figure marks a 15% increase in visitors over the 2002 event.

Of the total number, 5797 visitors (23%) were drawn from the region's single largest jewellery market - Saudi Arabia, with significant support also coming from Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and other neighbouring countries.

The exhibition of luxury watches; diamond, gem-set, platinum, gold and silver jewellery; retail packaging, merchandising material, and jewellery manufacturing machinery and technology spanned over 12,000 square metres of the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre marking a 25% growth rate.

Key exhibitors reported a significant amount of interest and sales activity and praised the unique buying environment stimulated by the show's exciting atmosphere. This is reflected in the fact that two thirds of available space at next year's show, Jewellery Arabia 2004, was sold before the close of the exhibition.

Addressing the press at the official opening of the exhibition, President of Piaget International Mr. Yves Piaget said that Jewellery Arabia is the world's most important jewellery event after Basel and JCK. He went on to say that the show is a “jewellers dream, a buyers paradise and a golden opportunity for the Middle's East's jewellery industry.”

National pavilions from leading jewellery export countries Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Switzerland and Thailand contributed to a total of 500 exhibiting companies from 27 countries. New to this year's exhibition was a delegation of the finest jewellers from Brazil including Vancox and CR Bruner whose innovative jewellery designs proved to be a star attraction.

The latest high quality jewellery collections and luxury watches from world famous jewellery houses including Cartier, Chopard, Dior, Dunhill, Luca Carati, Patek Phillipe, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Mikimoto and Van Cleef & Arpels also went on display - consolidating Jewellery Arabia?s reputation as the region's most prestigious jewellery event.

A strong Lebanese and GCC contingent drawn from the region's most exclusive jewellers complimented this line up. Amongst them were Bahrain's leading jewellers - Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Taqi's Jewellery and Asia Jewellers - who brought together stunning collections of international brands in boutique formats.

Visitor highlights included the staging of a glamorous jewellery fashion show by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion of India; a chance to vote at the Swiss Pavilion for the Middle East category of Le Grand Prix d'horlogerie de Genève (Geneva's official Watch Grand Prix); the Middle East debut of the world's largest black diamond and the Guinness Book of Records recognition of Day & Night jewellery and watch magazine as the world's largest magazine by page size.

Jewellery Arabia's continued expansion in both participant numbers, visitor attendance and quality merchandise, as well as its innovative approach in line with market trends are testimony to the exhibition's significance as the international jewellery showcase for the region.

Previously announced dates for Jewellery Arabia 2004 (formerly 5/9 October 2004) have now been revised to 30 November / 4 December 2004. This follows comments received from both exhibitors and visitors who believe that the exhibition would provide greater business opportunities if held after the Ramadan period.

The Jewellery Arabia series of exhibitions is organised by Arabian Exhibition Management in Bahrain in association with London based Overseas Exhibition Services, both members of Allworld Exhibitions.



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Source: Press Release Jewellery Arabia
November 2003