Jewellery Arabia 2012 will be officially inaugurated under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre on Tuesday 16 October 2012.
Last year’s show attracted over 42,500 visitors. Of the total, 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 21st exhibition in this prestigious annual series runs for 5 days until Saturday 20 October. Over 550 companies from 30 nations will be in attendance, spanning a total floor area of 16,500 square metres. Collectively, they form the largest display of precious gems, finished jewellery and luxury watches in the Middle East.
“Jewellery Arabia celebrates 21 years of service to the world’s jewellery industry in 2012. Since its launch in 1992, this highly influential exhibition has united thousands of exhibitors with buyers in the Middle East, provided a perfect market entry point for hundreds of new companies and served as an important showcase for a countless number of collections and latest trends in the Arab world,” Arabian Exhibition Management’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Key, said.
“Jewellery Arabia 2012 is set to build upon its reputation as the Middle East’s premier jewellery exhibition with a spectacular array of high-end brands, exclusive designers and quality fashion-led manufacturers and retailers,” he added.
Eminent jewellery houses and watch manufacturers making a return appearance at Jewellery Arabia 2012 include Chopard, David Morris, Gaspari, Harry Winston, Piaget and Staurino Fratelli amongst numerous others. Mellerio dits Meller, one of the oldest and most prestigious family companies in Europe, is set to exhibit in the Middle East for the first time at Jewellery Arabia 2012.
Watches also remain a prominent feature at the exhibition. Visitors can source the latest in watch design and manufacture from a vast range of important brands including A. Lange & Söhne, Audemars Piguet, Breguet, Baume & Mercier, Corum, Hublot, Omega, Officine Panerai, Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin to name just a few.
Many of these high profile international jewellery and watch brands will use the exhibition as a platform to introduce exclusive collections and limited edition pieces to the Middle East collector’s market.
Large country pavilions from Brazil, Hong Kong, India and Malaysia complements this line up. Collectively, these groups of companies reflect the very best manufacturing capabilities, design expertise and gemmological resources that their respective countries have to offer.
Joining these high profile brands and national groups are some of the Middle East’s finest retailers and manufacturers, led by a selection of some of Bahrain’s leading jewellers. They include Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Asia Jewellers, Al Mahmood Pearls, Al Zain and Devji among others.
Many of these exhibiting companies have an exclusive presence in the Middle East at Jewellery Arabia, affording upwards of 45,000 visitors a unique preview of the global jewellery and watch market.
The exhibition’s high quality profile and enthusiastic consumer following continues to reflect the region’s passion for fine jewellery, which has succeeded in creating one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets.
The 8th Middle East Watches, Jewellery and Pen Awards
Further highlighting the importance of Jewellery Arabia to the Middle East jewellery and watch industry, for the eighth successive year, the Middle East Premier Awards for Watches, Jewellery and Pens will be held on the sidelines of the exhibition at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Bahrain on 16 October.
Hosted by MPP ME, publishers of the industry magazine title Arabian Watches and Jewellery (AWJ), the Awards are the culmination of an online public voting system and the analysis of an elite committee comprising of watch, jewellery and pen experts.
Fostering cohesion amongst Jewellery Arabia participants whilst also acknowledging their individual contribution to the industry, the ceremony will be a star-studded event with the expected presence of specially invited dignitaries and senior professionals representing the international and regional watch, jewellery and pen industries.