The key facts

  • The 22nd Jewellery and Watches Exhibition in Doha: more than 500 brands from 30 countries
  • Qatari jeweller Hussain Al-Fardan spoke about the pearl trade; one of his pieces took seven years of work
  • The report shows technologies that make it possible to distinguish natural diamonds from synthetic ones

The Largest Jewellery Exhibition in Doha

Doha is hosting the 22nd Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition), which has brought together more than 500 brands from 30 countries. This is reported by Euronews in an episode of the CULT programme. At first glance, the event is devoted to luxury — diamonds, gold and pearls — but, according to correspondent Aadel Khalim, the most interesting stories turn out to be the stories of the people behind the jewellery.

Hussain Al-Fardan and the Legacy of the Pearl Trade

The central figure of the story is Qatari businessman and jeweller Hussain Al-Fardan, who grew up among pearl traders and has maintained a deeply personal connection with this trade. One of the pieces he showcased took seven years to create.

Designers: From Global Fashion to National Motifs

Indian fashion designer Manish Malhotra spoke about how traditional jewellery finds a new audience thanks to modern fashion. Qatari designer Noura Al-Ansari, on the contrary, seeks inspiration closer to home — in the colours of the country, its architecture and pearl heritage.

Technology and the Meaning of Value

The report also shows technologies that make it possible to distinguish natural diamonds from synthetic ones. According to the idea of the episode, the value of a piece of jewellery is not always determined by its price: sometimes it is connected with childhood memories, a family business or a tradition passed down from generation to generation.