The gold-plated model of the State Mosque of Qatar at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition yesterday.
By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter
Antique swords, artistic timepieces and a $5.4mn rare stone from Sri Lanka are some of the unique items showcased at the ongoing Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE).
Many visitors at the event find the Sword of Qatar to be an impressive collector’s piece, a sign of pride, heritage and ancestry.
Made of 21-karat gold with 200 pieces of small precious stones, the sword costs about QR350,000. Other swords on display include 200-year-old blades that cost about QR200,000.
Al Bidaa Swords and Gifts branch manager Moustafa El-Said told Gulf Times that swords form an important part of the Qatari culture.
While the company produces a lot of jowhar-made swords yearly, he said the Sword of Qatar is a limited one. The company sold some 200 pieces on the occasion of Qatar National Day in December last year. He said the swords are normally used for the traditional Qatari dance, Ardha.
“Many of our clients buy swords as gifts for VIPs. It is popular on occasions such as weddings.” he added. “These handmade swords also serve as collector’s items.”
Besides swords, the company has also displayed its gold-plated model of Qatar’s State Mosque, which costs QR750,000.
Another unique item at DJWE is the Cabestan watches, particularly the Winch Tourbillon Vertical collection. A mechanical devise comprising a large drum on a vertical axis, hand-operated by a lever, the winch, causing a rope or chain to wrap around the drum.
A miniature chain and fuse transmit the energy while a vertical tourbillon regulates the movement. Drums display the time and a small winch handle concealed in the buckle activates the mechanisms. Twin sapphire crystals provide 180° views of the movement.
Owner-CEO Lionel Betoux told Gulf Times that the idea in the beginning was to do a trilogy of watches based on the same vertical movement and with a link to water, earth and sky.
He stressed that Cabestan founder Jean-François Ruchonnet was very much into selling boats, cars and planes.
Cabestan, a brand launched 12 years ago, produces a limited 50 unique timepieces per year. It produced a total of 135 pieces of the Winch Tourbillon Vertical.
DJWE 2015 also features the Blue Royal Sapphire stone, one of the most expensive and rare stones displayed at the Fabergé stall inside the Alfardan Jewellery pavilion. The cushion-cut stone from Sri Lanka is pegged at $5,450,000.
Fabergé, in partnership with Alfardan Jewellery, unveiled its one-of-a-kind “Pearl Egg” on Wednesday at DJWE, reviving the tradition of creating the most precious and coveted of objets d’art.
