The market for ornaments made from pearls in Qatar and rest of the region is bound to grow steadily if the trend among the Gulf citizens is any indication, said a regional representative of Schoffel, a widely acclaimed business house from Germany, specialising in the pearl sector.
“Schoffel, which is set to complete 100 years in 2021, has been doing business in Qatar since the start of Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE) in 2004,” company representative Gregor Schwartz told Gulf Times. The Schoffel booth is within the Alfardan pavilion.
“We are here because of globally well-known pearl collectors as Hussain Alfardan, who has no parallels in the industry. The first name that comes to one’s mind when it comes to pearls is that of Alfardan,” he said.
Schwartz has no doubt that there are not too many jewellers elsewhere with such enormous collections of pearls as Alfardan.
“The unrefined and raw pearls that we procure from across the world for making ornaments, especially necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and beads require no further introduction among the local clientele,” said Schwarz while adding that this could be possible only because of the awareness created by Alfardan.
Schoffel has displayed a large collection of ornaments made of pearls from different destinations, especially South Sea around Australia, China, Japan’s Akoya and Tahiti Black pearls from French Polynesia.
“Ornaments made from Tahiti pearls is of good demand among Qatari women,” Schwartz said. “This growing interest of the locals makes us very hopeful of doing more business here in coming years.”
According to this trader, the best pearl ornaments are those made from uncultured and unrefined natural pearls.
Schwartz holding a necklace made of South Sea pearls at his company’s booth at Alfardan pavilion. PICTURE: Thajudheen
