As in the previous years, diamond merchants from such key trading centres as Copenhagen and Antwerp have swarmed the Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition this year as well.Premier brands as Pejmani and Shamballa Jewels made their presence felt on the second day of the event with their stalls at Alfardan pavilion receiving relatively good patronage throughout the day.According to the inquiries made at the pavilions, it was found that more than 80% of the diamonds exported to different cities across the world are routed through the two places before their craftsmen put the finishing touches.Ask any diamond trader from Belgium and Denmark about the pieces that they make at their in house facilities and they are in a position to describe in detail where exactly those stones were procured from.Pejman Kerendian of Pejmani, a regular participant at the exhibitions, says diamonds are found not only in Australia and South Africa as people generally believe. “They are also located in such places as Burma, Russia, India and in many other locations across the world. However, mostly their trading is done through either Antwerp or Copenhagen.”
Superbly crafted designs from Pejmani and Shamballa, commanding several millions of dollars are on their display at their shelves. “Now-a-days, new markets are found in countries like Russia and China where a number of new millionaires are made virtually every day,.” said Kerendian.Shamballa founder Mads Kornerup also echoed similar feelings. Along with the Middle East, in particular such GCC states as Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, a new generation of collectors could also be seen in Russia and South America among others, he said.Though a newcomer at the festival, Kornerup is pleased with the response the exhibition has received since its start on Sunday. “What impressed me most was the interest being shown by local women to the event and their increasing participation in the afternoons,” he said. In the changing scenario of the diamond business, the markets in GCC are becoming the main attractions at the world level these days, said Kornerup.