30 September 2003
RIYADH — The World Gold Council (WGC) has announced a Pan-Arab Gold Jewelry Design Contest for 2003-04 as part of its drive to help artists promote Arab culture through gold jewelry designs and also to stimulate the gold market. Details were set out by Usama Alwazir, Gulf manager of WGC, and Ayman Al-Haffar, marketing and sales director of the Riyadh-based L’Azurde Group, the largest gold and jewelry manufacturer in the Middle East and the competition’s sponsor.
Alwazir said the competition, the third in the series, was previously held in Cairo and Dubai before coming to Riyadh this year. “The Pan Arab Design contest is open to all amateur and professional designers and the aim is to reflect Arab culture and traditional values in gold jewelry. The winners will go on to win the Gold Oscar in the Arab world.”
This year’s contest will have two categories — jewelry for formal wear and special occasions and jewelry for casual, everyday wear. There will be three prizes in each category. Participants will be required to submit designs that are artistic and modern. The winners will be selected by a committee consisting of well-known designers and artists from the Arab world.
Alwazir said the competition begins on Oct. 1 and closes in mid-December. The final winners will be selected in a Grand Finale in May 2004. First prize is a seven-ounce medal of pure gold, a trophy, and a winner’s certificate.
Second prize is a five-ounce medal of pure gold plus a trophy and a certificate. Third prize is a two-ounce medal of pure gold, a trophy and a certificate. Last year’s competition attracted over 7,000 entries from the Arab world including 1,500 from Saudi Arabia. Sixty contestants were short-listed for the final round. According to Ayman Al-Haffar, L’Azurde artisans and technicians will manufacture 30 designs into 21-karat gold pieces to reflect the inspiration of the winning entries. L’Azurde Group has four factories equipped with state-of-the-art technology in the gold and jewelry field as well as design centers in the Kingdom and abroad.
Asked about the Saudi gold market, Alwazir said the annual volume of the market this year - 192 tons - was slightly down from last year’s 200 tons. He attributed this to various factors, including the current climate of uncertainty and the impact of Saudization which has pushed the gold price up.
RIYADH — The World Gold Council (WGC) has announced a Pan-Arab Gold Jewelry Design Contest for 2003-04 as part of its drive to help artists promote Arab culture through gold jewelry designs and also to stimulate the gold market. Details were set out by Usama Alwazir, Gulf manager of WGC, and Ayman Al-Haffar, marketing and sales director of the Riyadh-based L’Azurde Group, the largest gold and jewelry manufacturer in the Middle East and the competition’s sponsor.
Alwazir said the competition, the third in the series, was previously held in Cairo and Dubai before coming to Riyadh this year. “The Pan Arab Design contest is open to all amateur and professional designers and the aim is to reflect Arab culture and traditional values in gold jewelry. The winners will go on to win the Gold Oscar in the Arab world.”
This year’s contest will have two categories — jewelry for formal wear and special occasions and jewelry for casual, everyday wear. There will be three prizes in each category. Participants will be required to submit designs that are artistic and modern. The winners will be selected by a committee consisting of well-known designers and artists from the Arab world.
Alwazir said the competition begins on Oct. 1 and closes in mid-December. The final winners will be selected in a Grand Finale in May 2004. First prize is a seven-ounce medal of pure gold, a trophy, and a winner’s certificate.
Second prize is a five-ounce medal of pure gold plus a trophy and a certificate. Third prize is a two-ounce medal of pure gold, a trophy and a certificate. Last year’s competition attracted over 7,000 entries from the Arab world including 1,500 from Saudi Arabia. Sixty contestants were short-listed for the final round. According to Ayman Al-Haffar, L’Azurde artisans and technicians will manufacture 30 designs into 21-karat gold pieces to reflect the inspiration of the winning entries. L’Azurde Group has four factories equipped with state-of-the-art technology in the gold and jewelry field as well as design centers in the Kingdom and abroad.
Asked about the Saudi gold market, Alwazir said the annual volume of the market this year - 192 tons - was slightly down from last year’s 200 tons. He attributed this to various factors, including the current climate of uncertainty and the impact of Saudization which has pushed the gold price up.
Javid Hassan
© Arab News 2003
