Our little island may be small but it’s a treasure trove of some of the most exotic and luxurious jewellery and watch brands in the world. Apple Sharma showcases some of the well-known heroes of the industry.
With the festive season just round the corner, the hunt for that perfect present has most certainly begun. Nothing woos a woman more than a beautiful piece of jewellery – it’s also a way of expressing one’s individual style and personality. Men, on the other hand, shy away from accessories; however, watches still remain an all-time favourite with them. It’s no wonder, then, that jewellery and watches are high on the list of items purchased during this special time. And Bahrain’s highly anticipated event of the year – Jewellery Arabia – is the perfect place to start. It attracts thousands of visitors from the entire region and brings together some of the biggest international and local brands, all under one roof.
The jewellery and watch industry in the Kingdom is well supported by many notable brands, and the exhibition is a fantastic platform for them to showcase their finest offerings and services.
Asia Jewellers has a long-standing reputation as one of the industry’s leaders in trading the finest high-end jewellery and luxury watches. They represent some of the world’s most renowned brands and are exclusive distributors for more than 60 trademarks, including Fabergé, The House of Garrard, Ulysse Nardin, De Grisogono, Zenith, Damiani, Corum, Philip Stein, Pomellato, Raymond Weil, Montegrappa, Pasqual Bruni, Gaspari and Gucci. They also have partnerships with stand-alone boutique brands, such as Cartier, Versace, Van Cleef & Arpels, Audemars Piguet, Panerai and IWC. Asia Jewellers have expanded their branches throughout the Kingdom and are located at Moda Mall, City Centre Bahrain, Al Aali Shopping Complex and Seef Mall.
Bahrain Jewellery Centre (BJC), is another big player and is the sole dealer for some of the world’s most renowned Swiss watches and Italian jewellery. With many flagship stores across Bahrain, BJC also boasts a number of mono boutiques for prestigious brands, including Patek Philippe, Chopard, Omega, Piaget and Tiffany & Co. Other prominent brands represented include Bvlgari, Hublot, Breguet, Harry Winston, Frank Muller, A Lange & Söhne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Barthlay, Tag Heuer and more. BJC aims to inspire the younger generation with BJC Baby, a fine accessory outlet for kids at Al Aali Shopping Complex, which also houses BJC Gifts and its lavish gift items from Links of London.
LIALI Jewellery specialises in 18k gold, certified diamonds, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones. Renowned for offering classy and luxurious designs in exclusive handcrafted pieces, Liali jewellery is becoming extremely popular in the region for elegant bridal sets as well as various international lines including Tessitore and Claudia Romano. Liali constantly updates its collections to offer exquisite creations in time for special occasions, along with great promotions.
Sharif Group’s jewellery outlet A La Mode offers everything from high-end jewellery and timepieces to affordable and contemporary pieces. Its collections highlight designs by brands, such as Alpina, Emporio Armani, Ferre Milano, Esprit, Joop, Michael Kors, Nina Ricci, Pierre Cardin, Just Cavalli, Roberto Cavalli by Franck Muller, Rochas Paris, West End Watches and more. Of particular note are its own A La Mode line, as well as the collections by Majorica, lolaandgrace and Misaki, which are popular with women from all walks of life and age. A La Mode outlets also provide on-site repairs to all brands of watches.
Kewalram & Sons hold the dealership of the luxury watch brand Titan, the world’s fifth largest watchmaker that manufactures more than 15 million timepieces every year. It is the recipient of the prestigious red dot design award for Titan Edge – the slimmest watch in the universe – and has recently unveiled Titan Sparkle, an exclusive range of women’s fashionable timepieces.
Ambassador Stores are the authorised dealers of prominent Japanese watch brand Seiko, offering various popular collections, including the Grand Seiko, Prospex and the elegant Premier range. Seiko’s sub-brand Alba holds an appeal for younger customers.
AJM Kooheji Group’s fast-growing lifestyle division is home to several world-renowned brands, including De Beers from the UK, Korloff from Paris, Roberto Coin from Italy, Maurice Lacroix from Switzerland and Askania from Germany.
Al Hawaj & Sons is well known for its partnership with Swarovski, showcasing the brand’s dazzling crystal product collections.
Nomination Italy is renowned for its signature composable bracelets and watches, which can be personalised to create a unique accessory.
Al Mahmood Pearls are one of the leading pearl jewellers of the country, offering a wide range of rings, earrings, pendants and necklaces, showcasing various shapes and sizes of pearls.
Al-Sarraj Jewellers is a pioneer in dealing with precious and semi-precious stones, as well as Bahraini pearls, crafting elegant and modern pieces of jewellery.
Bahrain’s other home-grown jewellery houses that have made a name for themselves in the local and regional market include Al Zain, Devji since 1950, Damas, Joy Alukkas, Malabar Gold and Diamonds and Pure Gold, to name just a few.
The Gold Souq in the heart of Bab Al Bahrain and the Gold City on Government Avenue are popular with locals and tourists alike. With a variety of jewellery shops, this is a go-to place for some great bargains. They sell everything from gold and silver to precious stones, and most will also offer jewellery cleaning services.
With such a plethora of prestigious options on the island, there’s something to suit every taste and budget, so get hunting and discover all that Bahrain has to offer.
