Over 550 exhibitors from 31 countries are set to take part in Jewellery Arabia 2018, the Middle East’s premier jewellery and watch exhibition, that opens on November 20 in Bahrain.

The event will be inaugurated under the patronage of HRH the Prime Minister of Bahrain Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre. The 27th exhibition in this prestigious annual series runs until November 24.

The event will display classic and contemporary design, a huge range of finished jewellery, timepieces, precious gems, clocks, fine writing instruments, luxury accessories and more from around the globe will go on sale.

Open free of charge to members of the public, show organisers UBM AEM anticipate over 50,000 visitors will attend the 21,000-sq-m jewellery extravaganza.

World famous watch and jewellery houses will be making a return appearance at Jewellery Arabia 2018, including major brand names. Many of these high profile international exhibitors will use the event as a platform to introduce exclusive collections and limited edition pieces to the Middle East collectors’ market.

Complementing these iconic brands are seven national groups from leading jewellery export countries. They include returning delegations of the finest retailers, designers and manufacturers from Hong Kong, India, Lebanon, Singapore and Thailand.

A pavilion of flagship jewellers from Russia are set to make their debut at Jewellery Arabia 2018, introducing the very best designs and craftsmanship inherent in the works of jewellers from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yakutsk and other cities to a Middle Eastern audience.

Jewellery Arabia 2018 will also turn the spotlight on independent designers and leading manufacturers from Bahrain who are breathing new life into jewellery-making traditions through their customised collections. Visitors will discover unique pieces that meld local heritage, craftsmanship and luxury with fashion.

“Bahrain’s rich jewellery heritage chimes perfectly with Jewellery Arabia and makes it a natural host. Our island archipelago’s pearling industry traces its history back 4,000 years. In modern times, the exhibition perpetuates a legacy of international trade and hospitality,” said UBM AEM director of Sales and Marketing Fawzi Al Shehabi.

“As we look to the future, annual global jewellery sales are expected to grow at five to six percent annually to over US$ 28 billion by 2020. It is more important than ever that jewellers are attuned to changing consumer preferences, and successful exhibitions such as Jewellery Arabia play a vital role in ensuring commercial success,” he continued.

Fine jewellers from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, Ukraine and the USA are also set to make a splash at the fair.

Visitors can also extend their knowledge of gems and precious stones by attending free of charge daily seminars led by world’s foremost authority on gemmology and the inventor of the 4 Cs, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).