Doha: Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) has announced the details of the 17th edition of the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition (DJWE), which is organized under the patronage of H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, for a period of six days from February 24 to 29, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).
The announcements were made by Akbar Al Baker, Secretary-General of the National Tourism Council and CEO of Qatar Airways Group, during a press conference at the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, the official hotel partner.
The 2020 edition will bring together 127 exhibitors, a 65% increase from last year, from 14 countries. International exhibitors will makeup more than 58% of the total number of vendors. Along with local Qatari designers, they will showcase more than 451 brands of watches and jewellery, providing a unique opportunity for luxury-seekers to learn about the latest products and innovations from the most renowned brands in Qatar and the world, all under one roof.
“The Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition has become a major destination for seekers of luxury and elegance from around the world because it enables direct interaction between brands and customers. Here, the most prestigious new brands are launched and the latest products and releases of some of the world’s best-known international names are unveiled. The exhibition has contributed to reinforcing Qatar's position as a host of international exhibitions, and plays a critical role in supporting Qatari talent by providing a platform for them to market their products, launch their brands, and gain crucial experience through contact with the most prestigious players in the field,” Al Baker said.
With the growing popularity of the prestigious luxury event, this year’s exhibition space was expanded to an area of more than 33,000 square meters at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center – representing a 12% increase from the previous edition.
The Young Qatari Designers Initiative returns to the exhibition this year with five new designers, showcasing 16 jewellery brands, in a special zone, bringing the total to 18. The initiative was launched to support Qatari creatives and showcase their work and achievements, enabling them to display their designs alongside some of the biggest luxury brands in the world.
This year’s edition of the exhibition will – for the first time – include a Turkish Pavilion that features 11 Turkish brands, in addition to the return of the Indian Pavilion for the second year in a row with 28 brands featured – more than double the number in 2019. The Indian Pavilion will display wide and distinctive varieties of the latest and finest Indian jewellery that has been crafted to suit all tastes and occasions.
DJWE is expected to showcase a number of exclusive pieces designed by famed global brands such as Tag Heuer and FPG, in addition to the participation of world-renowned diamond brand De Beers, which comes to Doha for the first time ahead of the opening of its first Qatari branch in Al Hazm.
Among the highlights of the 17th edition of the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition comes the participation of the Qatar Watch Club, which will exhibit a collection of rare collectibles and limited edition pieces, and the participation of the prestigious French Objective Horlogerie group, which will provide various workshops, including a watch care workshop organised by the group for the first time in the Middle East.
The exhibition also provides consulting services by certified experts, gem specialists, and specialists who will provide free appraisals to visitors looking to buy jewellery pieces at the exhibition, in addition to various educational and interactive activities.
A global media campaign will run in target markets in advance of DJWE, featuring famed Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor as the face of the campaign and the guide for visitors on their journey to beauty.