Written by Paula Grineri - Thursday, September 7, 2023
He was destined for a brilliant financial career, but his passion for jewellery and love for exceptional gemstones made him one of the youngest jewellers of his generation. Grandson of the famous "Pearl Doctor", Adi Al Fardan shared his father's passion for fine jewellery very early on. Alongside his studies, he dedicated all his free time to the development of the family business Al Fardan Jewellery, before creating his own company: Adi Al Fardan Jewellery. Trained by the best artisans around the world, Adi Al Fardan has the sharp eye of a connoisseur and requires absolute quality in terms of gems. As a true master of the codes of luxury, he welcomed us in his Dubai location, imbued with refinement and elegance.
Of course. It all began when I was young. As a young Adi, I spent a lot of time with my father. As a prominent businessman, jewellery has always been more than a hobby, if not a true passion for my father. He spent his life, energy and resources collecting, gathering gemstones, creating state-of-the-art jewellery. I remember him picking stones, deciding on the design, and carefully crafting unique pieces.
I was initially supposed to follow a very different path, in finance. But my passion for jewellery and love for exceptional gemstones were stronger. I worked with my father first, before establishing my own company: Adi Al Fardan Jewellery.
We are a private high-end jeweller. We work exclusively with certain gems of the highest quality – the kind of powerful gemstones that attract the eye and are meant to last for generations.
We have our own production facility – most of our jewellery is produced in-house.
I work with the top 5: diamonds, emeralds, pearls, sapphires, and rubies. Regarding diamonds, we only use
Yes, of course. Gemstone traceability is essential. I believe stones have energy. If they are not ethically sourced, they won’t carry good energy.
We have different sources, and we know the exact provenance of each stone. We handpick the stones and make sure they have been ethically sourced by the suppliers themselves, through an RJC certificate for example.
First and foremost, the stone itself is a source of inspiration, as well as its energy. Sometimes, I look at a gemstone and imagine a floral design, a palm tree, a flower – imagination has no limit.
I also like to draw inspiration from classical designs and always add a modern touch. The combination generates a unique design and becomes a distinctive piece for generations to inherit.
Gemstone lovers, high jewellery connoisseurs who appreciate art and fine jewellery, and collectors. We have clients from all over the world, but we’re mainly focused on the Arab / GCC countries for now.
It is indeed the main purpose of our jewellery. We create fine jewellery and exclusive pieces. There are different categories of jewellery, and we focus on the mid to high – with diamond sets, gemstone sets, with different designs and different looks. For us, each piece of jewellery is unique as it is meant to be worn by a specific person. If it is for a special occasion, like an engagement, it's a ring that will be worn forever. A piece of jewellery, a necklace, or an earring which you can wear on remarkable, happy occasions. Thus, each piece is specially crafted for an individual and designed to be passed on to future generations.
Exactly. This is why I believe that each piece of jewellery is a form of art. No one can just go and pick a piece. It is important to sit down, to understand the story and the creative process. From our side, we need to understand what our clients are after and see if the piece matches their personality. If they have an idea of the design, we create a new piece accordingly. We start by picking the stones together before designing a piece that will meet their desire.
There are different tastes. Some will focus on classic heirloom pieces, while others will only focus on style. The younger generations may be attracted to hype rather than authenticity or simply buy jewellery for status. As they become more educated on gemstones and the jewellery making process, they will be perfectly capable of appreciating its value and beauty. The youngest need to understand what jewellery is. Because today, jewellery is competing against fashion, cars and other luxury goods.
We mainly communicate on social media. Snapchat to be specific. We invite our young customers to share our passion, love, and admiration for exceptional gemstones.
Regarding the industry, jewellers should stop fighting on price. That’s why the big brands are winning. With all due respect, the idea should be to promote the industry, to help each other, to push each other, instead of fighting over the lowest price bracket, which does not work… For me, jewellery is not about the price, it’s about understanding it to appreciate it.
Yes, I really think so. We start at our own scale, and then the message must be spread. Consumers need to be educated because they need to know what they’re getting. Think of it this way – diamonds are associated with love, rubies with status, sapphires and emeralds with purity, whereas pearls are a divine factor. From one generation to the next, what can be kept? What can be given? Something tangible, something you can wear continuously – it’s a piece of jewellery that lasts, and this is what people need to understand. It is our responsibility to inform new generations about the know-how and specific features of this industry.
We are working hard to be more successful, to grow and open new markets, and for our brand name to reach every single person that loves and appreciates fine jewellery. Our goal is to reach new heights... To live unique moments with our customers, whether they are special occasions or not, to share the passion and love for exceptional gemstones…
From the famous peacock throne to the most legendary gemstones and the history of the tennis bracelet – discover the history of mythical jewels in a series of 4 videos, in which Adi Al Fardan shares his passion for gems and reveals the inspiration behind his latest creations:
Adi AlFardan Jewellery
Private Jeweller • High Jewellery
Dubai
• By Appointment Only •