The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) participated in this year’s Federation for European Education in Gemmology (FEEG) Symposium, held at the Arab World Institute, in Paris, France.

 

The conference, which takes place annually in different cities within Europe, features an outstanding lineup of speakers and experts, including leading gemologists from across the world, congregating to present diplomas to Europe’s emerging gemologists. As of 2021, Danat and the FEEG embarked on an official collaboration, whereby DANAT became the only Arab and non-European entity to join the FEEG organisation.

 

Chief Executive Officer of Danat, Noora Jamsheer, took part as a Key Speaker in the opening session of this year’s conference, where she presented an overview of the history of the pearl industry and addressed the factors that had an impact on the demand for natural pearls.

 

Jamsheer also went on to address the recent challenges facing the gemology industry as a result of the surge in lab-grown diamonds, which are not declared and sold to customers as natural diamonds; a practice which can potentially impact the industry’s market share similar to what happened with the natural pearl industry in the early 1900s. Jamsheer further remarked that it is the industry’s responsibility to ensure disclosure and transparency to minimize the threats from the luxury industry.

 

She also highlighted the benefits of being part of the FEEG, stressing the importance of knowledge sharing and exploring best practices that align with protecting the industry. Danat’s Research Manager and Marine Biologist, Dr Reem Al Mealla, aslo took part in the conference, with a report titled "Temporal Comparison of the Status of the Northern Pearl Oyster Beds and Pearl Yield in the Kingdom of Bahrain." Dr. Reem presented the methodology for the research project highlighting Bahrain’s ongoing endeavors to assess the status of Al Hayrat (pearl oyster beds) in the Kingdom and the changes encountered over the last decade.

 

Jamsheer said: “We are pleased to have taken part in the Federation for European Education in Gemmology Symposium held in Paris this year. Our collaboration with FEEG stands as a testament to our continued pursuit of excellence, enabling us to position the Kingdom of Bahrain as a global authority on the pearling industry through our reports and findings. We look forward to driving the Kingdom’s National Plan to revive the Pearl Sector by representing the sector globally.”

 

The Federation for European Education in Gemmology (FEEG) was founded in 1995, with the goal of developing a pan-European gemmology certificate that would be accepted by all organizations and institutions in Europe.

 

The Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones (Danat) is the leading institute and laboratory in the world of pearl verification, providing several services including pearl and gemstone testing and certification, as well as training and awareness courses. Danat serves as a window between global markets and local and international customers.-TradeArabia News Service