IT WAS AT AN EVENT HOSTED BY ROOTS QATAR THAT FACT’S ANUSHAY TAIMUR KHAN CAME ACROSS JEWELLERY THAT SHE WAS INSTANTLY AT TRACTED TO, CALLIGRAPHY BEING A PASSION. THE TABLE WAS A RAINBOW OF PASTEL TONES WITH NECKL ACES, RINGS, AND EARRINGS ON DISPL AY. UNIQUE DESIGNS THAT CONNECTED WITH HER INSTANTLY, WHICH SHE SOON CAME TO LEARN BELONGED TO A VERY SPECIAL BRAND CALLED PRECIOUS…

A young woman in a hijab stood behind the table with the most pleasant smile and gave me a look of encouragement to try on the jewellery I was admiring. I gushed about how beautiful the designs were and wondered if I could even afford one. Making a mental note to ask my husband to gift one of these beauties to me, I sheepishly put a few down and held on to my favourites. I was tied between two rings that translated to ‘you are the happiness of my life’ and ‘passion’. With what looked like a semi-precious stone Aqeeq and Amethyst, I couldn’t help but ask the price. The answer, to date, amazes me. QR45. Oh, so this must be an artificial stone then, right? Well, this just might be one of the mysteries of life – how this brand sells authentic stones at an affordable price tag. I was on a mission; I needed to know more.

I took Perihan’s card as her table got crowded, with more people as amazed as I was. It took me a few days, a couple of Instagram messages and some beautiful rings I bought, later, and I finally got Perihan to agree for a quick cup of coffee to discuss my love for her creations. A mother of two who gave up her career to pursue this passion of jewellery making, Perihan had me in awe. A journey that started during her late teens, Precious is a brand that she holds close to her heart. Marketing, designing and the talented knack of knowing that unique is a market yet to be explored in Egypt, three friends got together to start the business in 2006. PM2 came into being with the first exhibition being a huge success. Family, friends and acquaintances made this brand into a success and the clients took away the real deal of the bargain. Unfortunately, the untimely death of the third partner had the other two wondering if they ever really focused on fulfilling their wishes. However, it was too difficult to come back to this with one of them not alive anymore and the trauma did not allow the friends to step on the same path again.

A year passed by and Perihan often adorned her own pieces, an acquaintance complimented one of the pieces she wore and confessed that she still wore the ones she bought a few years ago. A flicker of hope and the love of jewellery gave Peri, as I was now addressing her, the courage to actually start the venture again.

And Precious was born in 2009. After shifting to Doha in 2011, it seemed like life got in the way and the need to be productive set in. Perihan forgot all about her brand and settled into the comfortable corporate life.

The hunt for unique jewellery in Doha urged the designer to introduce Precious in Doha in 2017. Inspired by earth and the colours of mother nature, the handmade jewellery combined with high-quality stones, believing in the healing powers of the stones to bring harmony and peace for the customer, Precious proved to be a brand for all age groups and different tastes. Whether it is the Gaia collection that resembles the earth, plain designs with a variety of colours from the beautiful Agate stones or my personal favourite, the Soft Oriental line with simple Arabic designs that match all cultures, there is something for everyone!

Perihan’s humble nature and patience were a compliment to the handcrafted pieces that I now show off everywhere. Each time I meet Peri, I tend to buy a number of rings from her, out of which I am only left with one, something I have saved for my daughter, because the uncountable compliments just do not stop. Encouraging women to take the step that this woman has taken, the least I could do was be a voluntary brand ambassador and apparently ‘gifter’ of these magnificent pieces.

The love, adoration, and story behind the brand gives it life but, more than anything, owning a piece of jewellery from this brand is precious indeed. The plus point for this venture would be the fact that once you own something from Precious, you are truly the sole owner of the style and there will be no one you will ever find who is wearing the same thing. Uniqueness takes a new meaning with Perihan’s expert eye for design and quality. The brand is not for making overflowing profits for her, it is a personal agenda to make sure that what was missing in the market for her is available for those who love standing out – frankly, who doesn’t? Except, this time, it is truly the love for nature, the art and the cutting-edge designs that the artist is capable of putting forward.

Truly the most unique piece there will ever be in the market, I type this feature after gifting yet another ring to one of my friends. The design, quality, and uniqueness of the jewellery has everyone noticing it and nothing makes my heart happier than being the one to introduce them to Precious. ✤

GO: FOLLOW @PRECIOUS_PIECEOFEARTH ON INSTAGRAM FOR MORE INFORMATION.