Ahead of the UAE’s National Day celebrations, jewellery house Piaget has created a special new Sunlight pendant for the region.
The new piece is exclusive to the Middle East and features tones of white and green, echoing the colours of the UAE flag. In addition, the green was chosen for its association with good fortune, fertility and peace. The sun motif, meanwhile, pays homage to the region's eternal sunshine.
The first Sunlight jewellery collection was launched in 2017 to salute what the company describes as the "life, brilliance and joy" of sunshine, and to capture the "radiance, optimism and lively spirit" of light.
Like the other Sunlight pendants, it takes inspiration from our nearest star, captured in a central disc, surrounded with bursts of sunrays. Made in 18K rose gold, it is covered in 147 white diamonds (about 2.33 carats) that fill the central space in a snow setting.
Invented by Jaeger-LeCoultre, a snow setting is a technique that involves mixing stones of different sizes together, in a painstaking and difficult process. The result should feel charmingly random, rather like the way snow falls (hence the name) while leaving as little metal exposed as possible.
Piaget has also used the "camaieu" technique, where different shades of the same colour are used to give the piece radiance, allowing for a subtle shift of light to dance across the surface.
Around this disc, sunrays made of white diamonds and 22 emeralds (0.32 carats) fan out to create overlaying triangles around most of the pendant. Only the top is left unadorned, to offer a visual pause and allow space for the chain. The pendant is 30mm by 32mm.
It joins the other pieces in the family, in a range of colours, from white diamonds to green malachite and yellow gold, and even white opal with rose gold.
Founded in 1874, Piaget is a high jewellery house known for its bold use of colour and for the ultra-thin watch movement that lies at the heart of its Altiplano collection that launched in the late 1950s.
Prop idols
Girls full-contact rugby may be in its infancy in the Middle East, but there are already a number of role models for players to look up to.
Sophie Shams (Dubai Exiles mini, England sevens international)
An Emirati student who is blazing a trail in rugby. She first learnt the game at Dubai Exiles and captained her JESS Primary school team. After going to study geophysics at university in the UK, she scored a sensational try in a cup final at Twickenham. She has played for England sevens, and is now contracted to top Premiership club Saracens.
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Seren Gough-Walters (Sharjah Wanderers mini, Wales rugby league international)
Few players anywhere will have taken a more circuitous route to playing rugby on Sky Sports. Gough-Walters was born in Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai, raised in Sharjah, did not take up rugby seriously till she was 15, has a master’s in global governance and ethics, and once worked as an immigration officer at the British Embassy in Abu Dhabi. In the summer of 2021 she played for Wales against England in rugby league, in a match that was broadcast live on TV.
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Erin King (Dubai Hurricanes mini, Ireland sevens international)
Aged five, Australia-born King went to Dubai Hurricanes training at The Sevens with her brothers. She immediately struck up a deep affection for rugby. She returned to the city at the end of last year to play at the Dubai Rugby Sevens in the colours of Ireland in the Women’s World Series tournament on Pitch 1.
The biog
Occupation: Key marker and auto electrician
Hometown: Ghazala, Syria
Date of arrival in Abu Dhabi: May 15, 1978
Family: 11 siblings, a wife, three sons and one daughter
Favourite place in UAE: Abu Dhabi
Favourite hobby: I like to do a mix of things, like listening to poetry for example.
Favourite Syrian artist: Sabah Fakhri, a tenor from Aleppo
Favourite food: fresh fish
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
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Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 374hp at 5,500-6,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm from 1,900-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.5L/100km
Price: from Dh285,000
On sale: from January 2022
