Differences between UAE & KSA jewellery in the past
At first sight of the traditional jewellery in the Arabian Peninsula countries, we may assume that they all share the same traditional jewellery. However, in fact, they may have similar jewellery, but they are not the same. For some jewellery, the name may only differ, whereas, for others, the jewellery itself may differ.
The differences are not found only in the jewellery items but also in how people use them. Here, we are talking about traditional jewellery in the past, not the traditional jewellery that has survived and how we use it today.
The most apparent similarity between jewellery in KSA and UAE, perhaps in most cultures in the old world, is ornamenting the whole body. We will find that women in both countries used jewellery for their hair, head, ears, arms, wrists, neck, chest, ankles, toes and fingers. Moreover, both countries paid great attention to jewellery, and it was considered a source of security in difficult times.
In both countries, we have come across two different interesting behaviours in using jewellery. In UAE, for example, pre the discovery of oil, gold jewellery was not widely popular, and many families could not afford it. Therefore, the families with good fortune used to lend wedding gold jewellery to less fortunate families without any fee.
In some parts of Saudi Arabia, a different manner was adopted to pass on jewellery to the next generation. When a woman dies, her jewellery would have melted to be reused. In this way, a reviving more modernised jewellery item would be produced according to the current trends and tastes.
The jewellery in the old UAE society had pearls as the dominant material. This is because the local economy depended a lot on pearl diving. Gold jewellery existed but was not affordable to everyone, as we mentioned earlier.
Some traditional Emirati jewellery to point out here;
- Al Fatkh: a toe ring
- Multafit: a long rectangle-shape bracelet
- Marami: rings similar to wedding bands, but wider.
- Al Shnaf: a semi-circle-shaped pendant usually worn with Al Mirya.
Jewellery in Saudi Arabia was more diverse and had several materials besides gold and pearls such as corals, precious and semi-precious gemstones, beads, glass, and plastic. They even had varieties of jewellery items that came in different styles.
Some Saudi Arabia jewellery to point here;
- Al Shamsa: gold jewellery for the forehead studded with turquoise. It is traditional jewellery from the central district.
- Jdeil betl or Matmouse: A belt around the waist studded with silver. This type of jewellery is from the eastern district.
- Hijool: this is similar to anklets but thicker. Sometimes women used to wear two on each ankle.
- Banager: They are silver or gold bracelets or more like bangles but thinner.
