Saudi women who make a difference
Mariam Nihal
Saudi Gazette
Sarah Abudawood is an inspiration to women within and beyond the Kingdom. A proud mother, entrepreneur and devoted daughter, Sarah is a woman of substance who stands her ground, come what may.
She launched Yataghan, a premium jewelry brand in Jeddah at The Store. Yataghan is a young girl’s dream that started with her role model, her mother, who passed away, during Sarah’s younger years. “The pieces she wore were timeless and fabulous! To this day, I still remember them sparkling in the corner of my eye,” she told Saudi Gazette. “Bless her soul, she used to wear the most exquisite jewelry casually around the house and I would gaze deeply into her diamonds, whenever she put me on her lap, examining their cuts and color. So you can say I was drawn to diamonds and observing them at a very young age. The same feeling of awe I had as a child about precious stones excites me when I see a truly refined piece of jewelry today!”
Along with her MBA, Sarah got her certificate from the Gemological Institute of America and the International Gemological Institute, as she studied Diamonds & Jewelry design.
“I give birth to my pieces in my mind, the most creative studio a human can have! I don’t have a fixed idea on what a studio is or should be like. I believe a studio is where I find inspiration. My studio is boundless, a place of rebirth, a space that allows me to be transparent and let go. Designing jewelry is a very emotional process for me. So much thought, reflection, and doubt become essential parts of the process. As an artist, what you are essentially doing is encapsulating a moment of creativity, a chapter of your story, a mood, an experience, an emotion…etc.”
Sarah said Yataghan only sources the best quality from top diamond dealers globally. The materials used such as gold, silver, or other is guaranteed to be of pure quality. “I travel yearly to all my clandestine supplier network around the world to reserve the finest precious stones. Our stones are sourced from the best houses in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. However, I choose to assemble them in Dubai in order to supervise the work personally and to ensure the highest quality for our highly selective clients. Our clientele have access to top fashion and jewelry houses around the world. They are constantly seeking perfection, the crème de la crème of handcrafted works of art. They request bespoke custom-designs, which are handcrafted in Italy, Singapore and Hong Kong. The highly specialized craftsmanship is demanded by the intricate nature of the designs.”
Most of the pieces she designs are customized for a person or occasion as she specializes in bespoke tailor-made designs. “Most of my loyal clients mainly come back for that specifically. Yataghan Jewelry offers an everyday ready to wear line of high-fashion jewelry including heavier pieces for special occasions.” Others include daily dainties that work as a fashion accessory of stackable rings, knuckle rings, pendants and bracelets. She also designs gift items for babies, engagements, weddings, graduations and a collection of men’s cufflinks and rings. “We are encouraged by our religion —Islam — to gift to enrich the relationships with our loved ones. I believe that when gifting you should only gift the best! I think most women would agree that the best gifts come in the smallest boxes.”
Talking about her everyday range, she said: “Even though I encourage every woman to wear their fabulous luxurious jewelry everyday; Being a mother and a businesswoman, I can understand that might not be realistic for most women, so I continue to focus on designing a line that women are more comfortable with on a daily basis — pieces that are lighter to wear but still make a bold statement.”
The line is mainly designed with the latest fashion-trends in mind, and based on fashion forward aesthetics. “Each of our creations is specifically made to capture the stature and aura of the woman we are designing for. Every woman is different, some prefer a more understated design, others prefer a more delicate romantic feel and others demand a bold design to reflect their originality,” Sarah told Saudi Gazette. She said, when creating a piece of jewelry, she thinks about how much women and jewelry have in common. “They are precious, elegant, naturally beautiful, strong creations that stand the test of time. The most important thing to remember is that each piece must ultimately be a true reflection of the owner’s unique personality and taste. It is those distinctive facets to a women’s persona that we try to bring to life with each of our creations. And that is what emphasizes the originality of our collections.”
When asked what a piece of jewelry can do for a woman, Sarah said it complements their beauty. “It feeds her freedom of expression! You can tell a lot about a woman by the way she wears her jewelry. It conveys a distinct message about her confidence, elegance and style. It is one of the first things people pay attention to. So much time and thought goes into finding the right piece, how to wear it and what to wear it with. A woman changes her jewelry almost everyday. It is a sign of stature, a testament to her refined taste level, a reflection of her fashion aesthetic and her state of mind. But most importantly, I believe it makes her feel special, and more beautiful than she already is; especially if it was gifted to her by someone special.”
For Sarah, her clients tend to be fashion-forward women that are trendsetters not trend followers. They have a distinct message and unique voice to say it with. “They utilize our jewelry to become an integral part of expressing their unique points of view. A woman writes a chapter in her book everyday, our jewelry is designed to be her companion through her journey of life.”
Talking about her future plans and dreams, Sarah talked about her vision to empower women, children and become the change society needs. “My plan started the first day I designed my first piece: I plan to empower women! I plan to correct the mainstream flaws in jewelry design and aesthetics! I plan to help children! And in all of that, I plan to have fun and enjoy the process. We plan to become accredited players in the major leagues. Not just known for our creativity but for our necessary contributions to the communities and cultures that surround us. We aspire to set an example and be able to enlighten people about the process of jewelry design by including them in the process itself. Through workshops, and lectures that will enable them to witness first hand the birth of such timeless creations and the emotional journey the artists endure to create an art form with stunning originality.” She said her ultimate pursuit however, is to widen her contribution to society by continuing to share a part of profits with children in need from the region. “Children are our best investment and heirs to this planet. We work relentlessly in hopes to make a difference, through every creative endeavor we embark upon!”
Yataghan boutique is located at The Store in Jeddah.
Instagram @yataghanjewellery
