‘Jewelry allows me to express myself,’ says Danah Alsahel DUBAI: The irresistible beauty of nature has time and again been the greatest source of inspiration for numerous artists. Saudi jeweler and entrepreneur Danah Alsahel is one of them. Her first collection since founding her jewelry business Moelry in Riyadh a year ago consists of minimalist 18-Karat gold necklaces and earrings. It is called “Brilliance” and is a reimagined take on the dance of sunlight.  For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle “This collection is inspired by a new beginning, a new day,” Alsahel tells Arab News. “It is inspired by the sun. You know, like, when you’re walking down the road and you see the sunlight, although there are buildings and trees? The sun always has its spot.” The designs that make up “Brilliance” comprise two thick parallel lines, symbolizing sunbeams, embellished with a trio of colorful gemstones, such as rubies, emeralds, or diamonds on their ends.   The pieces are also a tribute to the Saudi desert, Alsahel says. “I added a touch of sand. You will notice that my jewelry isn’t shiny, but there is a sandy texture. I added sand to represent my culture. We are proud of our nature, the sand and the mountains.” Her brand’s name is a portmanteau of ‘Mo’ and the suffix ‘elry’ (from ‘jewelry’). “Mo is a special person for me,” Alsahel explains. “He is the one who’s supported me from the first step in this journey.” So far, clientele from the Gulf, Europe, and the US have shown interest in her work. The latter location, in fact, is where Alsahel began her jewelry-design journey. “I always had a love of jewelry, fashion and art,” she says. “When I travel, the first places I go to are museums and galleries.” In the US, she took an apprenticeship at a jewelry factory, gaining invaluable hands-on experience.  “I learned how to design and make jewelry there,” she says. “I also met a lot of mine owners. I developed relationships there. I worked side-by-side with designers, and also for people who wanted custom-made jewelry for special occasions. When I came back to Saudi Arabia, I started my own factory. Jewelry is something that I feel allows me to express myself. It expresses joy, or celebrates a moment. I have jewelry that belonged to my grandmother. So it has a lot of meaning for me.” She says she also finds joy in the design process — from selecting the gemstones to sketching and 3D-modeling. As for jewelry trends, she has noticed that some women in Saudi are shifting away from ostentatious bling towards more subtle, smaller, yet elegant jewelry. “People are changing,” she says. “We don’t have the big gatherings like we used to — not even for weddings. I noticed this all around me with my family and close friends. It’s more about everyday elegance.”  Another telling trend is lab-grown diamonds — a more sustainable, ethical and affordable (“You can wear a big solitaire diamond for half the price,” Alsahel notes) option than mined diamonds. She predicts there will be an increase in their implementation over this year — not least in her own factory for her upcoming second collection.  Some have argued that these man-made, engineered gems are of higher quality, since they are formed in highly controlled environments. Still, purists claim they are not ‘real’ diamonds. But, says Sahel, “over time, people started to like it.” The launch of her brand has been a relatively smooth one, but Alsahel is aware of how hard it can be to sustain growth in such a competitive market. “The challenging thing,” she says, “is how to differentiate yourself and produce designs that people will love and feel their meanings and emotions.”