Jewelry store in Taif, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, known for its vast gold reserves, is the largest jewelry manufacturer in the Middle East. Most expats and visitors, including those on a religious pilgrimage, end up buying gold when in Saudi Arabia. After all, the sales tax or VAT is only 5%, the gold jewelry is of high quality, competition is high, and the labor cheap, making gold more affordable than in some other hubs. Pure gold is 24 karat, meaning that 24 out of 24 parts of the metal are gold. Since pure gold is soft and scratches easily, other metals like copper and silver are added to make it more durable when used for making jewelry. So, 18 karat gold is actually 75% gold and 25% other metal. Most gold jewelry sold in Saudi Arabia is 22 karat and bright yellow, while white gold is virtually unheard of. 22 karat yellow gold contains almost 92% gold with added silver, copper and zinc for durability. Saudi designs are intricate and most of the jewelry is very bulky. Prices are quoted per gram, no matter how intricate the design.
Size: 7004px × 4674px
Location: Taif, Saudi Arabia
Photo credit: © Bert de Ruiter / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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