'We will never forget ... letting go of our bracelet'

"For us, making jewellery is a labour of love and each piece we create is nurtured with care. We work on an idea and then gradually transform it into a physical piece of jewellery. Therefore, each item we make is unique and precious," says Nibal Khoury.

Khoury met Nayla Jreige in Cyprus 16 years ago, but they lost contact when they later returned to their native country, Lebanon.

Through sheer luck, they met again in 2000 at a function in Dubai and kept in touch.

They soon realised that they shared common interests, especially art.

The Dubai-based homemakers began making handmade jewellery for themselves, gifts for family and friends.

Most of their friends showed interest in buying their pieces and encouraged them to develop their talent.

"To get started, we joined Artisans of the Emirates (ARTE), an organisation that hosts souks for artists to showcase and sell their work once a month at the Crowne Plaza, Dubai, and other locations.

"The first piece of jewellery we made was a pearl bracelet with semi-precious stones and antique silver (from Oman) with an antique tassel. But when it was time to sell it, we just couldn't let go (of it)," says Jreige.

They recall the emotional stress they went through before they sold the pearl bracelet.

"We had mixed feelings. It was indeed a great challenge to come up with the price for our creation. The piece was invaluable to us; we could not think of a price because it would not be compensation enough for all the hard work we had put in and our emotional attachment to it," says Khoury.

But they realised that they had to sell the bracelet if they had to move forward as artists and give their business a chance.

"Letting go (of the bracelet) was probably one of the hardest decisions," recalls Khoury.

After much deliberation, they decided to sell it for Dh250.

Parting with their first creation was a sad moment, but it opened new avenues. It also cemented their friendship. Today, by word of mouth, they have established a firm base of clients.

Aristotle said that friendship is a partnership, and that stands true for the relationship that Khoury and Jreige enjoy. Their friendship evolved into a strong business partnership which is built on trust and loyalty.

"We accommodate, trust, support and help each other all the time. Our favourite materials to work with are pearls, silver and semi-precious stones," says Jreige.

With designs ranging from the classic to the modern, they cater to all age groups and incorporate the latest trends and styles in their creations.

These days it is very easy for them to make something and sell it.

In September this year, Khoury and Jreige organised a charity project named Pearls4Peace to help the victims of the war in Lebanon.

They made a range of products, including bracelets, rings, mobile charms, brooches, bookmarks and leather necklaces to sell for charity.

The sales raised about $10,000 (about Dh36,800) in a matter of six weeks and they sent the proceeds to the Lebanon Red Cross.

"The campaign is still on and we are trying in whatever we way can to contribute towards rebuilding our home country," says Jreige.

If you wish to contribute to this cause, contact Khoury and Jreige at marcnibal@gmail.com.