Found in the sands of Saudi Arabia, desert diamonds are durable and can be worn everyday and for any occasion

Diamonds, they say, are forever. The sparkling stones with their brilliant lustre hold their own charm.

Women who want to enjoy the excellent workmanship and quality of the stone, at a relatively low price, can select desert diamonds.

An alternative to the carbon diamonds, desert diamonds are Saudi diamonds, also knows as qaysumah diamonds, which are found on the surface of sandy areas of Riyadh, primarily the central plains of Saudi Arabia. One can find them twinkling in the early morning and evening.

They belong to the quartz family, are hard and do not lack in lustre or break with age. In fact, desert diamonds are more precious than many other semi-precious stones as quartz cannot be scratched and are available abundantly all over the world.

"Not many are aware of this elegant jewel of the Middle East which is durable and can be worn everyday and for any occasion," says Charlene Jones, who is the only person dealing in Arabian desert diamonds here in Dubai.

These semi-precious stones are unique in the sense that their refractory properties are identical to the carbon diamond unlike cubic zarconia which are synthetically produced in the laboratory. Heavier and smaller in size, desert diamonds are measured in carats.

To the naked eye they are like any other stone, informs Charlene. But only professional jewellers can tell that they are real natural stones. They cannot be found outside the Middle East.

Charlene, who has participated in various arts and crafts exhibitions, talks passionately and at length about her fascination for these Arabian diamonds.

Before moving to Dubai three years back, she was in Saudi Arabia where her fondness for these stones grew through her friends. Like anyone else, she took these stones casually when they were in a rough state at a colleague's place until arrived polished and dazzling.

She then decided to make people aware of these diamonds. Through word of mouth she introduced them to the people she knew and now she feels fortunate enough to make them a full-time business.

Charlene sends the stones to Thailand for the polishing process and has them set in gold. Each piece is custom-made and handcrafted. The professional workers create a perfect frame to showcase the brilliance of the gem. Charlene now runs a shop by the name of Sunny Days in the Jumeira Centre.

Whether one is seeking a gift or wants to buy a piece for oneself, she has a collection of pendants, bracelets, ear studs, rings, tie pins and nose pins.

Charlene has representatives working for her in Abu Dhabi too where one can pick a piece from an array of designs in different shapes from the gift store at the Hilton hotel.