Dubai: Dubai is famously called the “City of Gold”. There are several reasons for this.
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One: People from all over the world descend upon Dubai to buy gold — because it is cheaper, and the quality better, here.
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The quality and purity of gold in Dubai, is a brand by itself. Dubai Municipality, through the Dubai Central Laboratories (DLC), regulates the gold, silver, platinum and gemstones trades in the emirate.
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Two: Trust is paramount for precious metals. The emirate’s entire jewellery trade rests on uncompromising standards.
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Trust is the key value Dubai managed to keep — adhering to standards at every level. Weighing scales must be calibrated through unannounced inspections, ensuring milligram accuracy.
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Milligram accuracy
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Three: There’s a rhythm to this system. We talked to the people doing the lab and inspections work. They have a clear marching order — curb any comprises on quality and purity, and thus ensure the quality of the entire gamut of the jewellery trade.
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Gulf News headed out to the Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL), an entity run by the Dubai Municipality, where we met the inspectors and laboratory technicians.
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Inspectors deal with the front end of the trade, abd conduct regular inspections of Dubai’s jewellery retail shops, taking samples that are sent it sealed and counter-signed pouches to the lab.
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The lab technicians deal with the back end. They scrutise each one using state-of-the-art equipment.
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Their mission is rather simple, yet weighty: Ensure all that glitters in Dubai is indeed gold.
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Inside the Dubai Central Lab
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The Dubai Municipality (DM) has nine inspectors employed by the Dubai Central Laboratory (DCL), four of whom are dedicated for gold and precious metals.
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DCL was established 22 years ago (in 1997) under the municipality. DCL has a number of sections:
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Ismail Abdulla Almass, Head of Product Quality Xontrol unit at DCL, said all routine inspections of gold and precious metals are conducted in support of Federal Regulation No (9/1993) and Federal Law 11 2015 which pertains to hallmarking of precious metals.
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“The purpose of the inspection is to ensure all pieces of gold bars and jewellery sold in Dubai are stamped with the correct fineness mark (indicating purity of gold content). And to ensure that there is quality products of gold sold in the market,” said Almass.
######Tawhid Abdulla, Chairman – Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group###“Bareeq” system###
Gold purity by carats: According to DCL
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For gold, the 24-carat mark carries a fineness mark 999; a 22-carat gold is marked 916; 21-carat gold is marked 875; 18-carat – 750; 16 carat – 666; 14-carat – 583; and 12-carat – 500.
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Silver and platinum jewellery pieces carry fineness marks as well.
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