From Oman’s Mountains to a Jeweller’s desk

What surprised Harith al Saifi was the brown crust. Beneath it, he had found a stone he described as green and transparent.
“Its outer crust is brown, unusually, which is why I was surprised,” he wrote in Arabic on Threads. For a collector, the discovery was reason enough to stop and take a closer look.
Through his social media accounts, al Saifi shares discoveries that reveal how much of Oman's mountain landscape can escape an untrained eye. His finds include olive-green stones, almost entirely black specimens and another with a colour between honey and burgundy.
A green discovery was “small but wonderful”, while another prompted him to consider its commercial potential. “This one is worth cutting into gems,” he shared.
For Luqman al Hooti, that possibility developed into a business.
His interest began while hiking around Quriyat, where he wondered whether the ground beneath him contained gemstones. After studying their formation, he began searching and eventually discovered a clear, six-sided quartz crystal. Photographs of his finds attracted interest from people asking to purchase them.
Initially, he sold unworked stones before progressing to gold and silver settings, digital design and establishing his own workshop. Speaking to local media, he described the attraction as “the thrill of discovery” and “finding them with my own hands”.
Turning a discovery into jewellery, however, requires several stages, including sorting specimens, selecting suitable material, cutting, polishing and designing settings around the finished stone.
Agate is particularly distinctive, with bands and branching patterns resembling landscapes when polished. Carnelian offers translucent orange-red hues, while jasper is known for its denser, generally opaque patterns. Local enthusiasts have also reported discovering tourmaline, amethyst and topaz.
In Oman, Quriyat, Samayil, Saih Hatat and Wadi Haibi near Sohar are among the areas associated with gemstone discoveries. Agate and quartz offer accessible starting points, although individual finds do not necessarily indicate commercially viable deposits.
In Muttrah Souq, local and imported stones share space with imitations, while Nizwa's silver shops offer opportunities to examine craftsmanship and jewellery designs. Questions about a stone's origin and treatment remain important when purchasing.
The familiar designs found across shop counters also raise questions about opportunities for local creativity. Traditional pendants could inspire contemporary collections, while irregular stones could encourage individually designed settings.
Zaki Hamad al Farsi, founder of Zanakite Jewellery Shop, has called for greater government encouragement for young Omanis entering the craft.
Practical support could include training in gemstone cutting, polishing, secure setting and jewellery design. Institutions such as India's Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery and GIA Bangkok offer relevant programmes, while Idar-Oberstein in Germany provides a longstanding centre of expertise in agate cutting and carving.
International placements could help establish apprenticeships, specialist exchanges and workshops in Oman, connecting emerging makers with experienced craftspeople.
However, gemstone collection requires careful attention to regulations. Oman's mineral resources belong to the state, and exploration and extraction require authorisation under the Mineral Resources Law. Protected geological heritage and meteorites are also subject to separate restrictions.
Oman's jewellery retail market, estimated by Ken Research at $536 million in 2025, presents an established commercial sector, although this figure includes imported products and does not establish demand for locally sourced gemstones.
Ultimately, developing the industry will depend on skilled craftsmanship, responsible sourcing and distinctive designs.
Al Saifi's brown-crusted stone offers a modest beginning: someone noticed what others might overlook. What happens next depends on the skill to reveal its beauty and transform it into something worth keeping.