7500 Magazine

May 7, 2020

Sparkle Empire:
Ragail Jewelry

Written & Photographed by Safiah Khoja

Ever since ancient times, jewelry has played a major part in beauty, as well as in creating statements. Precious stones, in the form of jewelry, have served many purposes for several generations. Raghad Alrobah Alhogail, owner of Ragail Jewelers, understood this fact so well. Her fashion sense is spectacular and can be seen through her simple printed white t-shirt to her black denim skirt coupled with white converse sneakers and simple, dainty pieces of jewelry. She maintains a soft spoken nature, despite her company becoming one to reckon with in such a short time.

Ragail Alrobah is a shrewd businesswoman who has become a household name in the jewelry industry. Ragail Jewerls has been on a constant rise in the jewelry industry for three years. The company name Ragail originated from her two names Raghad Alhogail. The word means happiness in French which she describes her jewelry as. She started the business because of her passion in art and her wish to create durable art that would last for years in the living spaces of her clients. I caught up with her to find out how such a young company has gained so much popularity in such a competitive industry in such a short time.

"Jewelry is your flexible tattoo." - Raghad Alhogail

“Art has always been a great part of my being,” Raghad says as she describes how she started out in the jewelry industry. “I have always been artsy. I was always distracted by art even at school.” She laughs as she adds. “Moreover, I like innovating new pieces of art. I started making jewelry as a child. It was more of a hobby than a source of income. I would create pieces using simple material such as beads and colored threads which I would gift my parents with.”

“I would later give it to friends and family who appeared to love the pieces I created and this persuaded me to consider making pieces of jewelry for a living,” she adds. Alhogail admits that the idea was laughable considering she had neither a clue about the ins and outs of the industry nor had she a clue about the pros and cons considering the fact that she had majored in business for her undergraduate degree.

The jewelry guru later developed a liking for brass pieces and in no time mastered the art of creating jewelry. She later learned how to create silver pieces and soon felt like she was ready to monetize her pieces. Her journey in the jewelry business begun in her friend’s show in a café where she sold her pieces and to her surprise, all her inventory sold out after which she discovered that she wanted to pursue the jewelry industry as a source of living.

“To turn my craft into a professional career, I took up a Masters Certification in Jewelry Design at the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandising,” Alrobah states.

“My jewelry are unique quality bundles of happiness.”

Raghad describes Ragail as her brain child. “My jewelry are unique quality bundles of happiness,” she giggles as she describes her jewelry. Alhogail describes her pieces not only as pieces of beauty, but also as a representation of lifestyle and culture. Raghad’s jewelry, “tells a story and I think that is what makes them stand out.”

The jewelry industry is highly competitive, hence the need to stand out as a brand and create a statement. Ragail Jewelers has mastered the art of standing out with its beautiful pieces of jewelry that are utterly breathtaking. The pieces are a majestic blend of precious stones carefully put together to create spectacular pieces of art. “Our brand has been growing over the past couple of years due to the fact that our jewelers possess great qualities such as the ability to create unique pieces. Although every piece is tailored to the customer’s liking, all the jewelry represents Ragail as a brand.. Our jewelers also create pieces that have a high-end finish which is a must-do in the jewelry industry. This creates pieces that are of high quality and durability,” Raghad tells me.

"I will never take the M9 ring off 'til I see everyone wearing and believing in it, as they did with my other rings."

Raghad’s journey has not been short of challenges. “No family members in the jewelry industry despite many jewelers being family businesses. This creates competition as some companies have been in the industry for several generations. In addition, not only do I have to take care of the art department but also the business. This has proven cumbersome for me. I have also taken many risks such as funding my own events, many of which have led to dire losses,” she says as she describes her challenges. Alrobah also describes her poor time management skills which she is learning to prioritize by the day. In addition, she wants to get help with management of the business in order to concentrate on the art. When asked about stubborn customers, she laughs as she says, “You never miss those. They are hell. Unfortunately, the customer is always right therefore it is in your best interest to treat them with utmost respect and politeness to maintain your brand’s reputation.”

As we conclude the interview, I was curious to know what is most rewarding about being in the jewel industry. “Client appreciation,” she begins, “the smiles on clients’ faces once they purchase our pieces are what drives me as a jeweler. That is my end goal anyway.” Despite the many challenges, Raghad pushes on without giving up. She is inspired by successful people and designers such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Dior and Channel. She believes that with hard work and persistence she will own chains of jewelry shops all over the country with managers to take charge of the business enabling her to concentrate wholly on her art and designs.

"Go straight to what terrifies you the most..."

Ragail Jewelers is definitely a brand to watch and I would definitely recommend their jewelries which are nothing short of spectacular. They are an exquisite combination of creativity and class with a brilliant high-end finish, definitely a brand to look into.