(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) 170 people are working tirelessly to create the 5km-long chain expected to weigh 180 kg. Workers showing the completed part of the world longest chain called Dubai Celebration Chain at the Malabar Gold factory in Sharjah Industrial Area and (bottom) the process of making the chain. Photos by M. Sajjad/Khaleej Times
Using a thick gauntlet a goldsmith working at Al Baraka gold workshop in Sharjah watched carefully as he poured 22-carat molten gold from a crucible into a thin long mould. Since gold is a highly malleable metal the liquid gold began to cool down almost instantly after it touched the cold surface.
With a loud hiss and emitting a lot of steam the gold shimmered under a few layers of grime and water. “This is only 1kg gold it can be beaten and extended to any length” said Ibrahim Hussain manager of supply chain at Malabar Gold Dubai. “Using this principle we are hoping to break the world-record for creating the world’s longest handmade gold chain stretching up to five kilometres in length.”
Work into creating the ‘Dubai Celebration Chain’ began a month ago and almost 170 craftsmen and workers are working tirelessly to string together the chain. The final gold chain is expected to weigh 180kg.
Malabar Gold is involved in creating 2.5km of the 5km-long chain. Once completed the chain will be displayed at a public place during Dubai Shopping Festival 2015. “We are hoping the chain we make turns out to be longer than the previous estimates” Hussain said.
Khaleej Times went behind the scenes and saw those involved in the creation of the chain working in two separate workshops in Sharjah.
Shamlal Ahmed managing director international operations Malabar Gold and Diamonds said: “Dubai is a nation that always strives to make the impossible possible. It is a country that constantly tries to outdo not only itself but also the entire world.
“Malabar Gold and Diamonds is honoured to be a part of this attempt and for being the largest partner in manufacturing 2.5km (90kg) of the chain ... Our whole team is really excited and overjoyed.
“We mix the 24-carat gold with alloys like copper silver and a few other alloys to convert it to 22-carat which is what is usually used in making jewellery. It is not advisable to make jewellery out of 24-carat gold.”
Explaining the process Anil Karambrath head of supply chain at Malabar Gold said: “The most tedious and time-consuming job in making the chain is linking the cut gold leaves. Once the thin beaten strips of gold are cut ... small 200-gram specks of gold leaves are strung together to form the chain.
“We are closely working with Siroya Jewellers Emerald and Sky Jewellery who have also deployed their workers to do the stringing.
“Many of our craftsmen are trained in-house and some come from a generation of goldsmiths.”
The initiative is organised by the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group in association with Dubai Festival and Retail Establishment for the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Dubai Shopping Festival. The handmade gold chain will also be cut and sold to the public as chains and bracelets.
“Each buyer will also receive a Guinness Book of World Records certificate” Karambrath said.
The chain is available for pre-booking from December 1 and in case the demand for the chain goes up it will be extended to 8km.
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