Picasso sits beside $1m diamond in Jakarta

Hera Diani and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The expectation was that it was going to be another ostentatious exhibition packed with priceless items, showing yet another paradox of a poor third world country.

The three-day Indonesia International Exhibition on Jewelry, Timepieces, Fine Arts and Antiques, however, had a very low turnout to start with.

On Friday, the first day of the exhibition open to the public, less than 200 people visited, which made the cavernous Assembly Hall of the Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta seem nearly vacant.

Could that be a sign that people in this country finally have come to their senses and followed President Megawati Soekarnoputri's advice to be thrifty?

Don't bet on it.

According to Hesti M. Sudjana, spokesperson for organizers Mata Air Marketing, many people called, asking for arrangements with the traders outside the exhibition.

"They did not feel comfortable coming to a public venue, apparently to avoid exposure and publicity," she told The Jakarta Post.

William Lee from Jewelry Promotions Singapore who co-organizes the event said that quantity-wise, the exhibition was a bit slow.

"I guess maybe because it's only the first day. We're expecting more people will come on the weekend," he said.

Lee added that while the number of visitor was below expectations, they were all "quality visitors."

The Asian-targeted exhibition is the second ever of its kind held after last year's in Malaysia.

This year's event drew 23 participants from Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand.

"Initially, there were 30 participants, including those from the United States. But they then withdrew due to security reasons," Hesti said.

Lee, meanwhile, said that he felt it would be safe with enough security guards.

"We deployed an adequate number of security officers here," he said.

According to one executive at Mata Air, the organizer secured one platoon of police personnel from the elite Mobile Brigade force. On top of that, the organizer also deployed private security guards.

According to Lee, the Indonesian market is still very interesting for jewelry and art traders.

"In any country, there are always people who appreciate arts. More and more art enthusiasts have emerged. Indonesians are also more discerning in their tastes for finer crafts," he said.

The exhibition boasted the latest and most fashionable jewelry. Among the highlights displayed was a 107.35 carat diamond from South Africa. Nearly the size of a golf ball, the brownish yellow piece of stone costs over US$1 million.

There is also a large variety of gold, platinum, precious stones (sapphire, ruby, emerald, etc.) and wrist watches.

Aside from jewelry, visitors can enjoy antiques, such as the 22 million-knot hand-woven carpet.

The exhibition also features art works from master painters such as Picasso, Chagall, Rembrandt and Miro. These secondary art pieces, the organizer said, were not readily available on the market and each piece was fully authenticated and personally guaranteed.