A bejewelled backgammon set by S by Salanitro. Photo: S by Salanitro
A bejewelled backgammon set by S by Salanitro. Photo: S by Salanitro
A bejewelled backgammon set by S by Salanitro. Photo: S by Salanitro
A bejewelled backgammon set by S by Salanitro. Photo: S by Salanitro

Would you pay $100,000 for a gem-covered backgammon set?


Selina Denman
  • English
  • Arabic

Swiss brand S by Salanitro has celebrated its official launch with the release of three precious objects. These include a bejewelled backgammon set produced by hand in Geneva by master craftsmen.

The company’s founder, Pierre Salanitro, has spent more than 30 years crafting watch and jewellery creations for some of the most prestigious brands in the world. With this new venture, he is transporting that expertise to objects that combine innovation, craftsmanship and a respect for tradition.

The set’s 20 checkers are encircled with black diamonds or blue sapphires, as are the 24 arrows edges on the board. Photo: S by Salanitro
The set’s 20 checkers are encircled with black diamonds or blue sapphires, as are the 24 arrows edges on the board. Photo: S by Salanitro

The set’s 20 checkers are encircled with black diamonds or blue sapphires, as are the 24 arrows edges on the board. The dice cup is finished in anthracite leather and bears the S by Salanitro logo.

Meanwhile, 137 black diamonds dot the doubling cube – which resembles a regular die, but is a little larger and is printed with the numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64. The board is made from high-quality leather and Swiss wood, both of which have been patinated. S by Salanitro plans to introduce 10 new backgammon sets per year, and a personalisation service is also available.

Also part of the launch collection is the Warrior of Malinaltepec, a contemporary reinterpretation of the emblematic Mesoamerican mask discovered in 1921 in Malinaltepec, in south-west Mexico. Recreated by expert setters and engravers, S by Salanitro’s masks are made from vermeil, or “silver gilt”, interspersed with a number of diamonds.

The final object in S by Salanitro’s debut offering is a mirror created in collaboration with interior architect and designer Aline Erbeia.

The design is inspired by the calaveras, the skeletal motif that has become a key cultural and artistic element of Mexico’s Day of the Dead festivities. A total of 1,277 precious and semi-precious stones have been set on a base of lacquered wood – the result of 350 hours of meticulous work.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

War and the virus
Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma

When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

SUZUME
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Makoto%20Shinkai%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Nanoka%20Hara%2C%20Hokuto%20Matsumura%2C%20Eri%20Fukatsu%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Where to donate in the UAE

The Emirates Charity Portal

You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.

The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments

The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

Al Noor Special Needs Centre

You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.

Beit Al Khair Society

Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.

Dar Al Ber Society

Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.

Dubai Cares

Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.

Emirates Airline Foundation

Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.

Emirates Red Crescent

On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.

Gulf for Good

Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.

Noor Dubai Foundation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

Updated: June 25, 2023, 7:15 AM`