|
Please click here to download photos for this media release
|
|
|
|
Resilient buying persists as attendance rises at
Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong
|
Asia fuels purposeful sourcing activity at region’s biggest mid-year jewellery fair
|
|
HONG KONG, 5 July 2024 – Resilient sourcing persisted in key product categories as visitor attendance recorded an increase at Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA), show organiser Informa Markets Jewellery revealed today.
The four-day B2B fair concluded on 23 June and saw a total of 22,892 visitors from 96 countries and regions, higher than the attendance figures from 2023. Notably, 60 percent of the visitors were from outside Hong Kong. The growth in turnout was primarily fuelled by the active participation of buyers from Asia, specifically Mainland China, India, Japan and Korea. Furthermore, buyers from countries in other regions, including Canada, Italy, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States, played a role in driving the overall attendance figures.
JGA brought together about 1,500 exhibitors from 30+ countries, showcasing thousands of product introductions. The fair featured 30+ distinct theme and group pavilions, including the Fine Design/Fine Gem Pavilion for high jewellery and gemstone manufacturers, the CORE Pavilion highlighting some of Hong Kong’s best, the Fei Cui Gallery with an expansive jadeite display and the ever-popular Antique & Vintage Jewellery Pavilion.
Buyers also found a diverse selection of offerings throughout the show’s various sections, categorised by product types. These encompassed loose diamonds, coloured gemstones and pearls; finished jewellery and jewellery mountings; loose lab-grown diamonds and jewellery; jewellery manufacturing equipment; packaging solutions and technology applications. Furthermore, trade association-led sections enhanced the fair experience by providing attendees with clear insights into the products they could expect and the exhibitors they could source from, streamlining their exploration process.
“One thing is certain – buyers were very intentional about their visit to JGA,” said Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery. “They arrived at the fair with a well-formed plan: Connect with their tried-and-true suppliers, engage with new manufacturers, find the latest products, gain market knowledge, seek inspiration and foster relationships. They accomplished all this at JGA.”
|
Innovative Offerings
One of the trailblazing initiatives introduced by Informa was the appointment of Liu Chuandong from Cloud Original as the group’s first-ever “Live-streaming Ambassador (China).” This partnership aims to leverage the increasing popularity of live-streaming in Mainland China to expand JGA’s reach beyond the physical show floor. During the event, Cloud Original conducted live-selling sessions featuring entry-level jewellery.
“Informa is leading the way by embracing innovators and redefining the concept of a traditional trade show. As part of our commitment to pushing boundaries, we are excited to introduce a new and pioneering element to the show floor of JGA and soon, Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW): Live sellers,” Lau shared. “We recognise them as a distinct type of buyer, similar to e-tailers. Ensuring they have the right platform and access to industry and product knowledge is vital for their success in engaging customers. Our social sellers programme will later expand to include other countries and regions.”
JGA also provided a sneak preview of “Orient Odyssey,” a special exhibit that pays tribute to the timeless beauty of pearls, scheduled for launch at JGW in September, in partnership with Autore, Edison Pearls, Hatta New World Co Ltd, Jewelmer and Paspaley, among others. The pearl celebration is presented by Informa’s Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community, the same team behind the highly successful “Red Radiance” ruby showcase at JGW 2023 and its JGA iteration, “Red Radiance 2.0 – The Ruby’s Mine-to-Market Adventure.” The latter featured live gemstone-cutting demonstrations by renowned artist and Extraordinary 40 Awardee, Victor Tuzlukov.
In 2025, JGA will be held from 19 to 22 June at the HKCEC.
Read on and discover firsthand accounts of the buyer and exhibitor experiences at JGA.
*Quotes were condensed for brevity and clarity.
|
|
|
|
|
|
“I have been coming here for nearly 25 years. I have formed lasting relationships, and I am very comfortable with that. The June show is ideal for us since it allows us to prepare for the holiday season. September is almost too late for us to have everything ready in time. We like to stay six months ahead. By September, our goal is to have everything ready for the first and second quarters of the following year, starting our preparations for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day during that time.” – Robert Flude, President, Martin Binder Jeweler, US
“What I like very much about the show is that everything is on different floors, so you are in one place and have very easy access from one pavilion to the other. Let’s say you are interested in the diamond section and then need to go to the pearl section; you can automatically take the stairs and go. I find it extremely well-compartmented, and I think all shows should be organised in the same manner. I have found a lot of interesting suppliers. There is a section for antique jewellery and watches, which you rarely find in other shows. It is quite condensed, and you can find everything you need in one place, like signed pieces and antique stones. On the last floor, there is the pearl section. Now, pearls are booming, and there is a big demand for them. You can actually find any single thing that you desire very easily.” – Arty Iskandarian, Owner, Edward Iskandarian Jewelry, Lebanon
“Hong Kong is one of my favourite places in the world, and being here is always a privilege. I am finding the show so far to be extravagant. Back in the day, we used to go to Italy to find the most beautiful craftsmanship of gold, but nowadays you can find it here – in Hong Kong, made in China – beautiful, intricate fine jewellery. The finishing is impeccable, honestly. Every year, I find that the standards are becoming better and better.” – Tamara Al Shamari, Founder and Designer, TAÏÏA Jewelry, UAE
“I am thrilled to discover some impressive diamond cuts at the show. The company I found offers a collection of one-of-a-kind fancy-shaped diamonds, with each diamond telling its own story. I also came across some meticulously arranged layouts of smaller-sized fancy colour diamonds. These diamonds are curated to produce various kinds of jewellery, like earrings and necklaces. I am inspired by how they pair various coloured diamonds to create attractive jewellery designs.” – William Huang, President, Capstone Diamond International Ltd, Taiwan Region
“Our customers are partial to classic and simple gold jewellery for everyday use, with small diamonds for accent. We find that Hong Kong companies produce a wide variety of designs that fit the requirements of our market at reasonable prices.” – Sohaima Dandamun, Owner, Sohaima Pearls Shop, Philippines
|
|
|
|
|
|
“We are the first ones – the first Japanese pearl company – to join this fair (physically from Japan). We first joined in 1992. I like this show so much. This time, I am really happy to see so many familiar faces and customers from various countries, some of whom I first met about 30 years ago. They still visit me at the show!” – Tatsu Kuramoto, President, Kuramoto Pearl Co Ltd, Japan
“For us, being here is very important because we have appointments with people who want to see us consistently, so they expect us to be here. Therefore, we have to be present to maintain our relationships with all of our clients and provide them with the best stones that we have to offer.” – Carl-Philip Arnoldi, Manager, HC Arnoldi e.K., Germany
“Our company has been specialising in rubies and sapphires in all colours and in different shapes, sizes and qualities for more than 30 years. The founder of our company has been in the business for over 40 years. Being present at JGA is important for us because it is the mid-year fair where customers come to gather ideas for their end-of-year collections or plan for the upcoming year. This allows them to plan ahead of time.” – Avika Trakulmechokchai, Assistant Director, Lim Gems Factory Co Ltd, Thailand
“For us, this show is very important. It is important to maintain continuity in this market, and it’s really good to meet our dealers again as soon as possible. It’s a great opportunity, and we really thank [Informa].” – Leonardo Meini, Owner, Meini Gioielli Srl, Italy
“We have an office in Hong Kong, and we’ve been in the Southeast Asian market for 30-plus years. I think that Hong Kong is still a prominent hub for the gem and jewellery trade. Yes, it is summertime, and while the June fair may not be as large as the March or September show, it does attract a very genuine audience – people who are still shopping or trying to create new designs and trying to fill them with stones. They have to keep looking for them because they are not readily available, especially when it comes to fine gems. You can’t just pick up a phone, call someone and have them ready whenever you need them. You have to find them throughout the year, and it’s nice to have June as a mid-year show and an option for people that are continuously looking for fine gems.” – Kunal Sheth, Managing Director, House of Gems Ltd, Hong Kong
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(A) Number of overseas and domestic visitors
|
|
(B) Visitors were from 96 countries and regions, as follows:
|
Asia
Afghanistan, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Cambodia, mainland China, Hong Kong region, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau region, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan region, Thailand and Vietnam
Middle East
Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
Africa
Algeria, Botswana, Guinea, Kenya, Reunion, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia
Europe
Aland Islands, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan
South America
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela
North/Central America
Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and United States
Oceania
American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, Mauritius, New Zealand and Vanuatu
|
|
|
|
|
|
About Informa Markets Jewellery
|
Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our global jewellery vertical, Informa Markets Jewellery, offers in-person and web-based sourcing experiences, digital solutions and dedicated B2B platforms that bring international buyers and quality sellers together in the fine jewellery, gemstone, and fashion jewellery and accessories markets.
Our resources, industry experience, influence and focus as a partner are enhanced by our global jewellery portfolio consisting of fairs and events in key cities; a powerful digital platform – JewelleryNet; a dedicated Jewellery Media team, led by flagship publication, JNA; an education-based programme – Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community, and the industry’s most prestigious awards programmes – Jewellery World Awards (JWA) and its regional edition, JWA Dubai. Visit our website for more information.
|
|
|
For media enquiries, please contact：
|
Ronny Pang
T +852 3187 5743
Marie Feliciano
T +852 3752 8340
|
|
|
|
|