Players in a buoyant industry flocked to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s (HKTDC) twin jewellery shows, expecting strong sales over the next one to two years.
The 40th HKTDC Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and 10th HKTDC Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show gathered over 4,000 exhibitors from 44 countries and regions, a testament to Hong Kong’s role as a leading business platform.
The shows attracted some 81,000 buyers from 137 countries and regions. The Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show drew over 31,000 buyers from 125 countries and regions, while more than 49,000 buyers from 132 countries and regions joined the Jewellery Show. For the two shows together, buyers from Mainland China, India and Japan ranked top in terms of non-Hong Kong visitors.
Exhibitors and buyers were optimistic about a thriving jewellery market. An on-site survey of 1,435 respondents found 62.3% anticipated growth in overall sales in the next one to two years while 31.3% expected stable sales and only 6.4% predicted a decrease.
Trendy fashion jewellery, favoured by 59.5% of respondents, was seen as the category with the greatest market potential, followed by 41% favouring precious jewellery and 31.1% looking to designers’ jewellery.
The most popular precious-metal products this year were karat white gold, at 47.3%, karat yellow gold with 44.5% and karat rose gold favoured by 24%.
Among gemstones, diamond was the most popular with 53.3%, followed by ruby at 28.6% and pearl with 21.5%.
Under the hybrid EXHIBITION+ format, the twin jewellery shows combined in-person access at the venues with virtual connections via HKTDC’s Click2Match smart business-matching platform, which will be available until 11 March, and buying through hktdc.com Sourcing.
Trading at the twin shows was promising. One Hong Kong exhibitor, Jessica Kwan, Director of Universal Jewellery Design Centre Limited, said: “We have been participating in the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show since its inception. Over the past 40 editions, our business grew together with the show and our jewellery products are exported worldwide today.”
At the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem, and Pearl Show, one of the exhibitors, Rosaria Borriello, Manager of Borriello Massimo from Italy said: “We love the Hong Kong show very much. It’s the perfect place to do business and meet customers from everywhere. Our Mediterranean red coral showcased this year has again attracted strong buyers’ interest. Customers from Mainland China, India and the Philippines are still our biggest buyers.”
From a buyer’s perspective, Nezar J Mukhtar, Managing Director of Jamla Jewelry from Saudi Arabia, said: “The Diamond, Gem and Pearl Show draws a large number of industry players from all over the world and serves as the best sourcing platform.” He expected to conclude at least US$10 million worth of business.
Chanyut Khieonavavongsa, Graduate Gemologist (GIA) from Tassabee Gems in Thailand, said: “I’ve been in the jewellery business for 40 years, I visit the HKTDC Jewellery Show regularly because I find more attractive designs and more new suppliers here than at other shows. I have placed orders with four to five suppliers from Hong Kong, Korea and Turkiye for US$100,000 worth of 18K gold mountings. I plan to buy at least US$100,000 worth of finished jewellery at the show, too.”
