Exhibitors reported solid consumer interest in moderately priced, good-quality jewellery pieces at this year’s Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong, which opened its doors for the first time to end-consumers alongside the show’s core B2B market. 

Trendy and affordable jewellery pieces in classic, everyday designs were the stars of Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW), which ran from September 17 to 20 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The fair welcomed social buyers and jewellery lovers together with its target trade audience – a first in the industry event’s decades-long history. This year’s edition featured more than 300 suppliers of fine gems and jewellery. Organised by Informa Markets Jewellery, the physical edition of JGW was also complemented by a B2B digital component, JGW Virtual, which offered online discovery-driven product sourcing for trade buyers until September 30.

JGW, previously known as the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, also offered unique “I Love Jewellery” experiences and attractions including a Lucky Draw, which was done in partnership with Fook Tai Jewellery Group Ltd, Karp Jewellery Mfg HK Ltd and Spinel House. JGW gave away a fine yellow diamond, diamond jewellery collections and spinel stones throughout the fair.

This year’s show also featured content programmes that included presentations on digital marketing and jewellery photography, Tahitian pearl jewellery styling, functional jewellery, jewellery auctions and trendy jadeite jewellery designs.

The Hatton Jewellery Institute, for its part, conducted live jewellery-making demonstrations, and silver pendant hammering and jewellery colour rendering sessions at the fair. An interactive livestreaming session broadcast in Mandarin was also held to assist online audiences from the Greater China region.

Business at the in-person show was generally stable, with exhibitors saying medium- to low-priced diamond, pearl and silver jewellery pieces moved the fastest during the four-day event. Some companies also entertained enquiries for big-ticket items.

Popular products

According to Tori Ling of Nelson Jewellery Arts Co Ltd, rings and earrings adorned with diamonds and coloured gemstones such as sapphires and rubies were highly favoured. Buyers spent around HK$2,000 (around US$257) and up at the fair.

“The show was quite good for us. It is also a chance for us to explore the consumer market more,” noted Ling. “We entertained both B2B and B2C buyers but none from our overseas clients because of travel restrictions. Our major markets are mainly from the US, Europe and Australia.” Nelson Jewellery also received enquiries about its high-end jewellery collections, revealed the company official.

Jackson Lee of Tedgold Co Ltd likewise cited strong demand for rings and earrings adorned with diamonds and pearls at the fair. Buyers were most comfortable spending between HK$3,000 (around US$386) and HK$4,000 (around US$514).

“A lot of customers came, but majority of them were end-users as opposed to trade buyers. For this show, I would say 60 per cent of our sales were diamonds and 40 per cent were pearls. Customers would mainly go for simple designs such as band rings,” disclosed Lee.

Vendors that offered big discounts as well as buy-one-take-one offers and multiple-purchase bonuses,
to name a few, also witnessed a great deal of traffic at their booths.

Jerry Tang of wholesaler Brilliant Diamond Jewellery Manufacturer Ltd said his company offered special prices at the fair. “Smaller diamond jewellery pieces that customers can stack together and mix and match sold the fastest for around HK$1,500 (around US$193) and up,” noted Tang. “Buyers would usually come in, purchase one or two pieces and come back the next day to buy more. The show was generally good for us.”

Vithal Trading (HK) Ltd’s top performers at the show were D-colour diamond bracelets, which sold out on the first day of the show, according to the company’s Sabrina Lau. The bracelets were priced HK$15,000 (around US$1,929), which Lau described as “low” for 3-carat D-colour bracelets.

“We did well at the fair. Our bracelets and rings were our most popular products. We sold mostly diamond products and entertained B2C clients who bought jewellery for gifting or for themselves,” she continued.

Vithal Trading prepared the collection of D-colour bracelets especially for JGW 2021, Lau explained, adding that the company’s B2B customers do not normally require high-colour diamonds. B2C buyers however would request diamonds with good colour as well as a certificate.

Price is a huge factor when purchasing jewellery at the fair, according to Sophia Man of LD Diamond and Jewellery Ltd. Buyers would scour for best prices and huge discounts but the jewellery must be of decent quality and have attractive designs.

Local customers favoured diamond-embellished rings, bracelets and earrings that were priced below HK$10,000 (around US$1,286). By comparison, the company’s overseas B2B buyers would normally order coloured gemstones. Its biggest market is Southeast Asia, revealed Man.

Diamond wholesaler Beauty Gems also counted finished jewellery among its bestsellers at JGW 2021. The company’s Anirudha Khatod said buyers at his booth spent around HK$10,000 (around US$1,286) for trendy pieces such as diamond necklaces with alphabet or crucifix pendants.

“If they see a jewellery design that they like and in that price point (HK$10,000), they do not have to think too much. For this show, buyers would look for an attractive design and price point,” noted Khatod. “It is different when it is a B2B show where a lot more negotiations take place.”

Seiichiro Mihara of Imakei Pearl (Hong Kong) Ltd disclosed that his company sold mostly 7.5mm to 9mm Japanese Akoya pearl strands while Jackie Leung of J Ocean Pearl Jewellery Ltd said both South Sea pearls and Japanese Akoya pearls in smaller sizes moved well during the show.

J Ocean started offering Japanese Akoya pearls in smaller sizes of 6mm to 7mm to meet market demand for earrings. “These pearls are lighter and are pinkish in colour. Very feminine,” continued Leung, adding that domestic buyers are showing increased interest in Japanese Akoya pearls.

Coloured gemstones, while not too popular at the fair, are generally enjoying solid demand in the trade, according to Irfan Takat, director of emerald dealer Takat Gems (HK) Co. Emeralds, in particular, are commanding attention and good prices despite a more challenging business environment.

Prices have in fact gone up by as much as 50 per cent in the past year and people are still buying, owing to the emerald’s vivid green hue, which could symbolise hope during uncertain times, continued the company official. Irfan added that other coloured gems such as rubies, sapphires and tanzanite stones are also enjoying stable demand and prices.

“We did not really expect to sell here at the fair, but we are on the lookout for customers whom we can liaise with after the show,” shared Irfan. “We hope to meet them here so they can see our goods, and hopefully we can do business after. It is important to network and touch base with potential and existing customers.”