One of the most exciting features of this year’s Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) is the immersive exhibit, “Orient Odyssey: From Shell To Market – The Fascinating Life Of Pearls,” by Informa’s Jewellery& Gem Knowledge Community.

This show floor attraction, located at Booth3M260 in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), is the result of a partnership with The AUTORE Group, Edison Pearls, Hatta New World Co Ltd, Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association (JPEA), Japan Pearl Promotion Society (JPPS), Jewelmer, Paspalev Pearling Company, Professional Association of Pearls Zhejiang, Rio Pearl, Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong (TPAHK) and Zhanjiang Pearl Association, among others.

Dr. Miro Fei-Yeung Ng, founder and president of the Centre for Gemmological Research, serves as project consultant.

Showcasing the process by which the humble pearl oyster produces nature’s perfect gem, the curated exhibit takes visitors through 12 visually stimulating and thought-provoking sections, beginning with the history and lore of pearls. Other points of interest are classification, origins, harvesting and treatments, grading, novel fashioning of pearls, styling and more.

Activities include live demonstrations of pearls being delicately extracted from pearl oysters, sessions on pearl jewellery styling by designer Rosemary Chung and demonstrations of pearl faceting techniques by renowned gemstone artist Victor Tuzlukov. This exhibit also prompts contemplation on the future of pearls and their significance as indicators of oceanic health and the broader natural ecosystem.

“Few things evoke fascination like the world’s only living gems, inherently perfect from the moment of harvest. Orient Odyssey is celebrating the timeless beauty of pearls while at the same time introducing them to a new generation of buyers and ensuring that their enduring allure remains at the forefront of the industry’s collective consciousness,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery.