Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) 2025 concluded on a high note, with official figures showing an increased influx of buyers from China and exhibitors reporting strong interest in refined gems and innovative designs.

According to Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery, JGW 2025 recorded a 10 per cent increase in visitors over the 2024 edition, with the show welcoming 55,176 visitors from 141 countries and regions over its seven-day run across two venues.

“The strong performance of JGW 2025 indicates that a global well-organised exhibition is still the ideal platform for the trade to network and find fresh business opportunities,” said Lau. 

She noted the strong return of buyers from mainland China as well as Russia and Eastern Europe at both the jewellery materials section at AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) and the finished jewellery section at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

“We acknowledge that buyers may be more cautious in placing orders due to the complicated US tariff situation and the ensuing uncertainties. But we still strongly believe that the September fair is the best occasion for everyone to secure and arrange their Christmas and New Year orders,” she continued.

JGW 2025’s special exhibit on precious metals, Sublime Shine: Metal Innovations in The Art of Jewellery, supported by Industry Partners World Gold Council (WGC) and Platinum Guild International (PGI), was a highlight at the show. 

 

Sublime Shine at JGW 2025
 

 

According to Lau, the project aimed to encourage jewellery manufacturers to consider applying different techniques and metals in their production. She added that companies in the inaugural Hard Pure Gold Pavilion presented by WGC made successful international debuts at the show. Lau said, “Several of these companies are active in mainland China but were exhibiting in an international event for the first time. As gold is popular in many countries around the world, the show enabled them to jumpstart their export business.”

JGW 2025 featured over 3,000 exhibitors across six shows. JGW: Hong Kong, JGW: International and JGW: Fine Design at the HKCEC; and JGW: Gemstones, JGW: Diamonds & Fine Gems and JGW: Pearls+ at the AWE.

Diverse buyers

Anushi Mehta, partner at Dubai-based Glittering Gems DMCC, said there was a good mix of buyers at this year’s fair. “The first two days at AWE were busy for us,” shared Mehta. “We met jewellers from Hong Kong, China and India, and also reconnected with our regular clients from the US and Europe.”

The company specialises in high-end loose gemstones and diamonds, with a focus on craftsmanship and unusual shapes. The gems are cut in its own facility in Mumbai, India. Glittering Gems DMCC presented dome-shaped diamonds at JGW, among other unconventional cuts.

Mehta also mentioned a growing trend among consumers. saying, “The old-mine cut is making a comeback because of Taylor Swift’s engagement ring."

Daniel Assaf, owner of New York-based Tsavorite Factory (USA) Inc, said he entertained new buyers from Europe and reconnected with existing ones from Japan and other countries.

“Meeting customers I do not see often and seeing other dealers and what they have at the fair – it is all very important,” remarked Assaf on the second day of the show's AWE section. “Traffic was good on opening day.”

Tsavorite Factory’s major markets are the US, Europe and Asia. The company also has an office in Bangkok, which mainly caters to buyers from Japan and Thailand. Among the special stones it displayed at JGW were a top-grade 41.5-carat Malaya garnet and vivid pink spinels from Mahenge and top-quality tourmalines.
 

Buyer activity at JGW 2025

 

Buyers were mainly on the lookout for the “Big Three” – rubies, sapphires and emeralds, according to Bruno Wyler of ALine Gmbh. The gem dealer presented a wide range of fine specimens at the fair, led by rubies, sapphire and emeralds alongside Burmese and Tanzanian spinel, garnets and tourmalines.

Colombian emeralds were in high demand, according to Guillermo Galvis, president of the Colombian Emeralds Exporters Association (Acodes), who said JGW 2025 was the strongest show for the sector in the last 16 months. 

“The market is finally turning the corner. While purchases and transactions were relatively small, this was still a positive sign,” he stated. Galvis said Colombian emerald dealers received orders from Southeast Asian markets, with buyers from Myanmar being especially active at the show. 

“For some reason, Myanmar was the main market for us at JGW. They were buying smaller sizes of Colombian emeralds but in larger quantities,” he revealed. “Demand was also solid from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. The Chinese market was still sluggish, with the mainland accounting for only one out of 10 buyers we saw.”

Strong turnout

Over at HKCEC, jewellers shone the spotlight on artistry and innovation. Lume Creations Co Ltd’s Skyline Collection, for instance, impressed fair visitors. Abhishek Rawat, director of Lume Creations, described the collection as an artistic interpretation of some of the world’s most iconic city skylines, transformed into wearable fine jewellery.

Each ring is meticulously crafted in 18-karat gold or platinum, set with hand-selected diamonds of E-F colours and VVS clarity grades, and gemstones. The pieces are designed to capture the spirit and architecture of beloved landmarks in Paris, New York, Moscow, Beijing and Dubai, to name a few. Interviewed on the last day of the show on September 21, Rawat described JGW 2025 as “very interesting.”

“We saw a great deal of international visitors whereas in the past, we would entertain mainly Chinese clients. This time around, there were new markets. We saw a good number of Chinese visitors but there were European and Middle Eastern buyers, too. Overall, it has been very satisfying," Rawat said.

Lume Creations received orders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. Buyers were mainly on the lookout for high-end pieces and fresh, innovative designs, added Rawat.

Wing Chan, general manager of Hong Kong Chaozun Jewelry, said gold jewellery attracted strong attention from serious buyers. The company exhibited in the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion at HKCEC. 

 

Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd
 

“The themed pavilion created a positive momentum at the fair, drawing international buyers who were specifically interested in gold jewellery,” said Chan. “We introduced some of our innovative gold jewellery manufacturing techniques to overseas clients. The response was very encouraging.”

The company unveiled new collections designed with Southeast Asian customers in mind, including pieces inspired by elephants – a symbolic emblem in Thailand. 

Meanwhile, Carrie Lam, general manager of Polaris Jewellery Manufacturer Ltd, observed changes in clients’ purchasing behaviours at JGW. “We saw more customers buying ready stock, with demand coming from China, Southeast Asia and Russia,” said Lam, adding that buyers enquired mostly about 14-karat and 18-karat gold jewellery with diamonds.

Polaris targeted US and Canadian buyers at the fair to boost business from these regions. “This year, we received considerably fewer orders from US and Canadian clients because of the US tariffs. Business has been impacted, and many clients are adopting a wait-and-see approach,” Lam explained.

Maylinda Yen, director of Glory United Hong Kong, the branch office of Indonesian-headquartered gold chain specialist Untung Bersama Sejahtera PT or UBS, said both companies met several new clients at the show. Glory United, which focuses on Asian markets, entertained buyers from Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia who were seeking 18-karat yellow gold chains. And while visitor numbers from the US, one of UBS’ top markets, were understandably below expectations, the company still managed to secure several orders from other markets at JGW, she added.

 

Australia Pearls

 

Wing Wo Hing Jewelry Group Ltd touched base with professional trade buyers interested in pearl jewellery in gold, according to Business Manager Tom Wan. “We met a diverse group of visitors from around the world this time around. There were buyers from Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Canada and Southeast Asia,” disclosed Wan, who also witnessed heightened demand from e-tailers due to the ease of selling pearls online.

Pearl jewellery also moved well for Bellini Creation Ltd at JGW 2025. Company General Manager Grace Chan reported steady demand from US, Polish and Austrian buyers for pearl jewellery pieces. “Given the high gold prices, clients are leaning towards pearl jewellery in silver or in 9-karat or 10-karat gold. Also popular are gem-set pieces that use less gold,” she said. 

Chete Ltd had an equally positive showing at JGW 2025, according to Felix Chen, president and CEO of Chete’s owning company, PAJ Group. “Aside from our regular clients, we met a lot of new customers from Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Indonesia and other countries in the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia,” Chen said. “This attests to the truly international platform offered by JGW.”

PAJ was particularly pleased with market response to its new OPJ Studio customisable jewellery sets. Aimed at providing jewellery retailers with a one-stop personalised jewellery offering for their customers, the different sets feature some 25 to 40 pieces that can be further tailored to specific preferences. Wholesale prices for these sets start from US$500, while customisable sets for bridal jewellery with lab-grown diamonds cost from US$1,200. 

 

Osi Vitoria