This article first appeared in the JNA November/ December 2022 issue.

Fine jewellery for daily wear, fancy gold chains and on-trend, stylish designs at reasonable price points were among the most sought-after products at Jewellery & Gem WORLD Singapore (JGW Singapore), which saw thousands of buyers from close to 100 countries and regions converging at the Singapore EXPO from September 27 to 30.

Organised by Informa Markets Jewellery, the international B2B show featured nearly 1,000 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions. It attracted 11,125 unique visitors from 97 countries and regions over its four-day run. Of the total visitors, 65 per cent were from overseas while the rest were Singapore-based. The top five sources of buyers were Singapore, India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Most buyers were on the lookout for smaller, affordable jewellery pieces that would appeal to consumers in their markets, noted fine jewellery exhibitors.

Hong Kong jeweller Christelle saw great interest in its diamond jewellery collections, with tennis bracelets, bangles and necklaces moving well. “We met a lot of Southeast Asian customers – buyers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. They gravitated towards the regular jewellery items priced at less than US$10,000, rather than high jewellery pieces,” said general manager Martin Ibasco.

Manuel Vaccari, owner of Italy’s Ofir Srl, entertained customers from Malaysia, the UAE, the Philippines and Vietnam who were drawn to the company’s handmade designs. Ofir’s signature line of original antique coin jewellery in 18-karat gold proved particularly popular, he said.

Crivelli Srl, for its part, was pleased with buyer interest in its long gold chains and fashionable diamond jewellery, among other items. Export manager Fabrizio Biandrate said, “We met our old customers but also made a lot of new contacts from all over Asia and even Africa, which is the real goal at trade fairs. This has been a very good show for us.”

The fancy gold chains of Italian jeweller Gold Art attracted orders from Malaysia, the UAE, Hong Kong and the Philippines, while coloured gemstone jewellery, notably emerald pieces, drew the crowds for Japan-based Yuvi Inc.

Fancied gems

Loose pearls and pearl jewellery were on the shopping lists of many buyers, particularly those from Vietnam and the Philippines.

Japanese pearl dealer Shinyu Co Ltd, which usually counts China as its top market, garnered several new business leads at the show. The company entertained buyers from the US, the Philippines, Australia and South Africa, among others, during the four-day fair, according to sales associate Fanny Lam.

“Unlike our Chinese clients who favour top-quality Japanese pearls with certificates and perfect rounds, buyers at JGW Singapore were interested in big, baroque pearls. They preferred South Sea and Tahitian pearls over Akoya pearls,” she said.

Dhruvin Shah from India’s Vaibhav Gems Pvt Ltd said the show saw a good footfall of buyers from around the world. “They were especially looking to stock up their inventory for the upcoming holiday season. As exhibitors, we were happy to offer them a wide variety of gems and jewellery at the India pavilion,” he remarked.

Gemstone dealer Krish Creations Co Ltd of Thailand touched base with new potential clients from Europe and Asia including Indonesia, Korea and Japan. Managing director Mehul Patel said buyers were interested in rubies and sapphires of 2 to 5 carats, with some seeking melee sizes.

Fine Green Gems Co Ltd also chalked up business from new markets such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea. “Calibrated sizes were in demand at the show, with buyers seeking vivid green emeralds,” said sales director Faisal Khan.

Emeralds and sapphires from the collections of US-based Precious Pebbles Inc caught the eye of wholesalers based in Singapore and Malaysia, COO Mohammed Ausaf revealed.

Fresh opportunities

For Premier Pavilion exhibitor Miranda Group Co Ltd, the Singapore market offered vast potential for its high-quality coloured gemstones. Buyers were especially drawn to Paraiba tourmalines, which is a fairly new discovery for them, said director Cam Li.

“Many Singaporean buyers were familiar with rubies and sapphires but not other coloured gemstones. They were fascinated by the colour and beauty of Paraiba tourmalines. We intend to develop this market further since the interest in coloured gemstones is definitely there,” Li disclosed.

Greenland Ruby got to explore business prospects in Asia, and chief commercial officer Hayley Henning was encouraged by the response. The company had hitherto focused on promotions in the US and Europe.

“Asia is a new market for us. We tested the waters at the show and met buyers from Japan, Australia – people we would not usually get to meet at the trade fairs and events that we attend. They liked our diamond cuts and ruby beads and essentially what we stood for and the essence of our narrative of rarity and sustainability,” Henning explained.

Greenland Ruby held a presentation, “A New Responsible Source of Rubies and Pink Sapphires,” on the second day of the show.

Sustainable endeavours

De Beers Group also underscored its commitment to the environment through its fully sustainable booth that used materials that were reusable, rented and recyclable.

More than half of the materials used in the booth were rented – and will thus be used again – and a quarter of the materials will be reused at future trade shows. Some 20 per cent of the materials will be recycled via donations.

The focus on sustainability extended to the actual materials used. All cardboard in the booth was 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable. The booth’s floor was made of cork, a renewable material harvested from cork oak trees that retain five times more carbon than other tree species. Fabrics were a blend of recycled polyester sourced from ocean waste, and only eco-friendly paint with no heavy metals or solvents was used.

The booth also featured a living wall filled with plants, which significantly improved air quality, while the wall filters particulated matter from the air, turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. After the fair, all plants were donated to local nurseries.

JGW Singapore delivered on several fronts. The special-edition international in-person B2B trade fair provided the industry with a platform to fulfil sourcing requirements, forge new business relationships, explore new markets and champion best practices.

David Bondi, senior vice president of Informa Markets in Asia, said, “A sourcing event goes beyond products; it is as much about people, ideas and inspiration. It is about the power of people gathering together again. This is what JGW Singapore is all about.”

The momentum seen at the fair affirmed the industry’s clamour for normalcy and the urgency of getting business back on track as quickly as possible, added Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery.

“Current circumstances emboldened us to radically rethink how we do things to enable our exhibitors and visitors to do business, connect and get inspired. The market’s eagerness and enthusiasm for in-person jewellery and gemstone sourcing as seen at JGW bodes well for the future of our industry,” Lau said.