Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) recorded an increase in international buyer turnout in a milestone edition that showcased a never-before-seen pearl exhibit, a panel series featuring iconic luxury pearl jewellery brands and a celebration of Informa’s Sustainability Awards champions, according to show organiser Informa Markets Jewellery.

Held from September 16 to 20 at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) and from September 18 to 22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), the “One Fair, Two Venues” B2B event featured over 3,300 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions. These included the biggest names in diamonds, coloured gemstones and pearls; prestigious luxury jewellery ateliers; leading equipment, tools and packaging suppliers, and major technology and solutions providers spread across over 40 pavilions.

The fair drew in 50,232 unique buyers representing 142 countries and regions, reflecting a rise in visitor attendance from South America (+19.9 per cent), the Middle East (+18.3 per cent), North America (+7.5 per cent) and Europe (+4.7 per cent). “Unique” visitors are only counted once regardless of the number of visits they make during the exhibition period.

Nonetheless, a slight drop in turnout from Mainland China was observed, partly attributed to the sourcing event coinciding with the Mid-Autumn Festival and a tropical cyclone that hit Shanghai on the same day that JGW opened.

International buyers drove 67.85 per cent of total attendance, underscoring the B2B show’s global standing as the No. 1 destination for sourcing jewellery, gemstones and other industry-related products.

Set against the backdrop of economic headwinds and uncertainties – a situation not unique to the jewellery sector – JGW’s 41st edition highlighted the resilience of the jewellery community in the face of adversity, said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery.

“Macroeconomic challenges aside, firm order-taking was underway on the show floor. Buyers have naturally been cautious and guarded, placing a strong emphasis on inventory that they can swiftly sell. Meanwhile, suppliers have been expanding their customer base, focusing on long-term strategic planning,” Lau continued. “It is precisely for these reasons – the importance of being in the know – that JGW is the definitive global destination for all things jewellery. Ultimately, this is the singular event of the year where every serious business professional in the jewellery community comes together to connect, learn and be inspired by the best.”

Special features
Beyond exhibits, JGW was made even more memorable with two key highlights: Sustainability and Pearls.

JGW advanced the sustainability conversation by honouring the winners of the Sustainability Awards 2024 by JWA (Jewellery World Awards) on September 18. 

Organised by Informa Markets Jewellery, the Awards programme paid tribute to exceptional sustainability initiatives within the fine jewellery, gemstone and related sectors. The Awards covered five categories, namely Environmental Stewardship, Social Empowerment, Manufacturing Innovation, Community Engagement and Sustainability Leadership.

Strengthening the discourse was the Sustainability Heroes Panel Series, hosting conversations on “Jewels Of A Sustainable Future” and “From Source To Showcase: Inspiring Change In The Jewellery Industry” featuring the award recipients as panellists. Session recordings are now available on Informa’s Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community (Knowledge Community) webpage.

JGW likewise celebrated the pearl with the exhibit, “Orient Odyssey: From Shell To Market – The Fascinating Life Of Pearls.” 

The presentation was a project of the Knowledge Community in partnership with The AUTORE Group, Edison Pearls, Hatta New World Co Ltd, Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association (JPEA), Japan Pearl Promotion Society (JPPS), Jewelmer, Paspaley Pearling Company, Professional Association of Pearls Zhejiang, Rio Pearl, Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong (TPAHK) and Zhanjiang Pearl Association, among others. 

Complementing Orient Odyssey were panel discussions on “Beyond Precious: Pearl Farming And Environmental Stewardship” and “The Power Of Pearls: Sustainable Gems For A New Generation.” The sessions featured representatives from iconic pearl jewellery brand Mikimoto and pearl powerhouses Paspaley, Autore, Jewelmer and Edison Pearls. Recordings of these sessions are also now available for viewing on the Knowledge Community webpage.

In 2025, JGW will be held from September 15 to 19 at the AWE and from September 17 to 21 at the HKCEC.

Seasons Autumn
Meanwhile, SEASONS | Autumn Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair, which was held concurrently with JGW in Hall 5BC of the HKCEC, saw a significant rise in attendance, attracting over 12,000 buyers, marking a 10.8 per cent increase from the previous edition.

Known for its vibrancy and innovation, the Fall edition is recognised as Asia’s top destination for sourcing fashion-forward collections and specialised products tailored for the Spring/Summer seasons of 2025 and beyond. 

The rise in international attendees was particularly noticeable from regions such as the Middle East (+63.8 per cent), South America (+39.3 per cent), North America (+37.4 per cent), Europe (+17.4 per cent) and Asia (+7.2 per cent).

The 2025 edition of SEASONS | Autumn is scheduled to take place from September 17 to 21 at the HKCEC.

Veritable marketplace
Professional trade buyers from around the world fulfilled their sourcing requirements at the show. Here are some of their insights, sourced from organiser interviews and the JGW Show Daily by JNA.

“The scale of the exhibition was large, and I was able to see many products and gain a lot of experience. Seeing the popularity of the Japanese Pearl Pavilion, I was able to once again realise the appeal of Japanese pearls, which are highly valued around the world!” – Noaki Shima of JC Bar, Japan

“In this edition, JGW was an all-in-one show. I was able to make good deals on almost all of what my factory needs – diamonds, gemstones, machinery, tools, technologies, even security systems.” – Mohammed Azzouz of Azzouz Jewelry, Saudi Arabia

“I always attend the Hong Kong shows for two main reasons. Firstly, I’m here to personally select the highest-quality pearls for my customers. Secondly, I am here to source information. I talk to many people and I learn what is going on in the market.” – Piotr Denejko of Gemartis, Poland

“It was my first time attending this fair and although I knew it was one of the largest in the industry, I was extremely satisfied with my decision to come. Despite the distance and the time zone difference, which really took a toll and required at least two days to adjust, the experience was absolutely worth it. I found several suppliers and unique jewellery pieces. Congratulations to the event organisers who did a truly impeccable job.” – Ayrton Gianotti of Constantini Joias, São Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil

“Yes, [JGW] was worth the trip! The pearl exhibit [Orient Odyssey] was especially beautiful. I would like to go back and spend some time to see it. Hopefully, this exhibit can travel to other countries. I had never seen anything like that anywhere. It is very educational.” – Seunghae Moon of the Korea Jewelry Center, South Korea

“JGW showcases a wide range of products and services. I am most impressed by a smart gold recycling machine offered at the show, which would support our commercial objectives and sustainability goals.” – Cindy Zhang, CEO of Diamond Service Center, Taiwan

“We found some smaller machines of good quality at more competitive prices than before. For instance, we came across a laser-engraving machine that could help us create tailored products for our market.” – Indra Lionardy, CFO of Adelle Jewellery, Indonesia

“The finished jewellery on offer at JGW was absolutely stunning and the range of gemstones was so comprehensive that it was impossible not to find the styles and collections, and price range that we were looking for.” – Youcef Botros of BOTROS Jewellery, Egypt

“I have attended many shows this year but JGW is by far the B2B fair par excellence. I had to prolong my visit in order to see all that was on offer and benefit from every opportunity.” – Javed Rafique of Javed Sheikh Trading, Dubai, UAE
 

Click here to view JNA’s coverage of JGW 2024.