The maiden edition of Jewellery & Gem ASEAN Bangkok (JGAB) concluded on a positive note, with industry stakeholders saying the show is poised to become a major sourcing event in the region. 

Held in Thailand from April 26 to 29, 2023 in Halls 1 and 2 of the newly renovated Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, the fair presented more than 10,000 products from 400 leading brands from 15 countries and regions, namely Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, Singapore, the UAE and the US.  

Speaking at the show’s opening ceremony, Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery, said the milestone event was aimed at further elevating Thailand’s position in the region’s jewellery and gemstone sector. JGAB could also open doors for exhibitors to tap into ASEAN’s flourishing luxury market. 

Manu Leopairote, chairman of Informa Markets Thailand, meanwhile, remarked that the show can serve as a gateway to the vast Southeast Asian market. “This fair is poised to become an important sourcing platform and one of the most important shows in Southeast Asia,” noted Leopairote. “We hope to do this show every year.”

Promising platform

Decha Nuntanajaroenkul, deputy managing director and executive director at Pranda Jewelry, said the company showcased an extensive collection of luxury gold jewellery from its core brands such as Prima Art and Prima Gold at the show. According to the company official, the 24-karat gold items are aimed at big-ticket buyers and collectors from India, China and ASEAN markets. 

“These symbolic, religion-inspired pieces are highly sought after in India and we aim to expand our reach in the Indian market,” said Nuntanajaroenkul. “These also have a following in Asia and we want that demand to grow even more.”

The company also has high hopes for JGAB, adding that the industry is optimistic about the future of the show. “We expect JGAB to have a positive impact on businesses and help us acquire new customers and new markets,” he added.

Fares Alahmar, co-founder and managing director of Alahmar Co Ltd, said the show was satisfactory for a first edition, adding that it was well-organised.

“We met many of our longstanding Thailand-based customers at the show and made many new contacts and customers, mainly from Asian countries such as Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China and Myanmar,” added Fares. “Thailand's the gem capital of the world so coloured gemstones are always the star of every Bangkok jewellery show, and that was the case for JGAB. But buyers were also on the lookout for unorthodox jewellery materials and out-of-the-box designs.” 

Gary Ching, director of Hong Kong-based Ka Shing Jewellery Co Ltd, also expressed confidence about the show's growth potential. “We met existing and potential clients, but they were mostly locals. There were people from China as well and other Asian markets,” shared Ching. “Customers were looking for diamond jewellery, but there were some who would ask for bigger items, and some colourful pieces, too.” 

Buyers were most comfortable with a US$300 to US$5,000 wholesale price range and most of them would opt for smaller 18-karat gold jewellery pieces with diamonds as opposed to pre-Covid times when clients would buy statement jewellery pieces such as big diamond necklaces, noted Ching.