Industry players cited stable demand for top-quality loose stones and one-of-a-kind designs at Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) 2025, with Asian buyers driving business at the four-day fair. JGA 2025 took place from June 19 to 22 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Majority of exhibitors said a good deal of customers from China attended the show while Southeast Asia was also well represented. Buyers were mostly on the lookout for premium loose diamonds, gems and pearls as well as exceptional pieces and refined designs.  

Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at show organiser Informa Markets Jewellery, told journalists on the third day of the fair that visitor numbers were up over JGA 2024 based on preliminary data, adding that there were more Chinese visitors at the show compared to last year.

She said, “We saw the return of Chinese buyers this June, compared to previous shows. And while there was no decrease in the number of international buyers, the profile was slightly different, with a stronger showing from Asian countries."   

 

JGA 2025
 

Lau also underscored the growing presence of etailers and livestreamers at the show. Given China’s highly sophisticated ecommerce network, entry barriers to jewellery platforms have lowered significantly, giving rise to a new form of trade buyers. Live sellers from other Asian markets were also present at JGA.

“We are committed to the success of our customers – the more that buyers can sell, the better the fair. We assist etailers and livestreamers by providing information to enhance their product knowledge and, with advance notice, helping them source for what they need,” she explained, citing the Orient Odyssey 2.0 special exhibit as one such educational project for the trade.

In addition, live sellers play a critical role in building a culture of jewellery among younger generations. According to Lau, younger consumers are drawn more to online platforms than traditional jewellery retail shops. And as their financial situation improves, they will eventually purchase more expensive jewellery pieces. 

“Essentially, we are happy to see different sales channels thriving at the show as this presents greater opportunities for our exhibitors,” she said.

Market developments

Gemstones bearing top-end colours moved the fastest at JGA 2025, led by aquamarines, spinels and tourmalines, according to Josh Saltzman of Nomad’s.

Specifically, buyers favoured pink spinels from Vietnam alongside mint and pink tourmalines, with majority of clients coming from Asian markets. Lagoon tourmalines, which have generally enjoyed steady market demand, was also popular at the fair. 

“We had quite a few new clients from Asia,” noted Saltzman. “Our main markets are Asia, US and Europe but we understand that JGA is more Asia-focused. We expect to meet Europeans and Americans at Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong in September.”

Prices, meanwhile, are on the uptick largely due to soaring demand for high-end colours and gem quality. Another challenge is sourcing new materials. “Selling for us is not a problem, but replenishing what we have sold is extremely difficult, especially spinels and Mandarin garnets, to name a few,” explained Saltzman. 

Kiefer Tang, CEO of PN Gems (HK) Co Ltd, was also satisfied with the show’s turnout. He said, “Footfall exceeded our expectations, and we met more serious buyers compared to last year. We also connected with new clients from Thailand and India.”

Top performers were premium rubies, sapphires and emeralds, with buyers becoming less cautious in their spending. “People eventually recognise the investment value of high-quality coloured gemstones,” remarked Tang. 

The company is optimistic about prospects, buoyed by renewed buyer interest and the enduring appeal of top-grade coloured gemstones.
 

 

Phuket Khunaprapakorn, managing director of Gemburi Co Ltd, meanwhile, said the fair was quite slow, citing as one reason multiple shows held in the first half of 2025 that might have affected demand. Many visitors were also asking for extremely low prices.

“The European market has been steady but not exciting while China is still down,” he noted. “We are however heartened by the fact that jewellery did well at the show. This would hopefully result in greater demand for gemstones from jewellery manufacturers who will be fulfilling the orders they obtained at JGA.”

Shubham Maheshwari of Kunming Diamonds shared this sentiment, adding that the fair was quiet for a June show.

“The diamond industry had low expectations,” he stated. “We met some new clients – you always end up meeting new people at the show. Overall, it was a much slower show, but we also have to consider that there is still too much uncertainty going around.”  

Prices of fancy colour diamonds remained steady too, which Maheshwari said could bode well for the sector. He remarked, “The biggest advantage is our prices are not fluctuating as much. We are on a safer side in that regard. However, people are not looking to spend on luxury items now. We are hoping to see some positivity in September.”

China

Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt Ltd Director of Sales & Marketing Vipul Sutariya cited solid recovery in the Chinese market, with mainland buyers having had a strong presence at the fair. 

“We were pleasantly surprised with the traffic and business at JGA 2025. The Chinese market is back and while quantities are smaller than before, it is still a good sign for the market. We noticed that they downgraded their purchases slightly, opting for mid-quality items like GHI stones from DEF colours previously,” said Sutariya.

The company also met customers from the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia, Japan, Korea and Singapore, among others. Many of them were interested in fancy colour diamonds. 
 

 

Moiseikin International Ltd designer Victor Moiseikin likewise said he liaised with a good deal of Chinese buyers at the fair who were drawn to the company's one-of-a-kind propositions that represent luxury, exclusivity and sustainability.

“We were busy during the show as plenty of customers sought unique and special jewellery, which is what we are known for. We offer jewellery artworks that are multifunctional and have their own narrative and design aesthetic. These align with current market requirements for meaningful jewellery pieces that appeal to younger generation as well,” shared Victor. 

Versatility and variety

Mabel Lu, director of V&M Originality Designing Co Ltd, said the company’s 18-karat yellow gold pieces with agarwood were well received at the show. V&M specialises in 18-karat gold jewellery, led by signature pearl earrings, rings and necklaces. 

“We focus on offering something unique,” said Lu. “Our primary market is China, but we were delighted to connect with buyers from the Middle East, Dubai and Australia. Their interest in our designs encourages us to keep innovating and extending our reach abroad.”

Arun Chen, director of the development department of Shenzhen Gemhorn Jewelry Co Ltd, also witnessed demand for exceptional items. The company offers a diverse range of jewellery including 24-karat hard gold, karat gold and gem-set pieces, among others, manufactured using advanced technology.

The company’s Aurora Gold Collection drew significant attention at the fair. This jewellery line, crafted using advanced CNC machinery, features gold pieces with an iridescent rainbow effect. Its comprehensive chain collection also received positive feedback, with buyers expressing interest in hard gold chains. 

According to Chen, joining JGA was a strategic move for Gemhorn as the company seeks to expand to overseas markets. 

“We aim to showcase our innovative designs and craftsmanship — not just to our domestic clients, but also to buyers from around the globe. The show’s performance exceeded our expectations,” he shared. Gemhorn met buyers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines and India. 
 

Astrella Creations owner Shantanu Navlakha, for his part, said they connected with new clients from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. “We were happy to meet new customers, which made the show extremely productive for us. It is a positive sign, going into September,” added Navlakha.

Meanwhile, Vithal Trading Co Ltd Director Chetan Kumar Palriwala said JGA 2025 had been fruitful, with the company's offerings across different product categories, from gold jewellery to diamond pieces and lab-grown diamond items, garnering attention at the fair. 

“We met European buyers who placed orders for diamond jewellery collections and also selected several of our pieces for stock. Buyers from Andorra, Spain and Italy were pleased with our Japanese-made jewellery and were excited to do business with us. Buyers from the US gravitated towards tennis bracelets and necklace,” explained Palriwala.