The Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair was an extravagant affair that happened at 2 venues. The Asia World Expo was host to the show from 16-20 September while the second venue from 18-22 September was the HK Convention & Exhibition Centre. Over 3000 exhibitors from 40+ countries participated in the biggest B2B jewellery sourcing fair. I was a part of the grand event and here is what I discovered this year!
The Asia World-Expo venue was all about gemstones, loose stones, pearls and other precious materials that are part of jewellery making. The venue was also dotted with cultural influences and icons from the host country. It was an exciting experience for me to dive into this spectacular world with experts from all over the globe.
The renowned gems expert, Gandhi Jewels, showcased their latest collection of calibrated gemstones of various hues, sizes and shapes. It was sheer joy to see this collection that actually ends up saving a lot of hassle and time for jewellers.
The collection of Jakhotia Diamonds was a real testament to their industry leadership in natural fancy-coloured diamonds. Their rare and intricate precision stone cuts were remarkable and sought by many.
The Gemmeco stall was a kaleidoscope of pretty colours, rare shapes and precision cuts of various African semi-precious stones. Their layouts were truly inspiring and my favourite was a multi-coloured gemstone necklace layout.
The fine-designed jewellery pavilion of the JGW show was in full swing at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It featured prominent jewellery manufacturers who displayed their finished jewellery, couture collections and high jewellery. I found a lot of exquisite pieces during my visit here.
Modani Jewels one of the most trusted and popular brands offers high quality and rare products that are truly remarkable and showstoppers. Their culture, tradition and values are reflected in their vast gemstone collections and jewellery creations.
Innovative designs, intricate artistry and supreme craftsmanship were the highlight of the collection at Moiseikin’s stall. Meeting the lead designer Viktor and understanding his mega team of experts was an enriching experience for me. Their flora-inspired rings were my favourite.
One of the most innovative designs I saw was this neckpiece by Anaisha Jewels. They combined the 2023 Chinese year’s animal (peacock) and the 2024 Chinese year’s representative animal (dragon) in the most unique, sober and artistic way. A true piece of art, the necklace celebrated culture, craft and colour beautifully.
Making one-of-a-kind jewellery that is highly sought after and psychedelic is the expertise of Austy Lee. This pair of butterfly earrings was no different. I was almost hypnotised just admiring this at the HK show.
An iconic part of the event was the ‘Spotlight on De Beers’ breakfast event. It threw a lot of light on the global diamond market and its trends and the De Beers strategy for the same. The eminent list of speakers included Al Cook, CEO, of De Beers Group; Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands; Adrian Rodrigues, MD & Partner, BCG; and Paul Rowley, Executive VP, Diamond Trading. It was a great learning experience for all the attendees and I took back a lot of important pointers.
The creations by Shiv Narayan Jewellers are relics of art and craft that speak stories with every stone, curve and design. No wonder they are holders of 10 world records. Their multi-layered necklace, Niva, was designed with utmost precision and care and was an absolute delight to behold. Another masterpiece was the majestic rose-cut diamond necklace with a 97-carat emerald centrepiece.
I am always attracted to vintage and antique jewellery because it teaches me a lot about the history of various regions and gives me a sneak peek into the talents of the craftsmen of that age. The HK show had a dedicated section for this and the jewellery enthusiast in me was super thrilled. Two of the most amazing pieces I saw were a floral sarpech, a traditional ornament worn by royal men on their turbans, by Shanghai Yushi Culture Art and a necklace, redesigned from an antique Mughal Era piece with briolette cut diamonds, by Barbara Bassi Gioielli.
A delightful, dazzling and dreamy experience, The HongKong GJW show left me learning a lot and yearning for more. I discovered a lot of new trends and some reinvention of old styles. It was a great experience to see the world of jewellery at this B2B show. There is more to come next year and I am making my mental checklist already!