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| The registration area at the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. |
The Jewelry News Network (meaning me) will be leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow to attend the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. The former British colony, with its bustling port, international banks and robust stock market, is the gateway to China, the most dynamic jewelry and luxury market in the world. This alone makes it one of the most important events in the jewelry industry calendar. But there’s more.
The event—being held September 19-23 at the Asia World-Expo on Chek Lap Kok island, next to Hong Kong International Airport for diamonds, colored gemstones, materials and equipment and September 21-25 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre overlooking the beautiful and busy Victoria Harbor for finished jewelry—is one of the three largest jewelry trade fairs in the world and the largest in Asia. Nearly 1.4 million square feet of exhibition space will be used by more than 3,300 vendors from 45 countries to display their products and services to an estimated 45,000 buyers from 135 countries.
While Asia is the focus, this fair is truly an international affair. There will be 20 country pavilions from all the major jewelry markets, with France being the newest group to have its own pavilion. Thailand, a gemstone manufacturing center, has the largest overseas pavilion at the Hong Kong show with more than 150 exhibitors at the AWE and more than 200 at the HKCEC.
The International Colored Gemstone Association, which represents the global colored gemstone industry, also has its own pavilion.
The AWE portion of the fair boasts the world’s largest diamond pavilion, with more than 430 exhibitors.
The luxury market and fine jewelry design have become more of a focus in Asia and the fair responded with pavilions dedicated to high-end jewelry and gems as well as internationally inspired designer jewelry. It includes the following:
* Fine Design Pavilion in the Grand Hall of HKCEC with more than 70 internationally renowned jewelry and timepiece companies;
* Fine Gem Pavilion in – Hall 9 of AWE with more than 50 exhibitors deemed “world class” selling top quality gems;
* Hong Kong Premier Pavilion showcasing the top-notch craftsmanship and exceptional creativity of 30 Hong Kong avant-garde jewelers; and
* International Premier Pavilion with more 50 prominent jewelry companies from around the world showcasing cutting-edge jewelry designs.
I will be spending nearly all of my time at the convention center with the finished jewelry vendors and buyers. The last time I attended the show was in 2005, the year before it moved to two venues. I’m looking forward to seeing how much the show has changed and grown since that time. I will be blogging live from the show as often as possible.