Pearls Once Again A Major Draw at the September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

Pearls of virtually every type, quality and price point imaginable is once again an important part of the the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. The world’s largest jewelry trade show includes a dedicated area filled with loose pearl suppliers who are presenting pearl parcels, pairs, strands and layouts at the AsiaWorld-Expo.

In addition, a number of design houses will be showcasing high and fine jewels using pearls at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, when this portion of fair opens Wednesday (but that’s another story).

The pearl pavilion at AWE is one of the largest spaces dedicated to a single product category at the fair. Loose pearl dealers from all over the world are exhibiting including suppliers and from Australia, China, France, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, Singapore, the UK and the US.

“Pearls are universally loved for their classic simplicity and timeless beauty,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets. “They personify refined elegance and are impressively versatile at the same time.”

According to the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong (TPAHK) round 8mm to 10mm pearls are the hottest items under the Tahitian pearl category in the first half of the year.

“However, with the continued efforts of the association and by joining hands with leading jewelry design competition organizers in the promotion of asymmetrical shapes – drop, oval, circle and baroque pearls among others – we anticipate pearls in fancy shapes to further grow in popularity,” the association said in a statement.

Despite global economic uncertainties, the Tahitian pearl auction held in July netted encouraging results, according to TPAHK. “Top-quality pearls were in great demand but supply was inadequate. There were fewer commercial-grade pearls displayed at the auction. Thus, the average price increased by almost 48 percent when compared with the auction results in March of this year,” according to the association. “Total sales were approximately 35 percent higher than anticipated. Hong Kong and Japan continued to be the top buyers, accounting for 75 percent of sales.”

TPAHK members are presenting commercial- and high-quality pearls sourced from the recent auction at the September Fair. “The timing is ideal for the coming peak selling season,” the association noted.

The portion of the fair that includes loose pearls and other jewelry making materials at the AWE will run till September 20; while the finished portion of the jewelry fair opens at the HKCEC Wednesday and runs till September 22.

June Hong Kong Jewelry Fair Opens to Big Crowds

Buyers crowd one of the registration areas at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair

The June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair opened its doors Thursday and buyers have come in large numbers to view products and services from more than 1,900 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions of the world. 

Looking at the crowds of people at several registration desks it hard to believe that this is the smaller of the two trade fairs in Hong Kong owned and operated by London-based Informa Markets, a tradeshow and publications company that acquired UBM Asia in 2018.  But it is. The main difference is that this show is held in one facility while the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair is so large that it is held at two locations.

Occupying 70,000 square meters of exhibition space at the Hong Kong Convention & Exposition Centre, the fair is divided into 21 theme and 18 group pavilions for easier navigation. New this year are two thematic zones – Technology and Lab-Grown Diamonds – and the Australia Pavilion under the national and group pavilions category.

“The June fair occupies a unique position in the industry,” says Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets. “It literally brings the jewellery world under one roof, and it is perfectly timed for wholesalers, retailers and distributors who are building up their seasonal essentials.” 

Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets, added, “This show brings together the jewelry and gemstone industry in its entire breadth and depth, making it the ideal sourcing destination for wholesalers, retailers and distributors.” 

This includes jewelry technology and equipment providers, diamond and gemstone dealers, a complete assortment of fine jewelry and collectible high jewelry.

The June Fair’s signature programming will include three seminars organised by the Colombian Association of Emerald Exporters, The Gemmological Association of Hong Kong and the Japan Pearl Promotion Society, which will highlight developments in the colored gemstone and pearl sectors.

Invitation-only events are being held on the fair’s sidelines, including a Media Gathering, where the winners of the JNA Jewellery Design Competition 2018/19 were announced and the JNA Awards revealed this year’s finalists across 11 categories.

This is the 32nd year for the June fair and it has become an important part of the international annual tradeshow calendar. The four-day event will run till June 23.