Paraiba, Emeralds, Rubies, Opals Among The Highlights Of Colored Gems Pavilion at the September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

A suite of Paraiba from Erica Courtney. Photo: Anthony DeMarco

The largest September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair in the show’s 36-year history has begun and one of the biggest draws at AsiaWorld-Expo is colored gemstones.

It is one of the world's largest collections of colored gems under one roof anywhere in the world and the number and variety of gems available is unmatched. 

An Opal originally from Cartier being offered by Erica Courtney. Photo: Anthony DeMarco

The Courtney Collection, an Erica Courtney company, is giving professional buyers a glimpse of its African Paraiba tourmaline suites at the September Fair.

“We are exhibiting beautiful gemstones of exceptionally large sizes from a private collection, showing large single gems as well as curated suites, including many extraordinary specimens of African paraiba tourmaline,” a spokesperson for the US-based company said. “We wish to reach gemstone collectors and gemstone vendors who appreciate exceptionally large gemstones.”

Zambian emeralds from Gemfields. Photo: Anthony DeMarco

An award-winning jewelry designer, Erica Courtney is known for her use of fine gemstones in her "Drop Dead Gorgeous" jewelry collection. Her love of extraordinary gemstones led her to partner with a private collector who has amassed a collection of large gems, which will be presented at the September Fair.

The paraiba set is certainly one of the highlights in the main gemstone pavilion, The sea-blue gems are being sold as a set with a full range of size and shape that would make an exceptional suite of jewels.

Not to be outdone, in the neighboring "Fine Gem Pavilion," Paul Wild has on display special paraibas from Africa and Brazil, the origin of paraibas, and one of the rarest gems, since all of the original material has been mined.

The mining and marketing company, Gemfields, was showcasing a number of their Zambian emeralds and Mozambique rubies in a stand by one of the entrances.

In addition, number of opal dealers were displaying their unique gems with lustrous colors and sparkling patterns. Opals are one of the least understood of all gemstones. They are classified as “phenomenal gems,” a group of gemstones that have various optical properties, such as gems that produce a “star” or “cat’s eye” effect. For opals it’s the play of color that exhibits an iridescent effect, appearing to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes.

Southeast Asia Jewelry And Gemstone Directory Available For Purchase

The Jewellery & Gemstone Directory 2017 – Southeast Asia Edition is the ultimate sourcing guide for trade buyers seeking business opportunities in the region’s manufacturing and distribution sectors. 

First published in 2015, this annual directory is the most comprehensive resource on jewelry and gemstone suppliers and retailers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Published by JNA, the latest edition of the directory lists more than 1,600, with more than 1,000 suppliers and 600 retailers, representing about 2,200 stores in the region. Specific sections in the directory cover jewelry and gemstone manufacturers, exporters and wholesalers; diamond and pearl dealers; gemological laboratories; trade organizations and training establishments. 

The “Suppliers” section lists companies by product and service and by country. The "Retailers" section features independent retailers, chain stores and distributors, providing information on the type of jewelry they sell and the source of their merchandise.

The directory is currently available at a special introductory rate of $40 per copy, as opposed to the regular cost of $60 and can be ordered by following this link. 

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Hong Kong Jewelry Fair Attracts 55,000 Buyers

The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair trade fair capped its 34th edition with 55,768 unique buyers from 147 countries and regions.

The attendance, which still ranks the annual event as the top fine jewelry trade fair in the world, is a 3.2 percent decline from the prior year. It is the second consecutive year that the fair saw a drop in attendance. In 2015, the fair attracted 57,616 unique visitors, which was a 2.5 percent drop from the prior year. 

There was also a decline in the number of exhibitors at the fair. The 3,615 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions was a 3.6 percent decline over the prior year.

Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia, noted that the buyers remained optimistic and centered on large carat diamonds, precious stones, South Sea pearls, fine finished jewelry, tools, packaging and equipment. 

“We observed that the number of quality buyers remained steady at this edition; their presence is an encouraging sign that points to the jewelry industry’s continued development and significant growth,” Lau said. 

Certain countries showed growth in visitor numbers, among them: 

* India, up by 423 visitors, around 14-percent increase from last year; 

* Myanmar, up by 196 visitors or roughly 75 percent up from last year; 

* Belgium, up by 106 buyers or around 32 percent up from last year; 

* Australia up by 80 visitors or roughly 12 percent up from last year; Japan up by 78 visitors or 6 percent up from last year; 

* United Kingdom, up by 76 visitors or roughly 22 percent up from last year; and Israel up by 66 visitors or roughly 25 percent up from last year.

Below is an additional breakdown of visitor numbers at the Fair, held at the AsiaWorld-Expo from September 13 to 17 and the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from September 15 to 19:

* The number of visits recorded during the Fair was 118,799.

* Hong Kong-based visitors totaled 16,328, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the total number of visitors. The rest of the visitors: 39,440, or over 70 percent of the overall total, were from overseas.

* Top 10 sources of visitors: The largest group of visitors came from mainland China. At 17,412, the number of visitors from mainland China again surpassed the number of Hong Kong-based visitors. Hong Kong region follows with 16,328; India, 3,403; the United States, 1,948; Taiwan region, 1,670; Thailand, 1,605; Japan, 1,398; the Philippines, 1,144; Korea, 988 and Australia, 738. 

Commenting on the fact that 70 percent of the total number of visitors was from outside Hong Kong, Lau says this makes the September Fair a very good barometer of business sentiment in the jewelry industry. 

Lau added that the September Fair takes the lead in setting agenda that would contribute to the development of the jewelry industry. She noted the launch of a new initiative, called the “Declaration Programme on Exhibits of Natural Diamond.” Participants in the program had a poster from the initiative, demonstrating to buyers that diamonds from these exhibitors were natural. This program provided an easier and quicker way for buyers to make an informed decision when purchasing diamonds. Participants in the program were members of global diamond trade organizations, including the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, the Antwerp World Diamond Center, Belgium, and the Israel Diamond Institute.

“It is in our interest, and in the industry’s interest, that we provide a healthy and professional business environment,” said Wolfram Diener, senior vice president of UBM Asia. “The program ensures that buyers get the proper, sufficient information about the products being offered at our fairs. We know there is a market for both natural and synthetic diamonds, and we want to be a platform for both. We are happy to have both at our show, but it is important that the buyers are well informed.”

Lau added: “The feedback from the participants regarding this initiative was positive. They acknowledged that we are going in the right direction.”

Participants also saw improved security measures on “Identity Verification at Entrance” in place; UBM Asia initiated the enhancements last year.

During the September Fair, nine seminars, one diamond auction, two pearl auctions, one conference, four jewelry fashion shows and other special events were held at the two venues.

Next year, both the June Fair and the September Fair will reach new milestones: the June Fair will celebrate its 30th anniversary while the September Fair will celebrate its 35th anniversary. 

“We are planning some new features that will further enhance buyer experience at our shows,” Lau said. “We will launch a new theme pavilion named CORE, which will be located in Hall 1C-E at the HKCEC. It will house esteemed fine finished jewelry companies that have supported the Jewellery & Gem Fairs, and consider Hong Kong as the platform from which they grow their business. In the process, they have helped propel the city and witnessed its rise as a global jewelry industry powerhouse.” 

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September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair Set for September 13 - 19

Jewelry demand in China is expected to pick up in September ahead of the week-long national holiday in October, according to the GFMS Gold Survey 2016: Q2 Update & Outlook. This is potentially good news for the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, which will be held September 13-17 at AsiaWorld-Expo and September 15-19 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Recent data from the Chinese government also showed an improvement in the Chinese market: China’s gold imports from Hong Kong reached RMB45.8 billion (around $687 million) in the first six months of 2016, up 550 percent from the same period in 2015. The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair positions participants to tap into opportunities in China as well as in the rest of the Asia Pacific. 

The September Fair, now in its 34th edition, continues to enjoy support from key industry players around the world, according to UBM Asia, which owns and operates the fair. 

This year’s September Fair will host more than 3,550 exhibitors from 54 countries and regions in more than 135,000 square meters of exhibition space. AWE will display jewelry raw materials from over 1,600 local and overseas exhibitors, while HKCEC will showcase fine finished jewelry from around 2,000 international fine jewelry exhibitors.

New exhibitors from Nigeria, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovak Republic (Slovakia), Tahiti and Vanuatu will be mixing with the veteran vendors. In addition, there will be new group pavilions from Myanmar and Portugal, bringing the number of pavilions to 25. 

“We are excited to unveil numerous new events, launch value-added show features and introduce new exhibitors at this edition as part of our initiative to continually enhance buyers’ experiences,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. 

About 58,000 local and overseas visitors are expected to attend during its seven-day run, said Sunny Chan, deputy fair manager, Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. This will be a slight increase over the 2015 edition of the fair.

The Fair Mobile App is now available for download at http://www.jewellerynetasia.com/. Through the app, users can receive show alerts and updates, browse the list of exhibitors, and create a personal daily planner.

The Alrosa Group, Russia’s leading diamond company and the world’s biggest diamond miner by volume, will again host its diamond auction at the September Fair at AWE. Meanwhile, the 59th Paspaley Pearl Auction and the 68th Robert Wan Tahiti Perles Auction will be held at HKCEC. 

Also returning are the world’s largest diamond pavilion, Asia’s biggest gemstone marketplace, and the Hong Kong Pavilion and the Hong Kong Premier Pavilion, which house the biggest display of Hong Kong jewelry in the world. 

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More than 8,000 Attend China Gold, Jewelry, Gem Fair

The 14th edition of the China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shenzhen attracted 8,683 local and overseas visitors during the show’s three-day run, ended April 22. They viewed and purchased products from 332 exhibitors from around the world in 20,000 square meters of exhibition space from 13 countries, including China, Hong Kong, India and Korea.

The number of visitors from overseas and Hong Kong region is 741 this year. The top 10 sources of buyers (excluding mainland China and Hong Kong region) were India, followed by Taiwan region, the United States, Russian Federation, Malaysia, Ukraine, Thailand, Korea; Pakistan, Singapore and Iran claimed ninth, and Australia.

Mainland Chinese visitors totaled 7,942 from 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of mainland China. The top 5 sources of local visitors were Guangdong, followed by Zhejiang, both Shanghai and Fujian claimed third, both Jiangsu and Shandong claimed forth, while Beijing ranked fifth.

The fair featured the third edition of the China Jewellery Market Summit, co-organized by the Shenzhen Fair and CJNA. It was divided into two main parts: a jewelry parade showcasing jewelry from a select group of exhibitors, and a panel discussion that featured speakers from four leading jewelry brands who shared their views on the latest developments in mainland China’s jewelry market; and how the retailers could tap new business opportunities through innovative thinking.

“The China jewelry retail market has been experiencing a lot of changes in recent years. It is slowing down after years of rapid growth,” Joe Ho, fair manager, China – Jewellery Fairs of UBM Asia. “The summit was a good venue to help local retailers understand the changes and hear about solutions to the challenges.” 

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UBM Asia Launches Jewelry and Gemstone Directory For Southeast Asia

The Jewellery Publishing Group of UBM Asia has launched Jewellery & Gemstone Directory 2016 -- Southeast Asia, saying it’s the first comprehensive sourcing guide for jewelry trade buyers seeking business opportunities in the region's manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Published for the first time in November, the new directory has more than 1,300 listings of manufacturers and retailers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

The manufacturers section presents suppliers of jewelry, gemstones, diamonds, pearls and lab-grown gems. Also included are gemological laboratories, trade organizations and training establishments. Companies are sorted by product and service, by alphabetical order and by country. Details include telephone number, website, person-in-charge, product specialization and number of workers.

The retailers section lists jewelry shops, chain stores and wholesalers. The directory provides information on these companies, including the type of jewelry they sell and the source of their products.

"Recognizing that the eyes of the world are on Southeast Asia as it grows in importance as a manufacturing hub and a consumer market, we have come up with an annual, dedicated directory to help facilitate business transactions with and within the region's jewelry and gemstone industry,” says Dennis Li, group publisher, Jewelry Publishing Group of UBM Asia. 

The company's other annual publications include Jewellery & Gemstone Directory -- Hong Kong edition, the Equipment & Supplies Directory, and the Silver Jewellery Suppliers Directory.

The Jewellery & Gemstone Directory 2016 -- Southeast Asia edition is available at a special introductory rate of $60 per copy until March 11, 2016. Regular rate is $100. To order a copy, email subscribe@jewellerynewsasia.com, fax +852 3749 7433 or call +852 2516 1613.

The directory can also be purchased at major international jewelry trade fairs.

Sample pages can be viewed at www.jewellerynewsasia.com/en/JGD-SEA.html. 

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The Snail Collection by Alex Soldier

Alex Soldier Sea Snail

There’s a lot that goes into the jewels by Alex Soldier. The metalwork is quite elaborate as are his gem-setting techniques. This detailed artisanal workmanship defines his pieces. However, while Alex Soldier has a distinctive style and definition, each one-of-a-kind piece or collection represents a definitive and different jewelry-making technique. Imaginative creativity as well defines the style of Alex Soldier.

Diamond snail pendant

It’s this combination of creativity and craftsmanship that makes Alex Soldier’s jewelry distinct and interesting. One of his best-known works is the Snail Collection. Soldier says he first created bejeweled versions of these animals “as a reminder to slow down and enjoy life.” It also serves as an expansive palette for his creativity and craftsmanship. 

Snail ring

The snail jewels exhibit a balance of color, texture, and detail; with each embroidered with an assortment of precious gems that form unique color patterns. In other words, while this snail jewelry is available as earrings, rings and brooches (and cufflinks for men) no two designs are alike. Every composition is further enhanced with final touches of fine texturing, hand-applied in several layers by Soldier. 

Diamond snail

The snails like all of Soldier’s pieces are handmade in his New York studio. Several 18k gold and diamond versions of the snails are available on the Neiman Marcus website with a starting price of $2,900.

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Will The September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair Overcome Global Tensions Again?

Opening day registration crowd at the 2014 September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair

The world’s largest fine jewelry tradeshow opens Wednesday amid a global backdrop that remains volatile and unpredictable. 

As a true international event, the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair is susceptible to economic swings and geopolitical tensions throughout the world. Since the global financial crisis of 2008, this instability has heightened significantly. But somehow the world’s largest fine jewelry tradeshow not only remains resilient but manages to continue its robust growth. 

The tradeshow will be held September 16 – 20 at the AsiaWorld-Expo for jewelry making materials and equipment and September 18 – 22 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre for finished fine jewelry ranging from inexpensive silver pieces to high jewelry art creations. My first day at the fair will be September 17. 

Last year seemed to be a particularly difficult time as military actions in the Middle East and the Ukraine were exacerbated by the build up that led to mass protests in Hong Kong and a category 8 Typhoon. But despite all of this the number of visitors to the show, owned and operated by UBM Asia, grew by an outstanding 12 percent. 

This year while unrest in the Middle East and the Ukraine as well as other geopolitical hotspots around the world remains, the big issue is China. The dramatic decline and instability of the country’s stock markets has changed a lot of this. Not only did big investors lose out but the markets are full of retail traders who lost their life savings. This is in addition to the ongoing government-imposed austerity measures on China’s elite. 

This change in the Chinese economy was evident by a 5 percent year-over-year decline in gold jewelry demand for the second quarter of 2015, according to the World Gold Council. China is the world’s largest gold jewelry market. 

It’s the same story for many emerging markets. For example, India, the world’s second largest gold jewelry market, saw its second quarter demand fall by 23 percent. Brazil’s gold jewelry demand declined 8 percent.

The good news is that GDP growth in China is at 7 percent this year. The other modest bright spot is the US, which is growing at a slow, stable pace. Europe’s economy remains flat. 

Talking to several people this past week, few have high expectations in terms of sales. The fair has the world’s largest diamond display but the slowdown in jewelry demand in China (as well as other issues) has hit this industry segment particularly hard. 

Colored gems found a larger and broader audience in recent years but the anticipation is for steady sales at the show. 

As far as collectible and estate jewelry and watches, those I spoke with still expect good positive growth as the wealthy buy in good times because they have the money and in bad times as a hedge against other investments. 

As far as overall show attendance, UBM Asia officials are being conservative saying it will be about the same as last year, at just over 59,100. However, that’s the same thing they said last year.  

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‘Jade Lady’ Mimi Ou Yang To Receive JNA Lifetime Achievement Award

Mimi Ou Yang

Jewellery News Asia has announced that Professor Mimi Ou Yang—affectionately known as “The Jade Lady”—will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the fourth annual JNA Awards. Ou Yang is an internationally renowned gemologist, mineralogist and jade expert who founded the Hong Kong Gems Laboratory and H.K. Institute of Gemmology.

“With her inquisitive mind, dedication and hard work, she has made the jadeite trade more transparent, promoted high ethical standards among industry practitioners, inspired consumer confidence, and contributed to cementing the jadeite sector’s status in the international market,” said Letitia Chow, chair of the JNA Awards Judging Panel. “Professor Ou Yang exemplifies the true values of what JNA Awards promotes.”

Since 1978, Ou Yang has devoted herself to the academic research of Fei Cui Jade. For years, she travelled to Myanmar’s mining areas, collecting and studying jade samples. In 1983, she was the first to discover a terrestrial source of Ureyite while doing her research on Burmese jadeite jade. This stood out as her proudest accomplishment. Her unprecedented discovery sent shockwaves through the field of mineralogy and firmly established her academic standing as a mineralogist.

In addition to her contributions to academic research, Ou Yang played a significant role in the development of the jadeite jade market. In the early 1980s, the emergence of artificially treated and dyed jadeite jade led Ou Yang to pioneer the classification system of Fei Cui Jade treatment (“A type,” “B type,” “C type” and “B+C type”) and introduce the earliest use of Infrared Spectroscopy for B Type jadeite jade identification. In addition, she proposed a systematic approach—4C2T1V principle—for quality evaluation of Fei Cui Jade, which is now commonly used by jewelry companies and auction houses.

Ou Yang has dedicated her life to spreading jade knowledge and promoting the status and recognition of Fei Cui Jade as a precious gemstone in the international market. Her accomplishments included creating the term “Fei Cui Jade,” which significantly improved the understanding of Fei Cui Jade and the trade’s reputation among consumers.

Ou Yang also is an educator who trained and nurtured countless numbers of jewelry talents through the development of a Fei Cui Jade program and her publications.

“It is my deepest honour to be the recipient of JNA’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” Ou Yang said. “The path to becoming a Fei Cui Jade scholar was not an easy one. I am thrilled to finally receive recognition from the industry following years of hard work and perseverance. This award, while giving me tremendous pleasure, also serves as an inspiration to all the other scholars to continually serve the industry with their professional knowledge and expertise.”

Ou Yang will receive the award during the the JNA Awards 2015 Ceremony and Gala Dinner, which will be held September 20, at the Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong.

JNA Awards 2015 is led by Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook as Headline Partners, with Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and Guangdong Land Holdings Limited as Honoured Partners. 

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Finalists Named For The 2015 JNA Awards

(From Left) Representatives from Guangdong Land, Shanghai Diamond Exchange, Rio Tinto Diamonds, UBM Asia, UBM Asia, Chow Tai Fook, Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute

Jewellery News Asia, organizer of the JNA Awards, has announced the finalists across 15 categories for 2015. A total of 49 honorees representing 31 companies from 10 countries/regions have been shortlisted.

The awards promote and encourage the sharing of best practices and innovative ideas for the international jewelry and gemstone industry, with a particular focus on Asia. In its fourth year, it continues to draw interest among companies across key markets in the trade, including enterprises from South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and Taiwan that have been shortlisted for the first time. Other countries represented include Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and Thailand.

The judging panel consists of five industry experts, namely James Courage, chairman of the Responsible Jewellery Council; Albert Cheng, managing director of the World Gold Council, Far East; Lin Qiang, president and managing director of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange; Nirupa Bhatt, managing director of GIA India and the Middle East; and Yasukazu Suwa, chairman of Suwa & Son, Inc.

“It is indeed very exciting for us to see such positive and enthusiastic response from the trade both in terms of entrants and quality of entries,” said Wolfram Diener, senior VP of UBM Asia.

“I continue to observe the high level of energy and zeal to excel and advance among the participating companies and individuals,” said Letitia Chow, chair of the JNA Awards 2015 judging panel, founder of JNA and director of Business Development – Jewellery Group at UBM Asia. “This year, we have added a couple of criteria in the entry rules, which made room for smaller-sized enterprises and newcomers to be qualified as honorees. It is also encouraging to see past recipients entering and being shortlisted for categories new to them.”

The JNA Awards is supported by “Headline Partners” Rio Tinto Diamonds and Chow Tai Fook, together with “Honoured Partners” Diarough Group, Gübelin Group, Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, Shanghai Diamond Exchange and Guangdong Land Holdings Ltd.

This year’s JNA Awards ceremony and gala dinner will be held Sept. 20, at the Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong, during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. It is a ticketed event by application only. Interested parties may submit their request by logging on to www.JNAawards.com

The following individuals and companies have been shortlisted as Honourees for the JNA Awards 2015:

Three Decades of Excellence  
Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association – Hong Kong
Jewelmer Joaillerie – Philippines
Paspaley – Australia
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India

Brand of the Year – Retail  
Chii Lih Coral Co Ltd – Taiwan
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd – Hong Kong
The Genuine Gemstone Company – United Kingdom

Employer of the Year  
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd – Hong Kong
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – Vietnam
Pranda Jewelry Plc – Thailand

Industry Innovation of the Year  
China Stone Ltd – Thailand
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd – Hong Kong
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd – China
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India

Manufacturer of the Year – Coloured Gemstone Cutting & Polishing  
Lorenzo Jewelry Ltd – Hong Kong
RMC Gems India Ltd – India

Manufacturer of the Year – Diamond Cutting & Polishing  
Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India
J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd – India

Manufacturer of the Year – Gem-Set Jewellery  
KGK Jewellery Mfg Ltd – Hong Kong
Lorenzo Jewelry Ltd – Hong Kong
MKS Jewelry International Co Ltd – Thailand
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd – China

Manufacturer of the Year – Precious Metals-Only Jewellery  
Guangzhou Cuilu Jewellery Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewelry Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd – China

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – ASEAN Countries  
China Stone Ltd – Thailand
PANDORA Production Co Ltd – Thailand
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – Vietnam

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – India  
J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd – India
Kashi Jewellers – India
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd – India

Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Mainland China  
KGK Diamonds (Shanghai) Ltd – China
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd – China

Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below)  
Golden Dew Co Ltd – South Korea
Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company – Vietnam

E-tailer of the Year  
KELA – China
The Genuine Gemstone Company – United Kingdom
Vaibhav Global Ltd – India

Sustainability Initiative of the Year  
Kiran Gems Private Ltd – India
Shenzhen 3D-KET Jewellery Company Ltd – China
Shenzhen United BlueOcean Technology Development Co Ltd – China
Shenzhen XingGuangDa Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd – China

Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)  
Kwan Sit, Shenzhen Bofook Jewellery Co Ltd – China
Lei Xu, Zbird China – China

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be nominated by the organizer, and the announcement will be made at a later date. 

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A Dozen Blooming Jewelry Gifts For The Mother Who Loves You

Lydia Courteille rose earrings in 18K white gold with tsavorites and fancy sapphires.  www.lydiacourteille.com

To this day whenever I board an airplane my mother has a mild conniption. That’s just the way it is—mothers worry about their kids no matter how old. It’s part of who they are.

McTeigue & McClelland Dandelion Earrings with crystal drops (each set with one round brilliant-cut diamonds). The earrings are in 18k bloomed yellow gold and platinum with hand applied green enamel. www.mc2jewels.com

So instead of doing the easy thing of giving her flowers this year, why not by her a bouquet of jewelry, or at least a rose-themed jewelry piece?

Dannini Victoria rose ring with a ear-shaped ruby, wrapped in rose gold petals, accented by pavé-set diamonds atop a heart-shaped stem of white gold. www.dannini.com 

Below are 12 flowery suggestions along with links to the websites on how they can be purchased. They range in price and availability but not in quality.

Piaget 18k rose gold set with two brilliant-cut diamonds and a carved pink opal. www.piaget.com

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14k yellow gold Art Nouveau Enamel Rose Pin Pendant is shaded from soft cream at the center to dusty rose, and set at center with a 0.10 carat diamond. Available at Aaron Faber Gallery, New York. www.aaronfaber.com

Mary Esses Rose Ring features a bouquet of roses, in a signature knot ring, framed by oval pavé-set diamonds, set in 18k rose gold. www.maryesses.com

Mattioli Arcimboldino ring in rose gold, with citrine, amethyst, rhodolite and tourmaline. www.mattioligioielli.it

Sara Weinstock Gold Flower Stud earrings with white diamonds. www.saraweinstock.com

Le Vian Strawberry Gold Florets Ring in 14k gold with Chocolate and Vanilla Diamonds. www.levian.com

Borgioni Garden Rose Stud Earrings in 18K rose gold, pave diamond rose stud earrings. www.borgionis.com

Leibish Multicolor Couture Rosecut Diamond Bracelet with 112 diamonds (54.84 ctw.) set 18k gold. www.leibish.com

Montblanc Boheme Date Automatic Watch in 18k rose gold and 62 small diamonds. www.montblanc.com

China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shanghai Attracts More than 7,000 Visitors

The 10th edition of the China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shanghai ended with more than 7,000 visitors from 32 countries.

The event held November 6 – 9, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, also featured 340 exhibitors from 21 countries.

“We always strive to make the Shanghai Fair an ideal springboard for jewelers who aim to enter China's vibrant jewellery market,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia Ltd. “This year, we introduced a new element to the fair—the first-ever Korea Pavilion and the preview of Mineral & Gem Asia. This new feature joins other fair attractions, among them the Premier Pavilion, the largest Sri Lanka Pavilion in this fair’s history. Other group pavilions housing exhibitors from United States, Thailand and Taiwan region. The exhibits offered visitors a wide range of jewelry, diamonds, gemstones and jadeite from world-class suppliers as well as unmatched opportunity to network and see the latest trends.”

UBM China Holdings Ltd., hosted a seminar titled, “Investment and Collection of Mineral Crystals,” that provided information on the latest market information on gems and minerals.

“Shanghai is an important market for the jewelry trade, which is why we’ve been participating in the Shanghai Fair for many years,” said Safraz Jabir, color stone specialist of Safaiyers, a gemstone exporter of Sri Lanka, exhibiting at the fair. “We met many buyers, mainly from China, and received some orders with them. We are happy with the overall result.”

Con Arsenikakis of Olympic Opal Co Pty Ltd from Australia, said it was his first time at the fair.

“I am a retailer in Australia and I came to update myself with the latest trends,” he said. “The fair offers buyers a wide array of quality exhibits; I met my suppliers, mostly from Hong Kong.”

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‘Designing jewelry has been a passion of mine,’ Cocktails with JNN: Mayuri Vara of Vara of London

Smoky quartz is the main stone for the Fleur de Chine ring with black diamond pave center mounted on 925 sterling silver and lucky Chinese coin gallery on the back.

Every year that I go to Hong Kong to attend the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair I discover something new. Last year, I attended a press conference at the Portuguese Heritage Club in the city’s Central district hosted by Qeelin, a luxury jewelry brand purchased by French luxury holding company, Kering. Afterward, I interviewed Dennis Chan, the creative director and co-founder of the brand. 

Taylor and Fleur de Chine Cuff uses gold plated textured 925 sterling with amethyst and pink tourmaline.

This year I found myself at the Gray Café Deluxe, on the 49th floor of the Upper House hotel, one of the city’s finest, with a spectacular view of the Kowloon skyline as it turned from day to night. This is where I met with Mayuri Vara, the founder of the new jewelry brand Vara of London, where she showed me her first jewelry collections over well-made martinis.

Bamboo Leaves ring uses chrome diopside for the leaves and 925 sterling silver.

Articulate and soft-spoken, the self-taught jewelry designer explains that the collections reflect her diverse heritage, experiences and personal influences. She is of Indian descent, raised in London and was on course to follow her father and brother’s footsteps in the medical profession before she veered off into more creative ambitions.

The upper part of the Diva drop earrings extend up the earlobe set with amethyst with with pink tourmaline. Lower hoop set with diamonds and amethyst center drop stone.

“I have always been fascinated by art and design, and designing jewelry has been a passion of mine,” she says, “having always made handmade jewelry as far back as I can remember.”

She has lived in Hong Kong for the past five years with her husband who is a lawyer. Her outside influences are equally diverse and include Elizabeth Taylor, Anna May Wong, the first Chinese-American movie star and a fashion icon, and Maharani Gayatri Devi, the last queen of Jaipur.

925 sterling silver is used for the Serpentine open bangle with smoky quartz and black diamond surround.

“I draw inspiration from the Chinese culture, artworks and architecture,” she adds. 

For someone with such a diverse background her first offerings are focused and for the most part classic and elegant. It’s a well thought out mix of products where individual pieces match but in a variety of ways so it doesn’t look like a formal suite. Most of the pieces are large and bold enough so they can be worn alone. They also are designed to be worn daily. 

The left side of Le Boteh open ring is set with smoky quartz with a black diamond centre; and the right side set with amethyst and pink tourmaline.

Nearly all of the pieces are made of 925 sterling silver plated with either gold, black rhodium, or white rhodium. She says her next line will be in 18k gold. She is particularly proud that the quality of craftsmanship, done in China, can be seen on both sides of the pieces. “I’m fortunate to find the right people who understand my flow,” she says.

The Cleopatra Noir ring features smoky quartz surrounded by two snakes and black diamond pave on head and tail with red garnet eyes. Black spinel surrounds body of the ring.

The black rhodium finishes add an edge to the classic styles. She also provides contrasts by using classic Lotus flower and paisley shapes with pieces that feature serpents. She is fond of colored gems, with smoky quartz, amethyst, citrine, peridot and tourmaline among her favorites. A few pieces have a sprinkling of diamonds.

The collections were launched in June during the Jewellery & Watch event at London’s Saatchi Gallery and are also available at the Quintessentially Gifts in London. 

Noor drop earrings uses 925 sterling silver set with Rose de France amethyst stones. The upper part is set with white topaz surrounding a single amethyst stone.

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