It was Business As Usual At The September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair began as it has done for 36 previous years. There was the traditional lion dances for good luck, buyers were queuing to enter and overall there was nervousness and anticipation among exhibitors and the organizers of the trade fair. In fact there was more nervousness as usual due to the highly publicized violent clashes between protesters and police (including the night before). However, the political crisis in Hong Kong had little relevance during the opening day of the fair. 

The number of buyers will no doubt be down from previous years as David Bondi, senior VP of Informa Markets, which organizes the fair, already said publicly. But overall the aisles were bustling with buyers doing business with vendors. 

Buyers in queue waiting for the fair to open

Canceling and postponing the show was never an option, according to Bondi. For Informa Markets, the world’s largest jewelry fair was too big and too important to the worldwide jewelry industry to postpone. It’s so big it’s held at the two largest convention venues in Hong Kong with staggered dates: The AsiaWorld-Expo, September 16 - 20 for raw materials and machinery; and the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre for finished jewelry, September 18 - 22. Rescheduling such a large fair for two venues would have been a logistical nightmare.
In 2018, the fair attracted more than 54,000 buyers and 3,700 exhibitors. Few vendors have opted out. One of the reasons was that under the contract signed with vendors Informa Markets was under no obligation to provide refunds and they were sticking to this policy. Instead, the organizers invested in a number of incentives for both exhibitors and buyers. To bring more buyers to the fair, the organizers developed aggressive initiatives to make the fair more attractive. 

The crowded pearl pavilion

The first was a telemarketing campaign in which Informa Markets staff personally contacted 50,000 buyers throughout the world. 

The second initiative was providing 10,000 complimentary hotel room nights for buyers. Each exhibitor was asked to submit the names of three significant buyers who should be entitled to two free consecutive hotel room nights during the September Fair show dates. It proved highly popular, according to the organizers. 

There were a number of softer incentives as well. For example, there was a mid-afternoon tea break and happy hour drinks as the fair ended the first day. In addition, show organizers delivered champagne and chocolate to every booth inside the fair.

Azzurra Cesari, holds up a collection of colored gems from her company, Futurgem

Perhaps even more of a factor in lower traffic among buyers is the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China, which now includes jewelry industry products. Several exhibitors anticipate that buyers from Mainland China will be down because of this.

Vendors interviewed ranged from expressing hesitation in exhibiting to never considering canceling. 

“My only thought was how to cut my costs,” said Mishael Vardi of VMK, which deals in rare fancy colored diamonds. This is primarily due to a range of issues within the diamond industry and not so much the protests in Hong Kong, noting that outside the rarest gems “It’s a buyers’ market.” Pink diamonds from the Argyle mine in Australia, which will close in 2020, and rare colored diamonds, such as blue and green remain popular. 

Happy hour drinks and snacks following the show

Olivier Duran, sales manager of Avlas Diamonds, which specializes in high-quality colorless diamonds in fancy shapes, said his company was undecided. “There was some hesitation,” he said. “Thirty to 40% of our clients told us they were not coming to the show. We waited until the last moment.”  

For some colored gem dealers they already do a great deal of their business in China and the rest of Asia and since they are already in the region, it made sense to exhibit as usual. 

“I’m already trading in Asia,” said Charles Abouchar of Abouchar SA, a high-precision cutter of gemstones, “As long as security is okay I don’t have a problem. The buyers from the bigger companies are here.

Alexander Stufflebeam, president of Panjshir Valley, a company that deals in emeralds from Afghanistan, said he had no hesitation in coming to the fair because he does business in China and because it attracts buyers from all parts of the world. 

The day ended as it has done in recent years with the annual reception of the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) as buyers and exhibitors crowded the ballroom at the SkyCity Marriott Hotel.

The big test will be Wednesday, when the show opens at the Hong Kong Convention Centre for finished jewels. 

U.S.-China Trade War is the Talk of the June Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

Hong Kong industry leaders talk about the issues at the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair

In September the Hong Kong Jewelry & Gem Fair was closed for a day for the first time in its long history by a typhoon. For the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, two other storms are brewing and both are man-made. The first is the threat by President Donald Trump to slap a 25% tariff on all goods exported from China to the U.S. The second is perhaps the largest protests in the history of Hong Kong, which may continue. 

During the opening day press conference, leaders of the trade organizations from Hong Kong spent a great deal of time talking about the first issue while not mentioning the second at all. 

Lawrence Ma, president of the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, says U.S.-China trade tensions are putting pressure on the world economy. 

“Trade uncertainty is what we don’t like,” he said Thursday. “If they agree to something everything would change in a moment. But I think we have to live with this uncertainty for the next few months.” 

Sze Ho Yin, president of the Hong Pearl Association said the increased infrastructure improvements between Hong Kong and China have made it easy for Hong Kong wholesalers and retailers to do business with those from the mainland. 

“About 40% of our buyers are from Mainland China because it is very convenient for buyers from China to come to Hong Kong,” he said. “They are pretty much supporting the jewelry industry (in Hong Kong). It’s very convenient to sell directly to China. Because of this the trade war between the U.S. and China hasn’t had a dramatic effect.” 

Ken Lo, chairman of the Hong Kong Jade & Jewellery Manufacturers, says Hong Kong’s strength as a trading center will mitigate much of the detrimental impact of a trade war. 

“Hong Kong is the number one city in the world in terms of ease when it comes to setting up a business,” he said. “And it has an advantage because of its proximity to China and its ease of trade between the two markets. I think because of this Hong Kong will remain a very important trading center for the entire world.”

The leaders also talked about issues important for the jewelry and gem industry in Hong Kong. For example, Ma spoke about some of the myriad of issues the diamond industry is facing. They include the difficulty of financing for much of the diamond trade, the effect of lab-grown diamonds and the steady decline of sales among Hong Kong retailers. 

He said diamond imports in Hong Kong are down 2.8% for the first three months of the year compared to last year. Meanwhile, exports are up by 9.1% for the same period. On the retail level, there are more Chinese tourists visiting Hong Kong but they are spending less, he said. 

“The good news is that there are more Chinese coming,” he said. “The bad news is spending has come down significantly. Overall, it’s a good trend.”

Lo spent much of his presentation talking about how technology is changing the jewelry industry. The items he covered included:

* Lab-grown diamonds and how it has taken up some jewelry industry sales.

* CAD-CAM technology is speeding up the process from design to finished jewels and is a catalyst when in terms of allowing retail customers the ability to design their own jewels.

* The decline of distributors because manufacturers are using the Internet and social media to go directly to retailers and consumers.  

Yin said the Hong Kong pearl industry is working with China to develop a freshwater pearl industry to replace the Akoya pearl. 

Pearls, Pearls and More Pearls At September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

Hall 1 in the vast AsiaWorld-Expo is separate from the other halls. However, buyers had no trouble finding it during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. 

That's because inside there are pearls as far as the eye can see. They come in every size and every shape imaginable. From blinding white pearls to Tahitians with a lustrous glow to pearls in every color imaginable. 

In addition, this section of the fair showcased coral and other fruits of the sea. All totaled there are approximately 650 suppliers of loose pearls and finished pearl jewelry, including dealers from Australia, China, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, U.K. and the U.S, according to UBM Asia, which hosts the show.

Buyers responded well, crowding the aisles the first two days of the trade fair and pressing up against exhibition booths exhibition booths eyeing the loose pearls as close possible to determine quality. 

“The September Fair is unparalleled in terms of the breadth, depth and quality of its pearl exhibits,” says Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at UBM Asia. “If you’re looking for top-quality Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian and freshwater pearls – from rare single gems, matched pairs and strands to exclusive pearl suites and jewelry collections in fresh and modern designs – you will find them all at the show.”

The Japan Pearl Pavilion, one of the busiest and vibrant sections on the AWE show floor, features 108 loose pearl dealers, says Yoshihiro Shimizu, chairman of the Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association. 

"We will have a special display of gem-quality pearls, including exceptionally rare strands of Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian pearls" Shimizu said. It’s going to be a very busy and exciting show for Japan’s top pearl specialists and hopefully, it’ll be an extremely informative, enriching and productive one for trade show visitors, too.”

Tahitian pearls and China pearls are also well represented at the fair.

"In terms of demand, high-quality round Tahitian pearls are currently the hottest items in the market, said Ida Wong, chairman of the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong. "TPAHK’s strategic promotion of other fancy shapes – drop, circled, button, oval, baroque and keshi, among others – highlighting asymmetric perfection is anticipated to help boost the demand for other pearl shapes." 

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.

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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Asia’s Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair Attracts 7,500 Buyers

The 14th edition of Asia’s Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair – September attracted 7,501 international buyers over four days. The majority of buyers came from overseas—from 103 countries and regions—accounting for 56 percent over the overall total. Buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong accounted for the remaining 27 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

The fair was held September 13 - 16 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. 

The top 10 sources of visitors, excluding China and Hong Kong were led by India, USA, Japan, Taiwan region, Korea, Thailand, Australia, Italy, Germany, and the Philippines. Altogether, the top 10 accounted for roughly 35 percent of the total number of visitors.

“The visitor statistics reflect 9FJ’s international status and industry support for this event. This edition also benefitted from our increased investment in promotional activities across different channels as well as the exciting attractions it offers, such as the popular Editor’s Choice,” said Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs at UBM Asia Ltd.

The fair occupied 11,360 sqm of exhibition space with 402 exhibitors from 14 countries and regions. There were five group pavilions at the fair, representing mainland China, India, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan region. 

“With men’s jewellery trending up, the Stainless Steel Jewellery Pavilion continues to be a popular destination for buyers,” Lau said. 

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IDE President Says Buyers Are Regaining Trust In Diamond Market After Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

Yoram Dvash, IDE president

The sentiment among returning Israeli exhibitors at the close of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair was optimistic, according to Yoram Dvash, Israel Diamond Exchange president.

“In contrast to the last several years, this year’s show was marked by very good traffic,” he said. “Buyers came in large numbers and in addition to buyers from India, who come every year, there were many buyers from other East-Asian countries.”

Dvash said that although expectations had been modest due to the economic challenges facing Asian markets, the traffic on the first and second days was strong and centered on diamonds. “Sales were reasonable, if not in perfect congruence with the great number of buyers who attended, but all in all, we are feeling very optimistic.”

He added, “In Hong Kong we felt that buyers at the show were regaining trust in the market. They were very interested in the merchandise, and that’s an excellent sign for the future. The stability in polished prices in recent months has contributed to the trust by jewelers and manufacturers, and we are hopeful that buyers will stock plenty of merchandise ahead of the holiday season.”

During his stay in Hong Kong, Dvash met with global diamond leaders to discuss some of the most pressing challenges facing the industry. He conferred with WFDB President Ernie Blum about ways to improve credit conditions for the diamond industry, including finding additional financing sources and increasing bank credit to diamantaires. Dvash also met with Alrosa President Andrey Zharkov and Alrosa VP Andrei Polyakov to discuss the impact of synthetics on the natural diamond market.

The Israel Diamond Pavilion, organized by the Israel Diamond Institute Group of Companies, is one of the largest national exhibitors at the Hong Kong show, with 84 companies in more than 1150 square meters. There were also 15 additional Israeli companies exhibiting at different locations throughout the show. 

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JNA Awards Honors Excellence In The Asian Jewelry Industry

JNA Awards winners and sponsors

A total of 14 companies and individuals were honored during the JNA Awards ceremony, held Wednesday at the InterContinental Hong Kong. They were among the 28 companies recognized at the event.

Organized by JNA (Jewellery News Asia), the awards recognize and celebrate companies and individuals whose passion for excellence, innovation and outstanding business performance has helped shape the growth and development of Asia's jewelry industry.

Shouzui Yasui, Chief Executive Officer of Yasui & Co, was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest honors in the global jewelry and gemstone industry and the most esteemed tribute conferred by the JNA Awards. Yasui's casting solutions, starting from the wax injector, were seen as pivotal in the mass production of jewelry, which consequently made jewelry accessible and affordable to many.

The 14 award recipients across 10 categories are as follows:

1. Brand of the Year -- Retail
Hiersun Industrial Co Ltd - I Do - China

2. Industry Innovation/Sustainability Initiative of the Year
Shenzhen Batar Investment Holding Group Co Ltd -- China
Shenzhen Foreway Jewellery Group Co Ltd -- China
Shenzhen Ganlu Jewellery Co Ltd -- China
Shenzhen Xingguangda Jewelry Industrial Co Ltd -- China

3. Manufacturer of the Year-- Cutting & Polishing
Kiran Gems Pvt Ltd -- India
RMC Gems India Ltd -- India

4. Manufacturer of the Year -- Jewellery
PANDORA Production Co Ltd -- Thailand

5. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- ASEAN 
Soo Kee Group -- Singapore

6. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year -- India
Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd -- India

7. Outstanding Enterprise of the Year – Greater China
KGK Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd -- Hong Kong SAR

8. Retailer of the Year (450 outlets and below)
Beijing Cai Shi Kou Department Store Co Ltd -- China

9. E-tailer of the Year
China Stone Co Ltd -- Thailand

10. Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Age 40 and below)
Ms Wang Zhuo, Shenzhen Sunfeel Jewelry Co Ltd -- China

Warren Mok, an internationally acclaimed tenor, was the featured performer for the event, which was held during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

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Reena Ahluwalia To Unveil The Aaron Shum Coronet Portrait Painting At Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

The Coronet portrait painting

Hong Kong based diamond jewelry company, Aaron Shum, is collaborating with award-winning Canadian jewelry designer and diamond painter, Reena Ahluwalia, in launching the Coronet portrait painting.

The parties will unveil the painting Thursday at the Aaron Shum Jewelry booth (HKCEC Hall#1C402, C404, C501, C503) during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. 

“Her unprecedented talent in jewelry design and diamond painting is surely going to bring many new exciting elements to the industry,” said Aaron Shum, the founder of the eponymous diamond jewelry company.

The Coronet portrait is a highly detailed acrylic-painting on a 48” x 48” canvas completed in 45 days. The painting embraces the grand solitaire effect accomplished by Coronet and depicts the refractive trait of the patented setting. 

“Having long admired Aaron Shum as an innovator and creator of the Coronet, I am thrilled to collaborate with Aaron Shum Jewelry on two of my passions – jewelry design innovation and diamond storytelling through my paintings,” Ahluwalia said. 

Reena Ahluwalia

In addition to the Coronet portrait painting, the booth will feature seven art pieces from Ahluwalia’s Diamond Portrait Series and the Diamond Portal Series in Hong Kong for the very first time, including three of her latest creations: "Heart of Gold," "Pure Heart" and "Passionate Heart." The parties also will announce a jewelry design collaboration which will be launched in Vicenza Oro 2017.

Coronet is the signature brand of Aaron Shum Jewelry. With its worldwide patented design, each piece of Coronet made from seven diamonds set with no prongs holding the center diamond, along with precision of cut, symmetry and polish, which attribute to the best fit proportion to conceiving a luminous solitaire diamond effect yet at exceptionally competitive value. 

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The Hong Kong Jewelry Fair Begins

The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair opened Tuesday at AsiaWorld-Expo. AWE houses the raw materials section of the September Fair. The fine jewelry section, meanwhile, will open on September 15 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). 

Celebrating its 34th edition, the September Fair hosts more than 3,600 exhibitors from 55 countries and regions. Fair organizer UBM Asia expects about 58,000 buyers from around the world to create active traffic in the two venues. 

Among the highlights of the Hong Kong fair include:

* Exhibition space in the two venues totals more than 135,000 square meters.

* Debut of the Myanmar and Portugal Pavilions. The new additions bring to 24 the number of group pavilions in the two venues. 

* The single largest showcase of Hong Kong jewelry, with more than 1,250 Hong Kong companies participating in the two venues, accounting for around 35 percent of exhibitors.

* Once again the fair is home to the world’s largest diamond pavilion, with around 500 diamond companies, and Asia’s biggest gemstone marketplace, with more than 750 gemstone companies.

* New exhibitors from Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Slovak Republic (Slovakia), French Polynesia and the Republic of Vanuatu are participating.
* ALROSA, Russia’s diamond company and the world’s biggest diamond miner by volume, is hosting its diamond auction at the Fair from September 13 to 17 at AWE. Admission is by invitation only.

* Two international pearl auctions, the 68th Robert Wan Tahiti Perles Auction and the 59th Paspaley Pearl Auction, will also be held by invitation during the fair.

* The “Declaration Program on Exhibits of Natural Diamond”, is being introduced at this edition. Participants in the program will have on display at their booths a “Declaration Program on Exhibits of Natural Diamond” poster, which will demonstrate clearly to buyers that diamonds from these exhibitors are natural. This program provides an easier and quicker way for buyers to make an informed decision when purchasing diamonds. Participants in the program are members of global diamond trade organizations, including the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, the Antwerp World Diamond Center, Belgium and the Israel Diamond Institute. The diamond exhibitors will be housed in Halls 5, 7, 9 and 11 at AWE. 

* Since June 2012, the Trade Buyer ID has enjoyed warm reception from our esteemed buyers from around the world. Beginning at this edition of the September Fair, holders of the Trade Buyer ID can enjoy up to 25 percent discount on dining privileges at participating restaurants. Buyers simply need to present the Trade Buyer ID to enjoy this privilege. 

Despite challenging economic conditions in some parts of the world, consumer confidence in China and the rest of Asia remains steady, according to the Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions, Markets. The region’s confidence score reached or exceeded 100 points in the second quarter of 2016, the survey said. Countries surveyed in Asia included the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Pakistan and Thailand.

The continued healthy growth of the Asian market, particularly China, is not lost on players in the jewelry industry. According to Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at UBM Asia, more internationally renowned organizations and laboratories are establishing their presence in the China market. 

“They partner with local authorities to hold seminars, set up scholarships and share knowledge about the latest technologies in the industry. They believe there is room for growth in the China market so they are establishing their brands here through these activities,” Lau said. 

Over the last decade, the September fair has served as a bridge to tap into China’s lucrative market. As the preeminent jewelry fair for the industry, the fair provides the greatest product range not only for Chinese buyers but also for buyers from around the world. 

“The Fair is not only an effective marketplace and platform to tap into the Asian markets, but also functions as a ‘filter’ as only serious buyers and exhibitors will attend world-class fairs like the September Fair,” Lau said. “A fair of this caliber offers tremendous value to both exhibitors and buyers. It also provides easy access to some of the industry’s most reputable vendors, thus helping the industry to continue to grow.” 

To bring in more buyers from robust markets, UBM Asia has enhanced visitor promotion in certain markets. As a result, 24 buyer delegations from the mainland China are visiting this edition. Overseas delegates from Finland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Russian Federation and Vietnam are also coming.

The Hong Kong Premier Pavilion features around 30 of the city’s outstanding jewelry companies and their brands. Visitors are sure to be captivated by the exquisitely crafted jewelry collections that reflect the very best of Hong Kong’s jewelry manufacturing traditions. The pavilion is located in Halls 1D & E of HKCEC.

The International Premier Pavilion is a destination for the trendy. Located in Halls 3B & C of HKCEC, the pavilion houses a select group of over 50 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions, namely Belgium, mainland China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

The Fine Design Pavilion hosts 76 internationally renowned jewelrs in the Grand Hall of HKCEC. They will showcase exquisite jewelry set with luxurious and rare diamonds, gemstones and pearls, as well as top-quality bejeweled watches, valuable masterpieces, and exclusive jewels from around the world.

The Fine Gem Pavilion is dedicated to the world’s finest loose diamonds, pearls and gemstones. Located in Hall 9 of AWE, 54 esteemed exhibitors will showcase a variety of high-quality loose gems.

The Fair press conference will be held on September 15 at 11 a.m. in meeting rooms S226 – S227 of HKCEC. Heads of jewelry associations will share their views on the developments in the jewelry trade. The Senior Vice President of UBM Asia, Wolfram Diener, will announce the latest developments in UBM Asia’s jewelry fairs portfolio.

A Welcome Reception organized by UBM Asia will be held on September 15 at 6:30pm at the Grand Foyer of HKCEC. 

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‘Editor’s Choice’ Returns To September Asia Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair

Asia’s Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair – September will be held September 13 -16 in Hall 2 and the Concourse of AsiaWorld-Expo, in Hong Kong, and will feature the “Editor’s Choice” display for the second time.

The 14th edition of the fair organized by UBM Asia will host more than 380 exhibitors from 12 countries. More than 80 percent of exhibitors are from outside Hong Kong. The event is expected to attract more than 6,600 global buyers who are eager to source collections for Spring/Summer 2017 as well as timeless favorites.

Following positive feedback to its launch in March, the “Editor’s Choice” display returns to the fair. The special display features select products chosen by the editors of AFJA Review. The products are based on four categories: stainless steel, natural materials, crystals and semi-precious stones, and pearls and imitation pearls. 

“We would like to bring more business opportunities to the industry by adding new attractions to the fair. We believe this showcase will make the sourcing trips of our visitors more interesting and inspiring,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at UBM Asia Ltd.

Other highlights of the fair include five group pavilions featuring exhibitors from mainland China, India, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan region. In addition, the Stainless Steel Jewellery Pavilion has been expanded. 

UBM Asia has arranged free continuous bus service running from the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre and Tsim Sha Tsui to AsiaWorld-Expo. The shuttle bus schedule and pick-up points can be found at http://exhibitions.asiafja.com/9fj/Transportation/ 

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