The French Connection at the Hong Kong Trade Fair

The Blue Lagoon Butterfly Necklace: 18k yellow gold, translucent enamel with diamonds from Commelin, Paris.

For the first time French companies participated in the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair as a group and they came putting their best foot forward. A total of 11 companies (eight jewelry manufacturers and three pearl and gem dealers) were organized by the French Watch, Clock, Jewellery, Silverware & Tableware Center under the brand name, “Emotion France.”

Among the trends for everyday and luxury jewelry that these French companies presented at the show are curved, feminine shapes based on nature; traditional romantic messages (such as hearts); hand-made patterns; a broad palette of color through the use various gemstones, pearls; and white metals, such as platinum, white gold and steel.

All of the products displayed the creativity, quality and diversity that are the trademarks of French style and design. Following is a sampling of the French jewelry at the show: 

Drop and round South Seas and Tahitian pearls from Alain Boite, Paris.

The Cuadrado ring and earrings with amethyst in yellow gold; ring with pink quartz in white gold; necklace with amethyst and pink sapphires in yellow gold from Bellon & Fils, Valence.

A bangle in a gold-colored metal from Cacharel, a brand owned by the Christian Bernard Group, Courtaboeuf.

The Reveuse Rings: Three handmade flower rings, made in black, white and red resin; gold 750 percent; and diamond pave from Creations Andre Benitah, Antony.

A ring in gold, white diamonds and black treated diamonds from Diamanti, a brand owned by the Christian Bernard Group, Courtaboeuf.

Lotus Bleu Jade and Spinels Earrings: A pair of 18k white gold earrings set with two cushion pink spinels 5.59 cts, two green jadeite cabochons 14.93 cts. and diamonds, from Garaude, Paris.

Flora: White gold ring with diamonds from Gay Freres, Annemasse.

Butterfly ring with diamond center, 0.40 ct., diamond pave, 0.87 ct., and white gold, from Joia, Lyon.

Rainbow: 18k white gold necklace, earrings and ring with multicolor pearls from Loiseau Kebadjian, Paris.

New Jewelry from Near and Far at the Hong Kong Show

A carved jadeite leaf pendant with diamond setting from Unique Brilliant Ltd., based in Hong Kong.

With more than 3,400 exhibitors from 46 countries and regions, the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair is a place to see new jewelry from around the world. For many of these companies it is their only opportunity to have their products seen in an international setting.

What follows is a small selection of the jewelry that was presented at the show:

A freshwater pearl ring sits upon a silver ring lined with cubic zirconia from ACH & Co., based in Hong Kong.

An 18k white gold acurved pendant with flower-shaped adornments set in rose gold. Dazzling diamonds of various cuts are set all over the surface to showcase a classy style. From Diaccents Exports in Hong Kong.

An opal ring surrounded with diamonds from Dreamtime, a Kyoto, Japan-based company.

A set of 18k gold earrings with blue sapphire and diamonds from Duang Kaew Jewellery Manufacturer Co Ltd., based in Thailand.

Gold-colored 11-17mm South Sea pearls of AA quality from Luen Hing Pearls & Jewellery Ltd., Hong Kong.

A heart and beads jewelry collection made of natural Madagascan labradorite by Shanghai Jade Gems Factory Ltd.

A silver bracelet with dentrite accents from Silver House Jewellery Ltd., Hong Kong.

A fresh water pearl necklace with silver parts by Tin Yin Jewellery Ltd., based in Hong Kong.

Wai Lun Jewellery Ltd, Hong Kong.

An 18k white gold and diamond bangle from Winstar Jewelery Manufacturer Ltd., Hong Kong.

A Two-tone silver and gold pendant with blue topaz cutting and graduation of amethyst all around from Yakhunit Co Ltd., Thailand.

A 16-inch necklace made with a variety of gemstones, including whisky quartz, prehnite and red chalcedony ZeYu Industries Ltd. ShenZhen, China.

OroArezzo Brings 'Golden Hat_titude' to the Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

The Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair has become an international event in the jewelry industry and one of the countries with the strongest presence at the show was Italy. 

About 175 Italian companies participated in the fair ranging from the artistic talent of Annamaria Cammilli Gioielli to the world-renowned luxury brand, Roberto Coin. The strongest presence at the fair among the Italians was OroArezzo, which hosts an annual trade fair in Arezzo, Italy, the heart of the Italian gold jewelry industry. Along with the jewelry manufacturers at the show, the organization also brought an art installation that combines jewelry and fashion: The two things that are positively Italian. 

The exhibition called Golden Hat_titude, uses high-quality hats from Borsalino, considered by many to be the finest hat maker in the world, with gold jewelry created by the jewelry manufacturers who participate in OroArezzo. Vogue Gioiello, a partner of the OroArezzo tradeshow also partnered the exhibit.

The hats and jewelry were displayed inside an immensely large red and black case in the third floor lobby of the Hong Kong Convention Exhibition Centre. Inside the case the heads and upper bodies of 18 black mannequins were adorned with fashion-forward hats and matching jewelry. The inside of the case is colored blacked and include mirrors, which makes the display appear even larger. The result is individual works of art through different mediums in an environment that brings the works together while maintaining their individuality. 

Asian Consumers Demand Luxury Jewelry

Fleur d'amour by EJI of Hong Kong.

HONG KONG—While the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair has grown to become the largest fine jewelry show in the world, it is not the place to introduce jewelry design trends. Baselworld in March and Las Vegas Jewelry Week in June serve as the trade shows where trends are established.

What the Hong Kong show has established is that it serves as the gateway to most of Asia, in particular the robust China and India markets. In addition to strong economies, countries in this region share an enthusiasm for jewelry. That’s why this industry trade show has grown so large.

Hokusai earrings by Garaude of Paris

If there is a single trend that can be gleaned from the Hong Kong trade fair, it’s that luxury is playing a significant role in the jewelry industry in Asia. This is no surprise as the top luxury retailers have been opening up stores in China at an incredible pace. But at the trade show, traditional high-end jewelry designers from Hong Kong and around the world have followed suit, going after these new big spenders.

And the fair has gone through extraordinary means to accommodate these companies by hosting two well-designed spaces dedicated to makers of luxury jewelry. They are the Hong Kong Premiere Pavilion with approximately 30 exhibitors and the International Premiere Pavilion with more than 50 companies representing some of the top high-end jewelry brands from the rest of the world.

Legrand Jewellery (Mfg) Company

One of the countries making the biggest splash in the luxury arena is Italy, with about 13 companies in the International Premier Pavilion, ranging from the artistic talents of Annamaria Cammilli Gioielli to the world-renowned luxury brand Roberto Coin. But it doesn’t end there. OroArezzo, the trade fair that represents gold jewelry manufacturers in the Tuscany region of Italy, had its own pavilion of companies, many of which make high-end, high-karat fine jewelry. If that’s not enough, in the lobby of the convention center, there’s a large exhibit called, Golden Hat_Titude, sponsored by OroArezzo, which combines glittering gold jewelry paired with a variety of hats on the heads of black mannequins.

India and China, two countries that lack the same tradition of luxury design as in Europe, are also well represented with companies like Bapalal Keshavlal of India and TTF Jewelry of China.

Hong Kong luxury jewelry makers showed that they are willing to compete with the rest of world for the new Asian luxury consumer. Among the standouts at the fair is Forward Jewellery, Eligence Jewellery International (EJI) and Legrand Jewellery.  There are many more such companies making similar inroads in the luxury jewelry.

Asian consumers have the money and the appreciation of luxury jewelry. All that is left is for the region to become more influential in jewelry design. Then it will be the leader in the fine jewelry industry.

JNN at the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair

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.

September Hong Kong Jewelry Fair is a Global Event and a Gateway to China

Registration during the opening day of the 2013 September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.

The world’s largest jewelry fair is set to begin in two weeks and its organizers are still billing it as the entryway to the fastest growing jewelry market in the world: China. 

The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair will be held from September 15 – 19 at the AsiaWorld-Expo near Hong Kong International Airport; and September 17 – 21 at the at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in the heart of the city. 

AWE will display jewelry raw materials from over 1,700 exhibitors from around the world, while HKCEC will showcase fine finished jewelry from more than 1,900 exhibitors.

China Market Research Reports reveals that 2013 jewelry sales in Mainland China were approximately $75.8 billion, equivalent to 41.2 percent of total global consumption. UBM Asia, which organizes the fair, says that Hong Kong's location and its duty-free status makes it the “ideal gateway to China and the rest of the Asia." It's a claim UBM Asia has made since I started attending the event more than 10 years ago and it's even more true now than it was back then.

“The Fair occupies 135,000 square meters of exhibition space to accommodate more than 3,680 exhibitors from 51 countries and regions,” said Sunny Chan, Deputy Fair Manager, Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. “We expect to welcome more than 52,000 visitors from around the world.” 

New attractions at the 32nd fair include exhibitors from Egypt, Kazakhstan, Norway and Tahiti. For the first time, coral exhibitors from Japan will exhibit under the banner of Japan Coral. Together with coral exhibitors from Taiwan and Italy, there are more than 60 coral exhibitors at AsiaWorld-Expo. 

In addition, the fair has 22 dedicated pavilions: Antwerp, Brazil, China, Columbia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United States, and the International Colored Gemstone Association, UBM Asia said. This year's “Design Arena” has increased by 40 percent in terms of exhibition space and will relocate to the Chancellor Room and Mezzanine 4 of HKCEC. Also, the International Premier Pavilion is bigger by 8.6 percent in terms of exhibition area.

This outpouring of exhibitors and attendees solidifies its reputation as a truly global event.

The Alrosa Group, Russia’s leading diamond company and the world’s biggest diamond miner by volume, will again host a diamond auction, along with the Paspaley Pearl Auction. In addition, the fair will again feature the world’s largest diamond pavilion, Asia’s biggest gemstone marketplace and the biggest display of Hong Kong jewelry in the world.

Visitor pre-registration is available at this link  until 1st September. The fair mobile app is available for download at this link. More details of special events are available by at this link. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

June Hong Kong Jewelry Fair to Unveil New Attractions and Exhibitors

A new pavilion is among the highlights of the 26th edition of the June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair to be held June 20 to 23 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. More than 1,780 international exhibitors will be displaying products and services in more than 64,000 square meters of exhibition space.

A new Turkish Pavilion will debut its creations, bringing the number of international exhibitors to 15, including Brazil, mainland China, Italy, Japan, and the United States.

Twelve theme pavilions also add to the lineup at the show, including the Diamond Pavilion in Halls 3F, 3G & 5F, which this year features 412 exhibitors. The pavilion houses companies exhibiting under the banner of the Antwerp World Diamond Council, the Israel Diamond Institute, India, the United States, as well as diamond exhibitors from the rest of the world. Other pavilions, feature jewelry, gemstones and pearls, and other raw jewelry materials.

Other highlights include the following:

* Fine Design Pavilion and Fine Gem Pavilion, which will showcase high-quality loose diamonds, pearls, and gemstones as well as jewelry masterpieces, invaluable antiques and vintage jewelry from a select group of 82 jewelry exhibitors from around the world.

* Hong Kong Premier Pavilion is the signature podium for 35 of the city’s top jewelry companies.

* JewelleryNetAsia.com will host a morning briefing on “Success of Jewellery eCommerce” on 21 June in meeting room S226 of HKCEC.

* Fukui Shell Nucleus Factory will host a seminar titled “Imparting a Unique Identity to Each Pearl” on 21 June morning in meeting room S224 of HKCEC.

The Gemmological Association of Hong Kong will host a seminar called “Project Burma” on 22 June afternoon in meeting rooms S226 – S227 of HKCEC.

* The 7th Gerdau Auction Pearl Auction June 17 -19.*

* The 58th Robert Wan Tahiti Perles Auction, June 20 -21

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Hong Kong Jewelry and Gem Fair Goes Mobile

Buyers and vendors at the 2012 September Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

UBM Asia has launched a mobile application for its Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fairs, which are held annually in June and September. Powered by the show’s online media portal, JewelleryNetAsia, the Mobile Buyer Guide will be available to visitors and exhibitors of June Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair in Hong Kong (20-23 June, 2013) and subsequently for the September edition as well.

The Mobile Buyer Guide is available as an application for download to smartphones and tablets of leading brands and can also be accessed online with any mobile device. It features regularly updated exhibitors and product directories, interactive floorplans, show schedules and other useful information for visitors.

“What’s really special is that you download the Mobile Buyer Guide only once and we keep providing updates regularly,” said Jerome Hainz, Manager eBusiness UBM Asia. “During show periods it features supplier’s booth numbers. And between shows it is a handy reference with thousands of contacts. A message function will let you know the latest news and show information.”

The Mobile Buyer Guide is sponsored by Antwerp World Diamond Centre, the organizer of the Antwerp Diamond Pavilions at the June and September Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fairs.

JewelleryNetAsia has created a dedicated page for easy downloading of the Mobile Buyer Guide.

For further information contact UBM Asia limited at marketing@jewellerynetasia.com or call +852 2827 6211.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

E-Commerce Jewelry Business Seminar at June Hong Kong Jewelry Fair

The jewelry trade platform, JewelleryNetAsia, will host a free seminar, “Successes in Jewelry eCommerce” during the June Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair 2013 (June 20 – 23). The workshops will take place June 21 at the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center from 9:15 till 10.30 a.m., before the show opens. This will provide exhibitors and visitors an opportunity to enhance their skills in selling jewelry online.

Elle Hill of the jewelry retail website, Plukka—last year’s winner of the JNA Innovation Awards—will focus on gaining and retaining online customers. Hill’s experience is focused around the European and American markets. Wayne Wang of the online brand, Zbird, will highlight the ins and outs of winning over the Chinese consumers online. The sessions will be moderated by Jérôme Hainz, manager of eBusiness at UBM Asia.

“E-commerce is one of the hottest topics for both jewelry manufacturers and retailers. This is why we are extremely proud to host two industry experts who can talk about the challenges and opportunities with running jewelry e-commerce sites,” said Hainz, who oversees UBM Asia’s portfolio of trade websites, including AsiaFJA.com and JewelleryNetAsia.com.

The seminar will take place in Room S226 of the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Center. The workshop will run from 9:15 am to 10.30.Registration is free but seating is limited. To register online, follow the link and to the online pre-registration form or go through the JewelryNetAsia website.  

For further information contact marketing@jewellerynetasia.com or call +852 2827 6211

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

Call for Entries for Inaugural JNA Awards

The inaugural JNA Awards, which honors and recognizes excellence and achievements in the jewelry trade with a focus on contribution and advancement in the Asian region, will be held during the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair (September 19 – 25).

Award winners will be honored at a ceremony and gala dinner on September 20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. The awards are organized by Jewellery News Asia, a subsidiary of UBM Asia, in collaboration with UBM Awards.

The event is calling for entries until May 4. Companies and individuals interested in submitting an application can visit www.JNAawards.com for entry forms and to obtain details on the awards categories, rules of entry, judging criteria and judging process.

JNA Awards Categories include:

* Manufacturer of the Year

* Retailer of the Year

* Employer of the Year

* Brand of the Year

* Industry Innovation of the Year—Manufacturing

* Industry Innovation of the Year—Retail

* Sustainability Initiative of the Year

* Young Leader of the Year (Age 30 or below)

* 3 Decades of Excellence Award

* Outstanding Contribution to the Industry of the Year

* Lifetime Achievement Award

* Wonder of the World Award