(PRESS RELEASE) HONG KONG – More serious buying activity, better-quality visitor traffic and exclusive industry events were among the highlights of the September Hong Kong Jewelry & Gem Fair.
The seven-day jewelry and gemstone marketplace opened its doors on September 16 at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), where a wide selection of diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls was showcased until September 20. Finished jewelry collections, packaging solutions, tools and equipment, and industry-related technologies were presented at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) section of the fair from September 18 to 22.
“Jewelry & Gem World Hong Kong remains the ultimate meeting place for the global jewelry industry,” said David Bondi, senior vice president – Asia at Informa Markets. “What’s happening in Hong Kong now and the uncertainties in the global economy are affecting us in a certain way.
Visitor turnout was down but traffic quality was up. We did receive positive compliments from exhibitors and high-quality visitors who engaged in serious trading at the show.”
Visitor numbers from China saw the biggest drop compared with year-ago figures while Japan, Israel and some markets recorded an increase in buyer turnout. Professional buyers also made the most out of their trip by spending more time at the show compared to previous editions.
As the biggest and the last global jewelry sourcing event of the year, the September Fair is an integral part of the industry and for many companies, Bondi continued.
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“They use the fair as launch pads for their new collections, products and services, which account for a year’s worth of work and promotions from our customers’ side,” he shared. “This only serves to reaffirm our strong commitment to deliver the September Fair to the industry.”
Celine Lau, director of jewelry fairs at Informa Markets, commented, “The positive feedback that we have received from buyers and exhibitors proves just how important the September Fair is to the jewelry trade. We deeply appreciate the confidence and trust that our industry partners and customers have placed in us, and we look forward to delivering an even more outstanding sourcing experience to the global jewelry community in the years to come.”
Annually, the September Fair offers the final sourcing opportunity for serious buyers who are building up their inventories for the coming peak selling seasons.
“No one can afford to miss the opportunity to generate much-needed revenues during the Christmas and New Year season,” Lau added. “This gave us the resolve to deliver the best September Fair possible to the global jewelry community.”
Sourcing Platform
The breadth and depth of products and services available at the September Fair left professional buyers genuinely impressed.
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“It’s my first time being here at this show, and I am looking for new trends and new jewelry collections at good prices. I think this show is the biggest in the world. There is more product variety here compared to other fairs,” shared Ludmila Placido of Brazil-based M. Frazao Atelier.
Nicolas Kriukov of Chile-based DELPHISK was another professional buyer who attended the September Fair for the first time.
“This fair is amazing,” Kriukov said. “There are a lot of gemstones at this show, and I have never seen anything quite like it. I am looking for diamonds, specifically stones with certificates [gemstone reports].”
The September Fair drew visitors from around the world, including buyer delegations from South America, China, Poland, Russia and Vietnam.
Meaningful Conversations
The 2019 edition of the fair drew the attendance of more serious buyers, according to exhibitors.
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“People thought no one will come because of the [public incidents] but we’ve had buyers from Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, Israel and India. There were also a few from mainland China,” said Sanjay Shah of India-based J. B. And Brothers Pvt Ltd. “We consider the September Fair a very significant event in the trade because it is an effective platform for buyers and sellers to meet, inspect new inventories and get together as an industry.”
Vikar Ahmed of Vikar Ahmed Fine Gemstones of Germany said buyers inquired mostly about his aquamarines and Paraiba tourmalines.
“There were fewer people, yes, but the quality of those who were here was very good. We found new clients from Switzerland and China. We’ve had visitors from South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong,” Ahmed said. “The September Fair is not just a place for business; it’s also a valuable marketing tool. There’s value in being here because of the important contacts that we make.”
In addition to its wide range of exhibits, the B2B marketplace featured an exclusive program that aims to inspire, educate and drive innovation. One of these exceptional events was the JNA Awards on September 17, which brought together some of the industry’s most influential and inspiring trailblazers and decision-makers from around the world for an unforgettable evening of celebration.
Informa Markets also presented the refreshed brand identity of its June and September Fairs: Jewelry & Gem Asia Hong Kong for the June edition, and Jewelry & Gem World Hong Kong for the September show.
The 2020 edition of Jewelry & Gem World Hong Kong, the biggest jewelry fair in the world, is scheduled for September 13 to 17 at the AWE and September 15 to 19 at the HKCEC.
Asia’s No. 1 mid-year event, Jewelry & Gem Asia Hong Kong, will be held from June 25 to 28 at the HKCEC next year.
To view some of the highlights of the September Fair, check out our photo gallery. For high-resolution images for editorial use, contact [email protected]