By Cynthia Unninayar

A milestone was reached in March as the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show celebrated its 30th birthday, and showcased jewellery, gemstones, and related products from around the world.

Brooch by Green G. & “Peacock” ring from E&V Jewellery

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show (HKIJS) celebrated this important anniversary with a healthy dose of optimism, especially given the record number of exhibitors and buyers. Jack So, HKTDC Chairman, commented on the growing interest in Hong Kong: “As the global economic balance continues to shift to Asia, Hong Kong is the ideal business platform from which to access the myriad regional opportunities now available in the growing ASEAN area and the Chinese mainland.”

The growing numbers of non-Asian companies exhibiting at the HKIJS clearly seem to understand his message. This is perhaps why the Italian pavilion is one of the largest pavilions at the event with 150 exhibitors, and why officials from the Fiera di Vicenza were also in attendance. Corrado Facco, Executive Director, Paola De Luca, Creative Director and forecaster of the fair’s Trendvision report, and Paola Guida, Italian Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong, organized a press conference on the first day to review the significance of the Italians’ involvement. “In 2012, $658 million of Italian jewellery was exported to Hong Kong,” said Guida, adding that Italy was the sixth largest supplier of jewellery to Hong Kong.

The Italians were not the only ones looking to attract the attention of the recordbreaking number of 42,000 buyers from 140 nations, including an upsurge in visitors from emerging nations. In total, the fair hosted 3,300 exhibitors from 49 countries and regions, including first-timers Cyprus, Lebanon, and Peru, along with 17 group pavilions and seven international trade organization pavilions—among them the Antwerp World Diamond Centre and the Israel Diamond Institute, understandable since Hong Kong has long been one of Asia’s leading diamond trading centres. (Last year, the city’s diamond trade exceeded HK$240 million.)

Model wearing diamond jewellery by K.A.R.P. & Diamond, ruby, emerald, and gold jewellery by Eden

All of this suggests rising confidence in the global jewellery industry, an observation confirmed by an independent survey of 800 show participants. Commissioned by the HKTDC, the survey showed that 85 percent of buyers interviewed expect a growing or steady turnover this year, while 76 percent of exhibitors believe that the market this year is better than or comparable to last year.

Pendant by Vida & rings by Kusion

A Glimpse into “Asian” Design

The majority of HKIJS exhibitors were from the Asian region: Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, China, and of course Hong Kong. Their original and creative designs spanned a wide range of styles and materials. Florals and animal motifs were quite popular, while others featured rivers of diamonds and sumptuous suites. As in the global market, silver designs and lacy creations addressed the economic concerns of the day and the high metals prices. Below is a glimpse into only a few of the many creative Asian companies exhibiting at the HKIJS.

Earrings by Temptations & Tassel earrings by MVee

Hong Kong designer brands offered a wide assortment of jewellery, from simple to sophisticated, in all types of gemstones and metals. Temptations lives up to its name with luxurious diamond and coloured gemstone parures. MVee offers a wide assortment of styles and collections, while Vida targets a more youthful audience. K.A.R.P. specializes in dazzling diamond pieces, and elegant and colourful creations are on the menu at E&V Jewellery. Sabina Lee, the creative force behind Green G., has a green thumb when it comes to her garden of flowers, leaves, and other luxurious pieces in diamonds and gems. Designer Winda Lee, of Eden, who sells mainly in China, produces a variety of pieces, including animal motifs. Kate Po, of Kusion, likes to mix different elements together.

Bracelet by Jewelmer & Brooch by Bel Tung

The HKIJS featured a number of designers from other parts of Asia. Manila-based Jewelmer continues to impress with its glorious South Sea golden pearl jewellery. Taiwanese Helen Chang’s Bel Tung brand focuses on florals and butterflies. Singapore’s Yang Lay tends toward bigger and bolder designs in silver with coloured gems. Gina/Vajra from Korea interprets flowers in precious metals. First-time exhibitor from Indonesia, Giana Nirmala Nubia’s large massive pieces caught everyone’s attention.

Designer Yang Lay with model wearing back pendant , Brooch by Gina/Vajra & Model wearing gold and gemstone jewellery by Giana Nirmala Nubia

Thailand and Japan were well represented. From Thailand, the dynamic duo of Kavant and Sharart joined the HKIJS for the first time and wowed visitors with their creative selections, as did long-time participant Zorab with its bold and colourful pieces. From Japan, Sekikazu featured his signature enamel and silver lines, while Jizai/Kodama showcased the brand’s skill in crafting realistic, fully articulated insect brooches. Hiroko Saito’s H-Iron drew attention with her unusual metal combinations, as did the innovative dancing diamond pendants from Crossfor, while Okurado captures the delicate beauty of Japanese cherry blossoms.

Earrings by Kavant, Earrings by Sharart & Pendant by Zorab

Helping Business

To help improve business and how it is conducted, the HKTDC continually looks for ways to improve and streamline transactions. This year, it introduced the “Small-Order Zone (SMO),” designed to keep pace with the changing needs of buyers. With quantities ranging from 5 to 500, the SMO offered a wide range of quality products from reliable suppliers, below US$1,000 per piece. The zone attracted more than 4,600 buyer visits and created about 8,000 enquiries.

Brooches by Jizai Kodama, Pendant by Crossfor & Earrings by H-Iron

Another very helpful addition, especially for small businesses, was the launch of the Pay App, a new mobile point-of-sale payment solution, created by Visa in concert with the HKTDC. “The whole phenomenon in the USA was the trigger for the launch,” explained Tom Tobin, Visa country manager for Hong Kong and Macau. “Like America’s Square reader, the Pay App is a small device that affixes to smart phones to accept credit card swipes.” This simple and cost-effective service facilitates and streamlines transactions, while maintaining a record for both sellers and buyers.

Pendant by Sekikazu & Hair pin by Okurado

Buyers’ Comments

“This is our eighth year attending this show. The HKIJS fair is a good place to see new materials and designs for inspirations, and also to make new contacts.” – Leslie Therriault, Merchandiser, Delmar International, Canada.

“We have been coming to the HKIJS for many years because this show provides good variety, and we find the right suppliers here. We are particularly interested in the jewellery products offered by exhibitors from China and Hong Kong.” – Daniel Espinosa de los Monteros, Director, Daniel Espinosa Jewelry, Mexico.

“This is my first visit to this show. I came here to look for new suppliers and to see what other manufacturers are doing. So far, I have placed orders worth around US$10,000, while some are still under negotiation. It is a great show, covering the whole spectrum of the jewellery industry. Definitely, I’ll visit this show again next year.” – Jaslena Ahmad, Managing Director, Style Ventures, Sdn Bhd, Malaysia.

“It is our second time visit to this show. It is a perfect venue for us to find new products and keep abreast of the design trends and production technologies. So far, we have placed orders for US$1 million worth of diamond and yellow gold jewellery. The demand for diamond and yellow gold jewellery is increasing in India because our consumers like to buy diamonds and gold as an investment.” – Prasanna Kumar, Director, Nathella (with seven stores), India.

The next HKIJS will be held in March 2014. See their website for further details at www.hktdc.com.