HK glitters at region's top gems show
The region's largest jewellery fair gets underway amidst uncertainty caused by the sluggish United States economy and last week's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The Hong Kong Jewellery and Watch Fair opens today and runs until Tuesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
'We think US and European buyers will be affected,' said Celine Lau Siu-man, jewellery fairs manager for CMP Asia, organiser of the event.
She said last week's plane crashes into the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon could make buyers and manufacturers more cautious. 'We are waiting to see what the attendance will be.'
The economic slowdown had already caused lacklustre buying at jewellery shows elsewhere in the world this year, she said.
Last year, Hong Kong exported HK$12.725 billion worth of precious jewellery. From January to July this year, exports totalled $6.59 billion, a 1 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.
The fair features fine jewellery, diamonds, pearls, gemstones, jewellery timepieces, plus equipment and packaging.
More than 1,700 exhibitors from 45 countries and regions and 30,000 visitors are expected to take part in the five-day show. Hong Kong companies account for about 60 per cent of the exhibitors.
'Hong Kong is a very important jewellery manufacturing and trading centre, so we expect the proportion of Hong Kong exhibitors would be more than 50 per cent,' Ms Lau said. 'It is an important meeting place for people in jewellery and jewellery-related fields.'
Exhibitors include more than 890 fine jewellery manufacturers, over 690 pearl suppliers, 580 gemstone traders, 400 gemstone jewellery exhibitors and 100 plus equipment and packaging suppliers. Seventeen international pavilions are represented, including Hong Kong, mainland China, France, Italy, Germany, Thailand and the United States.
A series of specialist pavilions cater to a variety of interest areas. The Fine Design Pavilion houses a select group of about 75 international jewellery companies showing the finest quality jewellery, gemstones, estate and antique jewellery/watches, and signature items from European and Asian royal families.
The Creation Zone Designer Section features 10 up-and-coming jewellery designers from Hong Kong, Japan, Europe and the US. While the 10 companies in the Antique and Estate Jewellery Pavilion offer opportunities for traders looking for unique pieces.
Ninety-five companies are gathered in the Equipment, Packaging and Technology Pavilion to show their latest developments.
Two major pearl auctions that run concurrently with the fair attest to Hong Kong's increasing importance as a pearl trading and distribution centre.
The 16th Paspaley South Sea Pearl Auction, the premier event for Australian, Indonesian and Philippine South Sea pearls, and the ninth Robert Wan Tahiti Pearl Auction are by invitation only. Tahiti Pearls Robert Wan Company is a large supplier of Tahitian cultured pearls.
Visitors can learn about the latest in technology and technical issues affecting the jewellery industry at seminars and workshops.
The Gemological Institute of America, the Gemmological Association of Hong Kong and Belgium's HRD/Diamond High Council will explore topics ranging from diamond treatments to gemstone identification.
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