Hong Kong is small but its jewellery market is extensive. Many local jewellers strive to establish an international presence and reach both Hong Kong and overseas buyers with varied and special collections.
Vicki Chan, general manager of jewellery manufacturer and retailer Continental Diamond, says her company caters to both locals and tourists, especially those from the mainland and East Asia.
Tayma Page Allies, creative director of Tayma Fine Jewellery in Hong Kong, says she has a mix of customers. 'We have both overseas visitors and local Hongkongers as our clients, and many of our customers have been coming to us for 20 years or more,' she says. 'We are popular with professional working women who like our clean lines and strong jewellery pieces, as well as with business men who look for a romantic piece for a partner.'
Having lived in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, Page Allies understands that her clients are interested in jewellery from both an aesthetic and investment point of view. 'In the last few years, new coloured gemstones have come onto the market, such as Namibian mandarin orange spessartite garnets and neon blue Paraiba tourmalines from Brazil. My clients love to learn about each gemstone, as it helps them to appreciate the rarity value.'
Growing up by the sea in the Caribbean and West Africa sparked Page Allies' passion for brightly-coloured gemstones, as reflected in her latest collections. One of the collections is named 'Mahjong' because she believes that the sourcing of gemstones and the craftsmanship needed in designing special pieces requires the same luck and skill needed in the Chinese game.
'The Brazilian rubellites and green tourmalines featured in 'Mahjong' are rare in the market for their carat size and intense colours,' she says.