The 42nd Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 12th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show concluded successfully, drawing some 80,000 buyers from 150 countries and regions, according to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). Held under the "Two Shows, Two Venues" format, the Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show welcomed over 28,000 buyers from 125 countries and regions, while the Jewellery Show attracted over 51,000 buyers from 140 countries and regions. Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, noted that the twin shows hosted about 4,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions, with buyer attendance from the Philippines, Korea, Australia and Switzerland recording significant growth. Over 30 industry seminars and events were held, and three new pavilions made their debut: the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion, the Zhushan Turquoise Pavilion and the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion.
An on-site survey of 1,509 exhibitors and buyers conducted by the HKTDC revealed cautious optimism. 44.3% of respondents expect overall sales to increase in the next one to two years, and 49% expect sales to remain stable. Respondents identified Korea (73.2%), ASEAN (71.8%), Chinese Mainland (68.5%), Taiwan (65.3%), and Australia (64.1%) as markets with good or very good growth potential for jewellery products over the next two years. For markets with the greatest development potential, most plan to explore Europe (20.8%), ASEAN (16.8%), Chinese Mainland (15.3%), Japan (15.3%), and Taiwan (10.8%). Technological advancements in AI (66.1%), social media (43.7%), and big data (41.5%) are expected to have the greatest impact on the jewellery industry in the next three years. Products with the strongest growth potential this year include trendy fashion jewellery (57.3%), precious jewellery (35.1%), and designer jewellery (21.1%). Karat yellow gold (40.1%), karat white gold (31.7%) and pure gold (28%) are the most popular precious metals, while diamonds (28.8%), rubies (24.7%) and pearls (19.7%) lead among gemstones.
A major highlight was the debut of the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion, led by the World Gold Council, featuring 10 exhibitors from the Chinese Mainland. Regional CEO Roland Wang said the show has been instrumental in helping Chinese gold manufacturers connect with international buyers, with considerable orders received in the first three days. Sharon Weng of YueHao Jewellery noted they established connections with Southeast Asian markets. Sales exceeded expectations for many exhibitors; Youngeun Kim of Korean exhibitor Soyou expects 30% sales growth, while Hong Kong's SimStar Asia Limited secured orders running into millions of US dollars. The Hall of Fame grew by more than 40%. The shows also welcomed over 50 designer exhibitors, including 10 Korean designers making their debut.
Uzbekistan made its debut appearance, with Fonon Jewelry House showcasing gold pieces with Central Asian influences. Alisher Romanov, Head of Foreign Economic Affairs, stated they expect sales of approximately USD 50 million. The Uzbekistan delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Jewellery Manufacturers' Association. Buyers sought diverse offerings; Turkish buyer Kasapoglu Jewellery set a procurement budget of over USD 900,000 for loose diamonds, while US-based David Abraham & Co met with 35 exhibitors in a single day. China National Gold Group from Beijing set a total procurement budget of USD 200,000 across both shows. Golden Silver Z.L S.A., a Latin American silver jewellery supplier, confirmed orders exceeding USD 1.9 million.
The HKTDC adopted an EXHIBITION+ online and offline hybrid format, enabling AI-powered business matching via the HKTDC Marketplace App's "Click2Match" and hktdc.com Sourcing. For buyers unable to travel, the show facilitated over 100 online business matching sessions. Through e-commerce channels, the shows partnered with Taobao Tmall and, for the first time, Douyin, involving 10 exhibitors and over 30 influencers, generating over 35 million online impressions and sales exceeding USD 20 million. A Korean influencer sourced close to USD 700,000 in purchases.
