Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) – previously known as the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair – will return to its original two-venue, product category-specific format in September this year, Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs, Informa Markets Jewellery, tells Jewellery Outlook Editor David Brough.
Will Informa be organising a trade event in HK in September? If so, what are the dates and venue?
Celine Lau: Yes, Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) – previously known as the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair – will return to its original two-venue, product category-specific format this year. The jewellery materials section of JGW – which will shine the spotlight on loose diamonds, coloured gemstones and pearls, among others – will be hosted at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) from 18 to 22 September 2023 while categories spanning finished jewellery, packaging solutions, tools & equipment, and jewellery industry-related technologies will be presented at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 20 to 24 September 2023. Further adding excitement to the September Fair’s return is a series of celebrations marking its 40th edition this year, and the 40th anniversary of our flagship jewellery publication, JNA.
Based on how the HK March show proceeded, what are your thoughts on the outlook for the HK show in September?
Celine: When Hong Kong reopened its borders to the world, our community rejoiced. We are encouraged about what’s to come. The global jewellery industry has long been clamouring for the return of our iconic jewellery shows, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Hong Kong. We are positive that we will once again be seeing international and Mainland China-based B2B buyers to our Hong Kong fairs in 2023 – Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) in June and JGW in September.
How many exhibitors are you hoping to host? Do you expect that the Sept HK show will be the biggest jewellery trade fair in the world?
Celine: JGW is shaping up to be our industry’s most important global event since 2019. Exhibitor interest is very high, and demand for exhibit space is pacing ahead. Stay tuned for updates!
What will be the offering (range of goods) of the HK Sept show? What is the event’s USP?
Celine: JGW has an extensive selection of exhibitors spanning every product category and the entire jewellery supply chain. It is also world-famous for its signature pavilions, such as the Fine Gem Pavilion, Fine Design Pavilion, CORE (Hong Kong’s top jewellery makers) and the International Premier Pavilion (global jewellery design and production houses), to name a few.
The year 2023, however, is extra-special for JGW.
This year, JGW and our flagship jewellery publication, JNA, are celebrating their 40th anniversary. We are marking these industry milestones by honouring the exceptional achievements of 40 extraordinary individuals who have helped shape and continue to make a positive difference in the jewellery industry today.
The “Extraordinary 40” Awardees span different geographies and areas of specialisation, including jewellery design and manufacturing; core product categories such as diamonds, coloured gemstones, pearls and technology, among others, and advocacies and outstanding business practices encompassing social responsibility, sustainability, education and innovation.
This campaign will culminate in a Hong Kong celebration during the September Fair, and will be complemented by a series of panel discussions, seminars and networking sessions featuring the best of the best in the world of jewellery. It is, without a doubt, the SHOW of the year. No one can afford to miss this.
Will the HK Sept show introduce significant digital features? If so, what will be these digital features, and how do you see the relationship evolving between the physical and digital sides of jewellery trade shows?
Celine: We are constantly looking at innovative options that can best serve the needs of our community, including tapping into our digital resources.
We relaunched JewelleryNet – one of the jewellery industry’s most powerful B2B online communities – with better functionality, more engaging showrooms and a fresh look. The platform gives buyers the head-start that they need to prepare for a more successful product discovery and wholesale sourcing experience at our in-person fairs. Through JewelleryNet, buyers may preview exhibitors’ digital showrooms, plan who they want to see at the show, and schedule one-on-one meetings with suppliers prior to the event.
In terms of boosting our physical events’ ROI, we cannot ignore the power of livestreaming content. Our Chinese-language livestreaming sessions at our in-person shows in the last couple of years drew tens of thousands of views from Greater China buyers, and we are now exploring creative ways of leveraging livestreaming as a means of deepening our engagement with buyers from China and other parts of the world, and of scaling up our events.
We’ll be sharing updates on the JGW show experience in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes peeled for more announcements.
