(PRESS RELEASE) HONG KONG — Excitement is building for Jewellery & Gem WORLD(JGW), which is staging its much-awaited return as the world’s biggest and most influential B2B jewelry event this September.
A trade show long identified with the city of Hong Kong, the iconic fair is gearing up for a comeback in Singapore – a one-off arrangement spurred by the Lion City’s recent move to significantly ease COVID safety measures, including allowing quarantine-free entry for all fully vaccinated arrivals starting from 1 April. The global event in Singapore is scheduled for 27 to 30 September at the Singapore EXPO, and will be complemented by JGW Hong Kong – Special Edition, which will also take place in a physical format at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 16 to 19 September.
The full JGW experience will return to Hong Kong in 2023 when the city’s international travel entry bans are lifted.
“One could say that this year’s JGW was more than two years in the making,” said David Bondi, Senior Vice President of Informa Markets in Asia. “After a couple of tumultuous years, which saw many of us collaborating ‘screen to screen,’ we are now more than ready to bring people safely together by temporarily relocating the world’s No. 1 B2B jewelry show from Hong Kong to Singapore this September. Industry feedback has been so overwhelmingly positive that to exhibitors and the international buying community, the doors of JGW Singapore could not open soon enough.”
Industry associations from Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey – alongside the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) – have shown strong interest in amplifying their presence at JGW Singapore, Bondi continued.
Professional buyers are likewise eager to resume face-to-face interactions, added Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery.
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“The power of events has never been greater, and we can all agree that there is now a newfound appreciation for them,” Lau said. “We expect attendees to spend more quality time and engage in genuine exchanges at our industry’s grand reunion in Singapore.”
Ho Nai Chuen, president of the Singapore Jewellers Association, said the city-state’s jewelry community is thrilled that JGW is making its triumphant return in Singapore.
“It is with great joy and honor that Singapore is the chosen venue for the world’s renowned international Jewellery & Gem show. This will definitely strengthen the reputation and image of Singapore as the hub for jewelry sourcing in the world,” Ho said.
Product showcases
JGW Singapore covers the entire jewelry supply chain and is divided up into product-specific pavilions for easy navigation – all under one roof. These destinations include the Diamond, Pearl and Colored Gemstone Pavilions, which cater to jewelers’ loose precious materials requirements. For the finished jewelry category, buyers will find a treasure trove of suppliers starting off with the Premier Pavilion, a section dedicated to jewelry masterpieces, design-focused fine collections and investment-quality gemstones.
“The Premier Pavilion will present a spectacular display of the finest collections of one-of-a-kind jewelry creations, the rarest gemstones and superbly crafted contemporary pieces that wholesalers, retailers, brands and high-net-worth buyers cannot do without,” shared Lau.
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Equally important are showcases featuring distinct finished jewelry collections spanning the Antique, Coloured Gemstone, Diamond, Fei Cui (Jadeite Jade), Pearl, Pre-owned, Silver and Lab-Grown Diamond categories.
In-person selling
Suppliers said they are looking forward to meeting with buyers with clear sourcing intentions, and are ready to present in-stock products for onsite order-writing.
Gold & Silver Italian Group, a consortium representing more than a hundred jewelry manufacturers producing “Made in Italy” collections, said around 30 of its member-companies are anticipated to impress international buyers with their product showcases at the Singapore event.
“It is important that our members participate in this show to rebuild relationships with their existing customers in the Far East – many of whom they haven’t seen since 2019 – and forge partnerships with new clients,” the Group said. “We are looking forward to engaging with buyers from all over world, especially wholesalers from Asia.”
AWDC, which represents Belgium’s diamond community, said “establishing contacts with new clients from across the globe is a critical factor” for Antwerp diamantaires who will participate in JGW Singapore, in addition to reconnecting face to face with their existing customers.
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“The Hong Kong show has always been a mainstay in the industry, especially as Asia’s most important trade show. For the Antwerp diamond companies, it is vital to see this reflected in the Singapore show, most importantly by providing significant foot traffic from international buyers, and especially from established, as well as upcoming polished markets, in the wider Asian region,” AWDC said.
The global colored gemstone trade is likewise gearing up for one of the industry’s most anticipated events of the year, said ICA CEO Gary Roskin.
“In-person trade shows are the lifeblood of the colored gemstone industry,” Roskin said. “It is difficult to show the exquisite details of such small works of art over a phone connection. It’s at physical fairs where merchants and buyers meet to get a first-hand look and feel for the gems they are about to purchase.”
The association expects about 25 member-companies to participate in JGW Singapore.
“ICA member-exhibitors hope to see many local and international retail buyers at the show,” Roskin continued. “In-person trade shows also give the exhibitors a chance to meet among themselves; seeing old friends and making new friends in the wholesale business.”
In addition to JGW Singapore, Informa Markets Jewellery will launch Jewellery & Gem ASEAN Bangkok (JGAB) from 2 to 5 November at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. JGAB is a B2B cash-and-carry event that allows buyers from Southeast Asia and beyond to
instantly replenish their stocks for the busy Christmas and New Year selling season. The Bangkok fair is positioned as the industry’s last wholesale buying fair of the year.
Additionally, preparations are in full swing for the special in-person editions of Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA Hong Kong – Special Edition) set for 16 to 19 June, and JGW Hong Kong – Special Edition, which is scheduled for 16 to 19 September. Both open to B2B buyers and jewelry lovers, the special-edition fairs are also expected to draw China-based visitors once cross-border travel resumes.
