HONG KONG, 28 August 2024 – Iconic
luxury pearl jewellery brand Mikimoto and pearl superstars Paspaley,
Autore, Jewelmer and top industry organisations are joining forces at Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) to mark the fair’s “Year of the Pearl” events, show organiser Informa Markets Jewellery announced today.
Renowned
as the “mother of all jewellery fairs,” the “One Fair, Two Venues” B2B
marketplace will unfold from 16 to 20 September at the AsiaWorld-Expo
(AWE), exhibiting virtually every imaginable precious material under the
sun. Concurrently, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
(HKCEC) section of the show will run from 18 to 22 September, providing
buyers access to a diverse selection of finished jewellery, packaging
and technology solutions. Additionally, SEASONS | Autumn Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair will run in parallel with JGW from 18 to 22 September. Situated in Hall
5BC of the HKCEC, this event is known as Asia’s go-to wholesale
sourcing hub for fashion-driven collections curated for the
Spring/Summer seasons of 2025 and beyond.
Online pre-registration for JGW and SEASONS | Autumn is now open and will remain available until 9 September.
JGW’s 2024 edition will be made even more memorable with the immersive exhibit, “Orient Odyssey: From Shell To Market – The Fascinating Life Of Pearls,” by Informa’s Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community. This show floor
attraction, located at Booth 3M260 in the HKCEC, is the result of a
partnership with The AUTORE Group, Edison Pearls, Hatta New World Co
Ltd, Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association (JPEA), Japan Pearl Promotion
Society (JPPS), Jewelmer, Paspaley Pearling Company, Professional
Association of Pearls Zhejiang, Rio Pearl, Tahitian Pearl Association
Hong Kong (TPAHK) and Zhanjiang Pearl Association, among others. Dr. Miro Fei-Yeung Ng, Founder and President of the Centre for Gemmological Research, serves as project consultant.
At
Orient Odyssey, visitors can explore the seamless collaboration between
human ingenuity and nature to create one of the world’s most
breathtaking wonders. The curated exhibit will showcase the process by
which the humble pearl oyster produces nature’s perfect gem, offer
insights into pearl grading systems, highlight advancements in pearl
cultivation and present a collection of fine pearls. One of the stations
will host live demonstrations of pearls being delicately extracted from
pearl oysters. Moreover, designer Rosemary Chung will lead sessions on pearl jewellery styling while renowned gemstone artist Victor Tuzlukov will demonstrate pearl facetting techniques.
Additionally,
this exhibit prompts contemplation on the future of pearls and their
significance as indicators of oceanic health and the broader natural
ecosystem.
“Few
things evoke fascination like the world’s only living gems, inherently
perfect from the moment of harvest. Orient Odyssey is celebrating the
timeless beauty of pearls while at the same time introducing them to a
new generation of buyers and ensuring that their enduring allure remains
at the forefront of the industry’s collective consciousness,” said Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets Jewellery.
“Beyond Precious: Pearl Farming And Environmental Stewardship” will take place at the AWE on 17 September. This session will explore
the future of pearl farming and address the environmental challenges
currently faced by pearl producers. Furthermore, the discussion will
explore questions such as why pearl oysters serve as indicators of the
health of the aquatic environments in which they grow.
This session will be followed by “The Power Of Pearls: Sustainable Gems For A New Generation,” which will be held at the Grand Foyer of the HKCEC on 18 September. The
panel discussion aims to explore innovative strategies, from design to
branding, that strengthen the universal appeal of pearls. Bringing
together experts from pearl producers and the world’s top luxury pearl
jewellery brands, the discussion will centre on the unparalleled beauty
of pearls, emphasising their status as the world’s only renewable gems.
Both sessions have distinguished panels. The AWE discussion will bring together Hiroki Goto of K. Mikimoto & Co., Ltd.; Jacques Christophe Branellec, CEO of Jewelmer; Jens Knauer PhD, Aquaculture and Marine Conservation Consultant at AUTORE, and Dr. Rebecca Koss, Sustainability Manager at Paspaley. The HKCEC session will likewise feature Rosario Autore, Founder and CEO of AUTORE, Zhan Weijian, Chairman & General Manager of Grace Pearl (HK) Co Ltd, alongside returning speakers Branellec and Koss.
Meanwhile,
the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong is set to host a private
cocktail reception at AWE on 17 September. This by-invitation-only
gathering will unite key figures from the pearl community for a
memorable evening of networking and celebration.
Special Events
Alongside Orient Odyssey and its accompanying pearl panel discussions, JGW will be recognising the recipients of the Sustainability Awards 2024 by JWA (Jewellery World Awards) at an exclusive cocktail reception on 18 September. Concurrently, the Sustainability Heroes Panel Series will feature discussions on the themes “Jewels Of A Sustainable Future”
on 17 September at the AWE and “From Source To Showcase: Inspiring
Change In The Jewellery Industry” on 18 September at the Grand Foyer of
the HKCEC. Among the panellists are representatives of the
Sustainability Awards Recipients, including May Lau, Director of Social Impact at Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group; Shreyans Dholakia, Director and Brand Custodian of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt Ltd; Viral Kothari, Managing Director of Fine Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd; Brijesh Dholakia, CEO of Hari Krishna Exports Pvt Ltd; Zulu Ghevriya, CEO & Co-Founder of Smiling Rocks, and Yash Kothari, Founder of Vector.
Educational seminars on jade, ruby, sapphire and other coloured gemstones will be led by Richard W. Hughes and E. Billie Hughes, Co-Founders of Lotus Gemology Co Ltd, as well as gemmologist and author Martin P. Steinbach on 16 September.
On 19 September, Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group; Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands, and Paul Rowley,
Executive Vice President of Diamond Trading at De Beers Group, will be
presenting insights on the global diamond markets and De Beers strategy
at a Spotlight on De Beers Breakfast event. Registration is required for
this session.
In another session on the same day, panellists David Block, CEO of Sarine Technology Group; Daniel Nyfeler PhD, Managing Director of Gübelin Gem Lab; Payal Shah of L’Dezen, and Ricky Yu of Picup Media will discuss “Practical Applications Of Artificial Intelligence (AI) In The Jewellery And Gemstone Industry.”
On 20 September, celebrated designers Austy Lee of Austy Lee Art Jewellery, Caroline Chartouni of Caroline C and Nisan Ongwuthitham of Nisan Ong / Ong Jewelry Design Co Ltd will recount their paths in
creating luxury jewellery brands in the session, “Staying Ahead In The
Evolving World Of Jewellery Design.”
On 21 September, Chun Ming Lee,
Director of The Gemmological Association of Hong Kong, will give a talk
on the “Microscopy of Diamond – Hidden Mysteries Inside Diamonds.” This
will be followed by a session on “Pearls: Art & Science, From Paris
To Hong Kong,” which will be led by Leonard Pouy, Art Historian and Content & Transmission Manager at L'ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, and Olivier Segura,
Gemmologist & Managing Director at L’ÉCOLE Asia Pacific, School of
Jewelry Arts. The speakers will explore pearls from the perspectives of
both a gemmologist and a historian.
On living up to its reputation as the resource destination with the most product debuts than anywhere else, JGW is poised to welcome 3,300+ exhibitors from
across 40 countries and regions, gathering top-tier names in diamonds,
coloured gemstones, pearls, fine jewellery and jewellery-related
technologies, equipment and tools, and packaging products and services,
among other categories.
About Informa Markets Jewellery
Informa
Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to
trade, innovate and grow. Our global jewellery vertical, Informa Markets
Jewellery, offers in-person and web-based sourcing experiences, digital
solutions and dedicated B2B platforms that bring international buyers
and quality sellers together in the fine jewellery, gemstone, and
fashion jewellery and accessories markets.
Our
resources, industry experience, influence and focus as a partner are
enhanced by our global jewellery portfolio consisting of fairs and
events in key cities; a powerful digital platform – JewelleryNet; a
dedicated Jewellery Media team, led by flagship publication, JNA; an
education-based programme – Jewellery & Gem Knowledge Community, and
the industry’s most prestigious awards programmes – Jewellery World
Awards (JWA) and its regional edition, JWA Dubai. Visit our website for more information.
All Press Release and Market News credit by Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong.
