Industry Outlook with David Brough: June

03 Jul 2024

By David Brough

Steady business at Hong Kong June show; influencer hosts gemstone book launch in London

Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (June 20-23), organised by Informa Markets, saw high visitor turnout, mainly Asian trade buyers, with the busiest footfall seen in the Japan pavilion as mainland Chinese buyers snapped up Akoya pearls.

Many buyers stock up at the June Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong, ahead of the more globally focused Informa Markets-organised show in Hong Kong in September, affirming a need for both events on the packed international trade fair calendar.

Exhibitor pavilions from key gemstone and jewellery supplier countries included Italy, Turkey, India and Thailand.

Among the exhibitor stands, suppliers spoke of brisk enquiries from Myanmar-based buyers for high-quality, rare no-heat Burmese rubies, which may represent a possible store of value against a backdrop of severely challenging economic conditions in Myanmar.

A focus of the show organisers was the flow of business engagement in diamonds, with many consumers presently confused by the differentiation between natural and lab-grown diamonds, and with coloured gemstones seen eroding demand for white diamonds.

Enquiries were buoyant, however, for natural fancy colour diamond jewellery, including some exquisite pieces featuring yellow and white diamonds from Hong Kong-based Hima Gems, who acquire their polished natural fancy colour diamonds from India.

A panel discussion about sustainable luxury focused on: a butterfly conservation project in Colombian emerald mining areas; home compostable plastic bags used by a Thai-based jewellery manufacturer, Jewelarc International; and an Indian private sector project by Surat-based polished diamonds supplier Hari Krishna, whose founders were previously farmers, to restore water supplies to areas of drought-hit Gujarat.

Paraiba tourmaline book launch in London

In London on July 1, celebrated jewellery influencer and internet personality Katerina Perez launched a book entitled “Paraiba the legacy of a color”, co-authored with gemmologist Kevin Ferreira, at a dinner in Mayfair attended by trade editors and jewellers.

The book will raise visibility of the beautiful blue gemstones which are still not widely known.

Paraiba tourmalines are increasing recognised as being among the world’s most extraordinary gemstones.

High end Paraiba jewellery has been consigned to so-called “magnificent jewellery” auctions as the gemstones’ prices have risen significantly in recent years due to tight supplies and growing demand by aficionados around the world who appreciate the beauty and rarity of the stones.

The Paraiba book explains the history and origins of extraction of the gemstones in Brazil and parts of Africa, and showcases remarkable pieces of jewellery set with Paraiba tourmalines created by respected designers, including Wallace Chan, Emmanuel Tarpin, Lydia Courteille, Erica Courtney and Alessio Boschi.

Source: David Brough