Photos – Jewellery Fairs ©
Radiant pearls, treasured as symbols of grace and elegance, will once again keep the show floor buzzing at the 37th edition of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair.
Offering pearls in virtually every type, quality and price point imaginable, the September Fair is anticipated to feature major loose pearl suppliers, who will present their prized pearl parcels, pairs, strands and layouts at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), and design houses and manufacturers, who will unveil pearl jewellery collections – from red-carpet worthy statement pieces to head-turning accessories ideal for everyday wear – at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).
Exhibits are grouped by product category to help buyers customise their visit to the September Fair and make the most out of their Hong Kong trip. The jewellery materials section of the fair will be hosted at the AWE from September 16 to 20, bringing together mega-zones focused on Diamonds, Coloured Gemstones and Pearls, while finished jewellery products will be displayed at the HKCEC from September 18 to 22.
“Pearls are universally loved for their classic simplicity and timeless beauty,” says Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs at Informa Markets. “They personify refined elegance and are impressively versatile at the same time.”
Baroque pearls, which are often picked as centre gems because of their exquisite shapes and fine lustre, are expected to be among the focal points of top collections, often complemented with coloured gemstones, diamonds and other pearls for added impact.
The Leonidas Man’ set by Alessio Boschi
According to the Tahitian Pearl Association Hong Kong (TPAHK), round 8mm to 10mm pearls remained the hottest items under the Tahitian pearl category in the first half of the year.
Despite global economic uncertainties, the Tahitian pearl auction held in July netted encouraging results. “Top-quality pearls were in great demand but supply was inadequate. There were fewer commercial-grade pearls displayed at the auction. Thus, the average price increased by almost 48 percent when compared with the auction results in March of this year,” according to the association. “Total sales were approximately 35 percent higher than anticipated. Hong Kong and Japan continued to be the top buyers, accounting for 75 percent of sales.”
Bracelet with a ‘Memotime Pearl’ by Gyso PearlsIn addition to leather cords, the bracelet line also has a stingray version
Luxury jeweller Yoko London will launch two collections at the fair. The Starlight Collection uses either South Sea or Akoya pearls and with an arrangement of smaller diamonds in various cuts, which are combined to give the illusion of a larger stone. The Raindrop Collection uses small, high-quality Akoya pearls that are seamlessly embedded into modern diamond-encrusted designs.
