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.

Pearl highlights at JGW 2024

Orient Odyssey

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.

Orient Odyssey floor plan

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.

Enhancing the Orient Odyssey experience are two panel discussions.

“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.

To view the full list of special events and seminars, visit jgw.exhibitions.jewellerynet.com/special-event/

Product Discovery

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.

JGW has 40+ pavilions for buyers to explore, including its signature zones – Fine Design Pavilion, Fine Gem Pavilion, International Premier Pavilion and CORE Pavilion, among others – and its newest section, the Gold Jewellery Pavilion.

Buyers may view the exhibitor list at https://jgw.exhibitions.jewellerynet.com/exhibitorlist/