Hong Kong Jewelry Show Set to Sparkle

The international jewelry market will be looking to China to lift its fortunes in 2012 and gets its first chance to display all it has to offer in Hong Kong in February.

The 29th Hong Kong International Jewellery Show runs from February 16 to 20 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and positions itself not only as the largest event of its kind in Asia, but a way into the China market for international jewelers.

And like most other high-end industries in the world today, China is where it is all at.

In pure terms of demand, China knocked India off its perch as the world's largest gold jewelry market in the third quarter of 2011 as its consumption rose 13 percent, year on year to 131 tonnes.

And demand is predicted to increase in 2012 -- as the Chinese Year of the Dragon is considered a particularly auspicious time to hand out gifts, a fact reflected by the China Daily newspaper's report this week that sales of gold, silver and jewelry over the recent Chinese New Year holiday had risen 57.6 percent.

Hence this year's Hong Kong show has attracted an impressive 3,000 exhibitors representing 46 countries and regions.

"The undiminished market desire for high-end jewelry is indicated by a 25 percent growth in exhibitor number in the Hall of Extraordinary, which features exceptional jewelry pieces with high quality stones set in exquisite designs. The diamonds and precious stones section has also increased by 15 percent," organizers the Hong Kong Trade Development Council said in a statement announcing this year's show.