Hong Kong's Twin Jewellery Shows Draw 80,000 Global Buyers, Revealing Optimism for ASEAN and Korean Markets

The 42nd Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the 12th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show concluded successfully, together drawing some 80,000 buyers from 150 countries and regions. Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) under the "Two Shows, Two Venues" format, the events hosted about 4,000 exhibitors from more than 40 countries. Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, noted significant buyer attendance growth from the Philippines, Korea, Australia, and Switzerland, highlighting the shows' international standing. Over 30 industry seminars and events were held, and three pavilions made their debut: the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion, the Zhushan Turquoise Pavilion, and the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion.

An HKTDC on-site survey of 1,509 exhibitors and buyers revealed cautious optimism about the economic outlook. 44.3% of respondents expect overall sales to increase in the next one to two years, while 49% expect stable sales. Markets viewed as having good or very good growth potential for jewellery products over the next two years include Korea (73.2%), ASEAN (71.8%), and the Chinese Mainland (68.5%). For markets with the greatest development potential, most respondents plan to explore Europe (20.8%), ASEAN (16.8%), and the Chinese Mainland (15.3%). Technological advancements expected to have the greatest impact on the jewellery industry in the next three years are artificial intelligence (66.1%), social media (43.7%), and big data (41.5%).

Product trends identified include strong growth potential for trendy fashion jewellery (57.3%), precious jewellery (35.1%), and designer jewellery (21.1%). The most popular precious metal products in 2026 are karat yellow gold (40.1%), karat white gold (31.7%), and pure gold (28%). Diamonds (28.8%) lead as the most popular gemstones, followed by rubies (24.7%) and pearls (19.7%). The government's latest Budget Speech plans to strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international gold trading market, expected to bring new momentum to gold demand. The World Gold Council led 10 exhibitors from the Chinese Mainland to launch the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion, a major highlight. Regional CEO Roland Wang stated the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show has been instrumental in helping Chinese gold manufacturers connect with international buyers, with focus on developing markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and India.

Sales at the shows exceeded expectations for many exhibitors. Youngeun Kim, founder of Soyou, a Korean exhibitor, reported connecting with potential buyers from the Chinese Mainland, Africa, and the United Kingdom, expecting a 30% sales growth compared to last year. Hong Kong exhibitor SimStar Asia Limited, specializing in high-value diamonds, secured several orders from buyers in Europe and the United States, with total transactions running into millions of US dollars. The company projected a 10% increase in annual sales. Designer jewellery is on the rise, with over 50 designer exhibitors, including 10 Korean designers making their debut. A seminar by Paola De Luca, Founder and Creative Director of Trendvision Jewellery + Forecasting, explored how personalization can respond to the younger consumer market.

Global exhibitors tapped into new opportunities, with Uzbekistan making its debut appearance. Fonon Jewelry House showcased gold pieces with Central Asian cultural influences, drawing strong interest. The Uzbekistan delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Jewellery Manufacturers' Association to promote Uzbekistan's jewellery globally through Hong Kong's platform. Buyers sought diverse offerings, with Turkish buyer Kasapoglu Jewellery setting aside a procurement budget of over USD 900,000 for loose diamond suppliers. US-based diamond wholesaler David Abraham & Co found the show a true one-stop destination, meeting 35 exhibitors in a single day.

The shows adopted the EXHIBITION+ online and offline hybrid format, enabling enterprises to extend physical exhibition negotiations to online matching platforms. Exhibitors and buyers engaged in AI-powered business matching through the HKTDC Marketplace App's "Click2Match" and hktdc.com Sourcing. For buyers unable to travel, over 100 online business matching sessions were facilitated. The HKTDC helped exhibitors tap into the Chinese Mainland market through e-commerce channels, with platforms Taobao Tmall and, for the first time, Douyin partnering with the shows. The campaign generated over 35 million online impressions and achieved sales exceeding USD 20 million.