Jewellery & Gem Asia Hong Kong 2026 drew almost 24,000 buyers from more than 100 markets, offering a clear picture of how the sector is coping with shifting consumer tastes and global uncertainty.
Strong buyer intent amid global pressures
Close to 1,100 exhibitors representing around 30 nations showcased products across multiple categories. Attendance from mainland China dipped because of poor weather and the Dragon Boat Festival, but visitors from the Middle East and the United States grew.
Celine Lau, director of jewellery fairs at Informa Markets, said the market “continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience.”
She added that “in spite of the external pressures facing the industry globally, JGA attracted serious buyers committed to purposeful sourcing. What stood out this year was the quality of conversations happening on the floor.”
Exhibitors reported fewer but more decisive interactions. Buyers arrived with specific orders rather than browsing aimlessly, creating an efficient trading environment.
Celine Lau noted that “the past few years have tested our industry in unprecedented ways,” citing tariffs, geopolitical tensions and lingering pandemic effects. The event helps professionals “address these issues with clarity and purpose.”
Colour gemstones outpace diamonds
Kunal Shah, managing director of House of Gems, observed that natural diamonds are “the most undervalued at the moment due to a lack of demand.” He said shrinking operations at both large‑scale and artisanal mines have cut supply dramatically.
He explained that supply and demand reached equilibrium early this year, allowing volume‑grade diamonds to stabilise while niche products began to appreciate modestly.
Demand for unheated blue sapphires and vivid yellow fancy‑colour diamonds remained strong, reflecting buyer interest in rare, distinctive stones.
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Shah added that Hong Kong showed “a better sentiment than the year before” and that Chinese retailers tend to seek similar items, indicating a limited client pool, whereas international markets leaned toward gemstones rather than diamonds.
Colour‑gemstone specialists echoed this trend. Michael Gad Emerald reported solid interest in its Colombian emeralds from buyers across China, the Middle East, India and the Americas.
French pearl house Alain Boite SAS and antique jeweller Mikael Dan highlighted continued demand for heritage pieces alongside contemporary gemstone collections.
Harshil Shah of Diamonds on Call said the fair remained a key venue for strengthening industry connections.
He noted strong interest in live diamond inventory, technology solutions and global fulfilment capabilities, highlighting the value of face‑to‑face meetings even as digital channels expand.
The floor was buzzing, and yet the coffee was cold – a reminder that trade shows still rely on human interaction more than any virtual platform.
Compared with the post‑pandemic surge in online sales, the current emphasis on in‑person negotiations suggests the sector is rebalancing toward relationship‑driven buying, much like the early 2000s when retailers began pairing e‑commerce with showroom experiences.
New Basel trade show announced
Informa Markets and MCH Group unveiled plans for the Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair, set to launch in Basel, Switzerland, in April 2027. The partnership aims to fill a gap for mid‑market watch brands seeking exposure alongside jewellery trade.
Margaret Ma Connolly, president and CEO of Informa Markets in Asia, said the collaboration reflects “changing industry requirements.”
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The event will allocate roughly 50 % of space to jewellery, 25 % to gemstones and 25 % to watches, creating a balanced platform for diverse product lines.
Andrea Zappia, CEO ad interim of MCH Group, described Basilia as “a platform designed around the future of the jewellery and watch industries and their evolving needs.” He added that combining Informa’s global reach with MCH’s event expertise will deliver a truly international stage.
Design challenge spotlights gender‑fluid ideas
Informa Markets also launched the inaugural Gender‑Fluid Coloured Gem Jewellery Design Challenge, encouraging emerging designers to explore self‑expression through colour gemstones.
Damian Cody, president of the International Colored Gemstone Association, welcomed the initiative, saying it “celebrates individuality, craftsmanship, and the power of jewellery as a form of personal expression.”
A judging panel featuring Payal Shah (L’Dezen), Victoria Yu (Joywith Jewellery) and Ollie Quiniquini (JNA) will select winners whose designs will be produced with EJI and unveiled at Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong in September.
Celine Lau said the competition “celebrates design without boundaries – the essence of jewellery artistry.” She noted that championing emerging talent “reveals what drives jewellery design forward: the courage to break rules, reimagine tradition and push creative limits.”
Organisers plan to showcase the winning pieces later this year, reinforcing the fair’s role as a springboard for innovative design.
Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong is scheduled to begin on 14 September, continuing the momentum generated at JGA 2026.
