Israeli Exhibitors Mixed on Results of Hong Kong Show

The last day of the September Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Show at Asia-World Expo (AWE) today (Sunday) for exhibitors of diamonds, jewelry raw materials, equipment and packaging found a range of responses from Israeli diamond companies.

The AWE part of the event, one of the world’s biggest diamond and jewelry trade shows, began on September 11.

Biko Brima, from Joe Brima, said there had been reasonably strong demand for fancy yellow diamonds of 1 carat in VS+. “The show has been in line with expectations. Nobody came here thinking it was going to be fantastic because of the situation in the diamond market generally.”

Another Israeli diamantaire, who requested anonymity, said the show had been poor. “You can see that many of the booths have been somewhat empty for most of the days of the show.”

Meanwhile, Yoram Dvash, of Dvash Diamonds, said the show had been a reasonable success. “This is a show for doing business. We have seen many customers coming back to us to buy. Cushion and emerald-cut diamonds have been selling nicely in one to three carat sizes.”

The Hong Kong show is split into two parts, with the second venue, the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), featuring exhibitors of finished jewelry. That part of the event began on September 13 and ends on Tuesday (September 17).

Together, the two venues cover 135,000 square meters. The show organizers said the show has attracted around 52,000 visitors and in excess of 3,500 exhibitors from almost 50 countries and regions.