Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair renamed

The Hong Kong Jewellery & Watch Fair (JWF), which has been referred to by this name in the industry so far, has been renamed as Hong Kong Jewellery and Gem Fair (JGF), by its organisers CMP Asia. "As the most important trade event for the global jewellery trade, the exhibit profile of the Fair is very different from 26 years ago when it started with the September edition," said Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs, CMP Asia. "Materials like diamonds, gemstones and pearls are of increasing importance alongside fine jewellery, so it is time to change the name of the Fair so that exhibitors and visitors know the profile of the Fair.", added Lau

The name change is an effort to better reflect the wider scope of the fairs. Both the June and September editions of the fair in 2009 will carry the new name.

Over the years since its inception in 1983, the fair has grown in its capacity, as it outgrew full capacity of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and also expanded to the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE), the second exhibition centre in Hong Kong which opened in 2006. It is the only exhibition in Hong Kong to use both venues.

The organisers segregated in August, a sector-wise arrangement for the September Fair in 2009, similar to other large-scale global exhibitions. Following this, HKCEC will showcase exhibitors with finished jewellery between 23-27 September 2009, over 70,000 sqm of area. Raw materials, such as loose diamonds, pearls and gemstones, and machinery will exhibit at the AWE between 21-25 September 2009, over 35,000 sqm. The advantage is for visitors to focus immediately on their areas of interest, which would directly benefit the exhibitors.

Celine Lau said, "Given that Asia will soon become the world's biggest market for jewellery, we believe that the time is now to firmly establish the Fair's position as the number one exhibition of its kind in the world by introducing a precise product sectorisation." The 2009 September edition is expected to draw over 2,800 exhibitors, of which 47 percent will be fine finished jewellery exhibitors and 42 percent as materials exhibitors, both occupying over 105,000 sqm of exhibition space, growing into becoming the largest Material Sourcing platform in Asia, at the AWE.

The organisers have pledged an increased expenditure by 50 percent on the worldwide visitor marketing campaign to promote the September Fair 2009. The JGF will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from June 18 - 21, 2009.

Launched in 1983, the September Fair has expanded from 100 exhibitors from 10 countries and regions, occupying 3,500 sqm of exhibition space to 2,630 exhibitors from 44 countries and regions, covering 81,000 sqm of exhibition space in 2008.