ShowBuzz
Platinum Guild International (PGI), India’s 2024 Buyer-Seller Meet Shaping Platinum’s Future
Platinum Guild International (PGI) India concluded yet another successful edition of its annual ‘Platinum Buyer-Seller Meet,’ on the 4th and 5th of July 2024. Every year, the prestigious event, brings together the leading names from across the jewellery industry and offers them a platform to collaborate and work towards collective business development for platinum. Held at the Grand Hyatt, Kochi, the recently concluded event, continued to serve as a significant business opportunity for partner retailers and manufacturers under the PGI program to share new designs, innovations, cutting edge technology and best practices while reviewing the latest platinum jewellery collections.
The energy and enthusiasm across the manufacturer booths reaffirmed the growing demand for platinum jewellery across all three PGI brands – Platinum Evara, Men of Platinum and Platinum Love Bands. Retailers were given an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated MS Dhoni Signature Collection, set to launch later this year, just in time for the festive and wedding season. The overall demand for platinum was evident in the substantial purchases and restocking undertaken by the retailers for the upcoming season. This event set a positive tone for the months ahead, with an air of optimism and confidence.
The event witnessed a key announcement on the metal innovation front as well, with the creation of a new platinum alloy that has the potential to transform platinum jewellery design and manufacturing. Inoveo Platinum, has been formulated in response to the challenges jewellers experience when working with platinum.
In his presentation Benny Oeyen, Executive Head of Market Development for Platinum Group Metals, Anglo American said, “Inoveo Platinum will provide the jewellery industry the best that platinum can provide. It is a new platinum alloy created with the help of artificial intelligence and digital chemistry to reflect the workability of white gold, while enhancing the core properties of Platinum, including its naturally white colour, durability and wear resistance. So Inoveo Platinum is all about the benefits of Platinum with the ease of white gold. It will help transform platinum jewellery design and manufacturing.”
The evening gala dinner was prefaced by very informative speeches and presentations by Vaishali Banerjee, Managing Director, PGI India and Tim Schlick, Chief Executive Officer, Platinum Guild International (PGI) outlining the accelerated growth of platinum jewellery in the Indian market. Sujala Martis, Director Consumer Marketing, shared the marketing programme line-up for the season. The exciting new marketing initiative with M S Dhoni got an overwhelmingly positive response. The Evara Squad, a unique idea to build cheerleaders and brand evangelists for women’s platinum jewellery was met with high interest from retailers and manufacturers. A brief overview of the upcoming trade agenda was shared by Pallavi Sharma, Business Director PGI India. She stressed on driving volume growth. She also emphasised on the criticality of delivering higher profitability via the proven success of exclusive designs in bi-metal jewellery across categories and differentiating to create value for the consumer via retailer exclusive collections in platinum.
Vaishali Banerjee, Managing Director of PGI India addressed PGI India’s strong partnership with leading retailers and manufacturers and said, “It is heartening to see the event emerge as a marquee industry event with such enthusiastic participation from retailers, manufactures and industry leaders. Platinum jewellery has come a long way and the success of such events highlights the large potential platinum jewellery has in the country across all markets. We are grateful to our partners for their overwhelming response. The new designs and collections will feature as part of the upcoming collections for the festive and wedding season.”
Tim Schlick, Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Guild International (PGI), shared his thoughts on the 2024 Platinum Buyer-Seller Meet: “The recently concluded Platinum Buyer-Seller Meet highlighted the immense potential of the platinum jewellery industry in India. This annual event symbolizes our commitment to nurturing and empowering strategic partnerships with retailers and manufacturers. Our goal is to create value for our partners, and the BSM allows us to demonstrate how we achieve this, including driving incremental business opportunities, identifying new segments, building differentiation, and targeting a sustainable traffic of younger consumers. Our primary intention is always sustainable growth, ensuring long-term benefits for all our partners.”
International News
Hong Kong International Jewellery Show opens, showcases global designs and trends
Twin fairs bring together 4,000 exhibitors from 40+ countries, highlighting luxury brands, innovative gold technologies, antique treasures and emerging design talent.
The 42nd Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opens today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) and runs for five consecutive days until 8 March. It is held concurrently with the 12th Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show which opened on Monday (2 March) at Asia World-Expo and concludes on 6 March. The two shows bring together some 4,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries and regions, forming the world’s largest one-stop jewellery marketplace.
Jenny Koo, Deputy Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “Alongside the expanded Hall of Fame, the show will feature the debut of the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion and the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion. Furthermore, Uzbekistan is participating for the first time with a delegation of 10 companies, showcasing a wide range of gold jewellery. Through diversified exhibit profiles, we aim to create more collaboration opportunities for the industry and reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a global jewellery trading hub.”
Kent Wong, Chairman of the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show and the Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show Fair Organising Committee, said: “Hong Kong is an international trade and sourcing centre and our twin jewellery shows play a pivotal role. Continuing the successful ‘Two Shows, Two Venues’ format, the fairs attract global jewellery professionals for sourcing and networking, helping the industry capture the latest global market trends.”
International brands converge, key zones expand
At the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, the Hall of Fame has expanded by over 40%, welcoming more renowned international jewellery brands. Among them, Turkish exhibitor Hosgor Kuyumculuk Mucevherat Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Booth: CEC 3B-D15) presents a 35.5-carat diamond necklace that combines exquisite craftsmanship with brilliant radiance. Another highlight is the Hall of Extraordinary, which features exhibitors such as Hong Kong’s Glamour Fine Jewelry Enterprise Company (Booth: CEC GH-C16), showcasing a bracelet featuring Colombian emeralds paired with diamonds and rubies in a radiant and luxurious style.
New pavilions highlight oriental aesthetics
With hard pure gold technologies gaining popularity in the Chinese Mainland, the Hard Pure Gold Pavilion (Booth: CEC 3E-F02) features 11 exhibitors organised by the World Gold Council. The pavilion showcases innovative techniques that produce harder, lighter and brighter gold pieces capable of setting a variety of gemstones. Also, the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Pavilion highlights crossover craftsmanship between jewellery setting and watchmaking.
The fairs also feature several events celebrating oriental aesthetics. Today, the Jewellers’ and Goldsmiths’ Association of Hong Kong Limited presented the awards for the Hong Kong International Fashion Chuk Kam Jewellery Design Competition. The competition encourages designers to create culturally rich and commercially viable gold jewellery for the ASEAN and the Middle East markets. Tomorrow (5 March) will see the awards presentation of the inaugural International Fei Cui Jewellery Design Competition, organised by the Hong Kong Jade Association, honouring designers who skilfully blend jadeite with global cultural elements.
Antique treasures and cutting-edge design
Antique jewellery remains highly sought-after by collectors and high-end customers for its historical value and craftsmanship. The Antique & Vintage Jewellery Galleria presents an array of rare pieces, including a bi-colour enamel diamond piece from World Coins Co., Ltd. (Booth: CEC CH-N12), with a history spanning over a century.
Design pieces are equally captivating, the Designer Galleria welcomes 10 Korean designers this year. Together with the Young Jewellery Designer Arena, participated by the Asia Pacific Creator Association and the Asia Jewelry Culture Design and Crafts Association, about 50 designer exhibitors will showcase their diverse creativities in the fairground.
The HKTDC continues to nurture local talents in the jewellery industry. In partnership with the Jewellers’ and Goldsmiths’ Association of Hong Kong Limited, Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association, Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers’ Association, and Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, the 27th Hong Kong Jewellery Design Competition returns under the theme “Pure Elegance – Natural Beauty”, offering a stage for local professional designers and students. The awards ceremony will be held tomorrow (5 March) at the HKCEC, with winning pieces on display to demonstrate innovative design.
E-commerce and technology empower industry growth
To help exhibitors expand into the Chinese Mainland market and develop their online sales channels, the fairs continue the collaboration with Taobao Tmall. For the first time, the fairs also welcome Douyin, partnering with influencers and KOLs for on-site live streaming to promote exhibitors’ products. On 7 March, a seminar will feature experts discussing the latest online marketing trends and tactics.
Another seminar on 5 March will explore how AI and new technologies enhance competitiveness, optimise production, and drive product innovation in the jewellery industry.
Engaging events to connect and inspire
A diverse lineup of events will be held to foster industry dialogue. These include a seminar by Dr. Jack Ogden, a distinguished British historian and jewellery authority, who will analyse the evolution of jewellery craftsmanship and changing aesthetic tastes throughout history. The jewellery parades will highlight themes such as intangible cultural heritage jewellery, curated selections from the Antique & Vintage Jewellery Galleria, as well as highlights from the Hall of Extraordinary, Designer Galleria, and gold jewellery.
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JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.