Hong Kong Gem Fairs Put Coloured Stones at the Center of 2026 Showcases

Coloured gemstones are no longer a footnote at Hong Kong's jewellery fairs. Informa Markets Jewellery has announced that both Jewellery & Gem ASIA Hong Kong (JGA) in June and Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) in September will place coloured stones at the centre of their programming, backed by three purpose-built initiatives launching in the lead-up to each show.

The anchor initiative is ICA Plus, a three-day conference jointly powered by the International Colored Gemstone Association and Informa Markets Jewellery, making its Hong Kong debut this year. The conference is designed to function differently from the ICA's existing biennial Congress, offering a regionally specific forum rather than a global one. "This pivotal moment for coloured gemstones is marked by the debut of ICA Plus in Hong Kong, positioning Asia as a powerhouse of opportunity," said Celine Lau, Director of Jewellery Fairs. "While the ICA's biennial Congress serves as a prestigious forum for the coloured gemstone industry, ICA Plus offers a more regionally focused platform, zeroing in on Asia-specific dynamics from market demand outlook and live-selling channels to the shifting preferences of a new generation of consumers, whose attitudes towards gemstone purchases and ownership diverge from those of previous generations."

Those markets are named explicitly: China, Southeast Asia and beyond. The framing reflects a broader commercial argument that younger buyers in the region are approaching gemstone ownership on fundamentally different terms than their predecessors, and that live-selling channels are now a meaningful part of how coloured stones move through the market.

The second programme, the NextGen Coloured Gem Excellence Awards, is focused on the professional pipeline rather than the design studio, recognising emerging leaders on both the supply and demand sides of the industry.

The third is the Gender-Fluid Coloured Gem Jewellery Design Challenge, which carries the most open entry point for working designers. Submissions are accepted in three categories: Earrings, Rings and Brooches, with a maximum of two entries per candidate. The deadline is 30 April 2026 at 6pm Hong Kong Time. Winners receive a sponsored trip to JGW 2026, ownership of their finished piece and editorial coverage, among other prizes. The challenge's stated goals include tapping into the gender-fluid jewellery market specifically, not just broadening aesthetic range, which sets it apart from standard student design competitions.

Lau framed all three programmes as interconnected: "These events are shining a spotlight on coloured gemstones by addressing three key dimensions of the industry: unlocking demand opportunities in markets such as China, Southeast Asia and beyond, while exploring how buyers are engaging in innovative and dynamic ways; celebrating design as a powerful medium that underscores the versatility and creative potential of coloured gemstones, and championing the next generation of leaders poised to drive the industry forward."

On the show floor, the shift toward colour is already visible in exhibitors' collections. Designers are moving toward stronger colour palettes in everyday pieces, a trend that both JGA and JGW programming appears designed to amplify rather than simply reflect. Exact dates for individual sessions within ICA Plus, and the precise day schedules for JGA and JGW, had not been confirmed at time of writing; the April 30 design challenge deadline is the nearest fixed point on the calendar for anyone looking to engage with this programming directly.