On day four of Jewellery and Gem WORLD Hong Kong, Platinum Guild International (PGI) took center stage, hosting a major symposium on future trends in jewelry and platinum’s role as a significant innovator and premium value creator in a jeweller’s business portfolio.
The PGI Conference drew approximately 150 jewelry experts in its first appearance on September 21, 2023, at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. The organization’s first ever meeting signaled the organization’s continuous commitment to give market support and intelligence to jewelry producers worldwide, particularly in the developing China sector. This year, PGI also had a booth at the Jewellery Fair.
The theme of “Trends Shaping the Future of Jewellery: the Role of Platinum” was addressed by nine presenters, including international specialists from the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, and China. They discussed topics such as consumers’ changing tastes and desires, as well as how they perceive value; technological innovation and the value it creates; the critical drive for sustainability and responsibility; and the progressive trend of platinum as not only the metal of choice, but also of goodwill, which is helping to pave the way for a better future for humanity.
Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO; Tiffany Stevens, CEO and General Counsel of the US-based Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC); and Wesley Tucker, CEO of De Beers‘ blockchain-based diamond-tracing platform Tracr all spoke about increased transparency in the jewelry supply chain as the world shifts to more ethical and sustainable business models.
Tony Chen, Anglo American‘s Head of PGM Market Development for Asia-Pacific; Chloe Cunningham, Program Manager – Precious Metals at next-generation alloy and process design technologies firm Alloyed; and platinum expert Josh Helmich, CEO of Helmich Luxury Group, discussed the benefits of platinum’s increasing use in new industrial and green technologies for the jewellery sector.
Speakers at the conference discussed how international luxury brands and small-scale producers in China can use advancements in customised platinum alloys, as well as pioneering platinum innovation in powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing, to solve production issues, maximize business potential, and push novel platinum pieces onto the global jewelry market.
In his speech, Yongwoon Sim, General Manager, IGI China, emphasized the relevance of diamonds and colored gemstones – recognized by the industry as best set in robust, resilient platinum – in the future of jewelry in China, as well as the value of product diversification for long-term success.
PGI has long encouraged diamond setters, designers, producers, and retailers to make platinum their white metal of choice through new and ongoing collaborations and initiatives to enable growth at all levels of the market. The PGI Booth, which was prominently situated in the Hong Kong Jewellery Fair exhibition hall, presented evidence of these efforts, including a preview of pieces produced by independent Chinese firms as part of the Pt® Edition Co-create Project.
The annual program, created by PGI with the help of Ontimeshow and MetaMedia Group, encourages creativity and ingenuity in a fashion-driven market for non-traditional jewelry. Expressing this year’s subject of ‘Looking in, looking out’, the platinum collections will be launched at 2023 Shanghai Fashion Week, held from 8th-16th October.