国内英语新闻:Over 2,600 exhibitors gather at annual int'l jewelry show in Hong Kong

HONG KONG, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The 36th Hong Kong International Jewelry Show opened here Thursday, attracting more than 2,600 exhibitors from all over the world to promote their products.

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the show presents a diverse array of finished jewelry, from the rarest and most luxurious to the exclusive collections of internationally renowned brands, as well as works from emerging designers.

Hong Kong exhibitor Pak Fook Jewelry Group is a regular of the show. "This is the 18th year that we take part in this show, which is an ideal platform for us to maintain relationship with old customers and look for new ones," Simon Lam, the group's chairman, told Xinhua.

Lam said they hope to meet more buyers from emerging markets such as Russia and Turkey to widen their client base.

Riding on the positive response to its debut last year, the IT Solutions for Jewelry zone this year continue to show how the latest technologies can help jewelry companies increase their operational efficiency to stand out from the crowd.

Wen Wen Technology International Ltd. can turn luxury jewelry into tools for communication, messaging or even emergency alerts. The company's waterproof smart chips can be embedded into high-density ceramics and gemstones, or set onto jewelry pieces such as bracelets, necklaces and earrings.

"When the stone turns red, it means you've got new messages on your phone," Karen Cheng, sales executive of Wen Wen, said. This technology works together with a special mobile APP and users can enjoy different functions.

A number of new themed zones have been added to the show this year, including the Avenue of Jewelry Creators that introduce jewelry designers from the mainland and Hong Kong, with a particular focus on presenting culture, art and creativity from across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Pavilions from emerging markets such as Mexico and Indonesia are making their debut appearance to feature jewelry with a distinctive local flavor.

Apart from exhibitions, the organizer has also arranged a number of forums and seminars for industry players to exchange ideas and get a better understanding of the latest trend of the market.