The 13th edition of the China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair - Shanghai (Shanghai Jewellery Fair) drew 6,522 unique visitors, up 36 percent, compared with the show's 2016 edition.

The increase in visitor numbers proves that the fair – East China's leading jewellery event – is growing in the right direction and steadily expanding its international reach.

Held from Nov. 17-20, in conjunction with the second annual Asia-Pacific Jewellery & Watch Expo at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, the fair featured 304 exhibitors of classic and trendy jewellery products, and highlighted quality attractions such as the Jewellery Life and Designer Pavilions.

Organised by UBM Asia, the prime jewellery sourcing event welcomed 6,522 unique attendees (individuals were counted only once for the duration of the fair) who made 7,279 visits to the show.

In terms of visitor groups, China topped the list in Asia, followed by Sri Lanka and India. Colombia had the most representation in North and South America, while EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) was led by Belgium.

Key figures:

• 6,522 buyers from 36 countries and regions;
• 304 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions including Canada, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Mainland China, Poland, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United States, Hong Kong and Taiwan regions;
• Top 10 sources of buyers (excluding Mainland China) were Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan region, Hong Kong region, Colombia, Thailand, the United States, Australia, Korea and Belgium.
• 6,350 visitors were from mainland China.

"The Shanghai Jewellery Fair has grown from strength to strength, and this is evident in the quality and breadth of our product offerings. We have an impressive roster of exhibitors, provide rich networking opportunities and create an ideal setting for vendors to connect with potential buyers," said Teddy Tan, Event Manager of Shanghai Jewellery Fair. "We will continue to take every creative measure necessary to give buyers even more clear and compelling reasons to visit the show and further validate the Shanghai Jewellery Fair's position as one of the most important jewellery fairs in the region."

One of the fair's key draws was a Jewellery Life Pavilion, which showcased world-leading design concepts and innovations that provided crossover cooperation opportunities between traditional or conventional jewellers and the wider applied arts and lifestyle-related sectors.

Independent designers from China and Taiwan likewise presented collections that melded artistry, craftsmanship and innovation at the Designer Pavilion.

Buyers were also treated to handcrafted fine jewellery embellished with the finest gemstones in classic and contemporary designs.

 Rare gemstones from the exclusive collections of dealers from Sri Lanka and the US, among others; classic and traditional jewellery collections by Lao Miao Jewellery, one of China'srenowned brands.

Held concurrently with the Shanghai Jewellery Fair was the second annual Asia-Pacific Jewellery & Watch Expo, which was the result of UBM Asia's strategic alliance with the Shanghai NIU International Exhibition Co Ltd. The expo was jointly organised by the China National Light Industry Council, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.

The Shanghai Jewellery Fair also offered prime opportunities for networking and market intelligence gathering. Insightful seminars and workshops, including Swarovski 2018 Fashion Trends, Jewellery Design & VM Inspiration Workshop; "Innovation in Tradition, Fortune in Culture" – Laomiao 2018 Jewellery Trend; meeting organized by the China Gold Association; New Opportunities for the Global Jewellery Industry Forum and the GZDE Diamond Innovation Forum, were among the events lined up during the show.

In 2018, the 14th edition of the China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair – Shanghai will take place from Nov. 16-19 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center to achieve further success.