In this article, I will introduce you to six of the latest trends and experiences that impressed me most: from an enormous venue filled with gemstones and welcoming traders to De Beers’ Desert Diamonds concept, celebrating ‘imperfect’ natural stones.
If you would like to discover why jewellers have fallen in love with coloured gemstones and platinum this year, read on.
I recently returned from Hong Kong, where I attended one of the world’s largest international jewellery fairs – the Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair September 2025. It was an unforgettable experience. And I have a feeling I was the only female jeweller there from the Czech Republic!
Here are six things that impressed me most about the Hong Kong fair:
1. A Fair Spread Across Two Enormous Venues
The fair took place at two locations: a vast venue dedicated to gemstones – including coloured stones, rough and cut diamonds, as well as laboratory-grown diamonds – and a multi-storey convention centre displaying finished jewellery.
Moving between the two felt like stepping into another world.
Even after three days of walking 20 kilometres a day, I still did not manage to see everything. The finished jewellery section featured some truly extraordinary pieces, including a substantial diamond necklace – although we were not told its price.
Seeing the very best of the jewellery world in person was a feast for the eyes and an incredible source of inspiration.
2. The Opportunity to Buy Gemstones – and the Helpfulness of the Sellers
Hong Kong surprised me with its strong commercial focus, unlike European fairs, which tend to be more about ‘simply’ finding inspiration. As a small family business that does not purchase hundreds of carats of a single type of gemstone, I was still able to buy beautiful stones for a customer’s bespoke piece without any difficulty. The sellers gave me their time, and even transactions worth just a few thousand were completed with a smile.
We were even allowed to handle and examine an almost 50-carat Paraíba tourmaline worth several million Czech crowns. This openness and helpfulness were among the highlights of the entire event, as it is rare to encounter gemstones of such beauty and size in person.
3. De Beers and the Desert Diamonds Concept
One concept that caught my attention at the fair was Desert Diamonds by De Beers. It deliberately celebrates natural diamonds with subtle colour tones – champagne, pale yellow or brown – as an alternative to perfectly white stones.
The emphasis is on ‘imperfect’ beauty and character: even someone without specialist knowledge can immediately recognise that it is a natural diamond, rather than a perfectly manufactured, colourless and almost flawless laboratory-grown one.
I personally feel very close to this approach, and our customers also appreciate these ‘imperfect’ natural diamonds. A beautiful example is an engagement ring with a yellow diamond that we recently created to order. I am convinced that coloured diamonds will become increasingly sought after in the coming years, particularly among those looking for something different from standard mass-produced jewellery.
4. Coloured Gemstones and Vintage Cuts
Hong Kong was a paradise for coloured gemstones – from sapphires, emeralds and rubies to Paraíba tourmalines, which impressed me most of all. The selection ranged from small aquamarines to large tanzanites. It was clear that coloured stones are in great demand. Among the diamonds, I often saw vintage and old-mine cuts with slight asymmetries. Combined with colour, they look romantic and distinctive.
This is also a response to laboratory-grown diamonds: a natural diamond with an old-mine cut has a history and tells a story, while a flawless synthetic stone can feel cold and almost too perfect.
I love this return to classic styles and hope the trend will soon reach the Czech Republic as well.
5. The Rise of Platinum Jewellery
The return of platinum was clearly visible at the fair. As gold prices rise, more customers across Asia are choosing it. In India, men wear platinum wedding rings, while platinum chains and bracelets are currently enjoying a major boom in China.
The difference in price is narrowing, platinum does not turn yellow or require rhodium plating, it is hypoallergenic and much rarer than gold. For many people, it is therefore the logical choice.
Platinum remains less common in Europe, but it is undoubtedly thriving in Hong Kong. At SALABA Jewellery, we have worked with platinum for many years and are one of the few jewellery studios in the Czech Republic capable of creating bespoke pieces from it.
6. A GIA Alumni Gathering and an Unexpected Interview
I also managed to attend a GIA Alumni gathering at the fair. Having completed a GIA gemmology course in New York, I did not want to miss it. I met colleagues from around the world, heard a message from the former head of the GIA and witnessed the role being handed over to the institution’s new president and CEO.
And there was a little bonus: as one of the few Europeans and very likely the only Czech woman there, I gave a short on-camera interview to an Asian media outlet about my impressions of the fair. It was slightly nerve-racking, but a wonderful experience. I was delighted that the organisers were interested in hearing my perspective.
A week at the Hong Kong fair showed that the world of jewellery is changing rapidly. The vast venue filled with gemstones, the helpfulness of the sellers and the new Desert Diamonds campaign all confirm that natural diamonds with subtle colour tones are becoming increasingly popular.
Coloured sapphires, emeralds and tanzanites dominate display cases, while old-mine cuts and platinum evoke the elegance of earlier times.
As the price of gold continues to rise, platinum is becoming a logical choice for many customers. For me, meeting fellow GIA alumni was equally inspiring and confirmed just how important professional qualifications are in this industry.
If you would like to learn more about these subjects, read our article about platinum, discover how diamonds are graded according to the 4Cs or explore the symbolism of coloured gemstones.
We would be delighted to share more of our experiences with you – book a consultation, visit our studio or let us know in the comments which jewellery trends caught your attention.