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Scintillating stones
Diamond Jewellery
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| This classically elegant diamond necklace, earring and ring set in 18K white gold that features rows of brilliant-cut diamonds comes from Myer Jewelry Mfr Ltd |
Everyone's favourite gemstone has never looked more dazzling as manufacturers experiment with settings to maximise a diamond's fire and brilliance
One of the world's leading jewellery manufacturing centres, Hong Kong specialises in wringing the best out of each and every gemstone its manufacturers craft.
For example, Waddy Jewellery Co Ltd's ingenious combinations of gemstone cuts and settings set the 19-year-old firm apart from the competition.
Jewellery featuring princess cuts combined with round brilliant diamonds, or invisible settings mixed with micro-prong or micro-pavÆÙm are proving popular with buyers.
"For the last few years, we've tried to mix-and-match so the style isn't boring and gives a whole different look and feel," says senior sales manager Parco Lam. "We've had a lot of good feedback about it."
Diamond jewellery accounts for 80% of the 15,000 pieces the firm produces monthly, including 9K to 18K gold jewellery, precious stone, gemset and South Sea jewellery, platinum jewellery and semi-mountings. "Most orders for diamond jewellery specify mountings in 18K white gold," Lam notes.
Invisible settings are currently the most popular because they allow wearers "to see more stone and less metal", Lam explains, noting that most of Waddy's fashion-oriented pieces are priced in the US$100-500 FOB Hong Kong per piece range. "We sell good basic jewellery," he adds.
"But sales of a higher-end range of heavier jewellery at US$1,400-2,500 per piece are growing, because of an increase in spending power worldwide."
Waddy's 40% OEM and 60% ODM exports go to Europe, the US, the UAE, Japan and Singapore, and require no minimum order commitment. Delivery is approximately four weeks after order confirmation.
Diamond jewellery set in 18K white gold is the backbone of Kego Design Jewellery Co Ltd. "It's 90% of our sales," declares assistant manager Wen Wong, whose company produces 10,000 pieces of jewellery per month.
The strongest-selling style is a big, sparkly look created by using many tiny diamonds of 0.008-0.05 point each, although jewellery with bigger diamonds in the 50-point to 1-2 carat range is also available. "We started with small diamonds but we wanted to diversify," Wong explains.
Pendants priced from HK$2,000-5,000 FOB Hong Kong per piece represent 30% of total sales for the firm, 5% of whose output is OEM and the remainder ODM.
"We mostly sell pendants in Asia - a lot are flower pendants - and rings and earrings in the US and Europe," Wong says, adding that Kego Design also sells to Australia and is actively developing markets in Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
The four-year-old firm has four designers in Hong Kong and another 10 at its factory on the Chinese mainland who specialise in producing designs that appeal to women 25 years of age and older.
Kego Design, which also produces 14K gold and platinum jewellery, requires no minimum order and ships one month after order confirmation for ODM orders and two months for OEM terms.
One of Hong Kong's largest jewellery manufacturers, Myer Jewelry Mfr Ltd offers a comprehensive range of jewellery products, with constant demand for classic designs with a twist.
"We like to add something a little different, such as a different type of setting," explains Phoenix Chan, general manager of the sales and marketing department. "Diamond jewellery accounts for 70% of sales, with most pieces set in 14K or 18K white gold."
There is increasing demand for two-tone or three-tone gold jewellery, which constitutes 30% of Myer's gold jewellery production, Chan says. "Our jewellery is priced from US$150 up per piece, with ring and earring sets costing US$300-1,000 the best-selling items."
One of today's most sought-after looks features the use of many small diamonds which give a large surface effect. "Customers are looking for showier, bigger pieces in a higher price bracket," Chan notes.
Relative newcomer, 12-year-old Dynasty Jewelry (HK) Ltd manufactures high-quality gold, platinum and sterling silver fine jewellery set with diamonds, coloured gemstones and pearls.
Five thousand pieces priced from US$100-10,000 FOB Hong Kong per piece are produced monthly at the company's factory in Panyu on the Chinese mainland.
The best-selling range is from US$1,500-2,000 for US$10,000 minimum order values delivered to the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia within 2-3 weeks after order confirmation.
Dynasty Jewelry is widely known for its invisible and pavÆÙm settings, along with opulent and elegant classic European designs which are ideal for evening wear. "We're moving into higher-priced items, which will have more and bigger stones," says director Desmond Wong, advising that prices for items in the new collection will range up to US$10,000 per piece.
Such fabulous new looks for diamonds continue to make them every girl's dream, and every buyer's idea of the perfect fast-moving item with which to fill an order book.
TEXT BY SALLY O'DELL
FEATURED SUPPLIERS
Dynasty Jewelry (HK) Ltd
Rms 3007-8, Tower I
The Gateway, Harbour City
Canton Rd
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2368-2618
Fax: 852-2368-6098
Email: sales@dynasty-jewelry.com
Web: www.dynasty-jewelry.com
Elegance Jewellery Int'l Ltd
Rm A1, 12/F
China Insurance Bldg
48 Cameron Rd
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2311-0511
Fax: 852-2311-0078
Email: sales@eji.com.hk
Web: www.eji.com.hk
Kego Design Jewellery Co Ltd
Units 27-28, 8/F, Blk B
Focal Ind Centre
21 Man Lok St
Hung Hom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-3525-0999
Fax: 852-3525-0998
Email: info@kegojewellery.on-nets.com
Myer Jewelry Mfr Ltd
Flat C, G/F, Phase 1
Kaiser Estate
41 Man Yue St
Hung Hom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2773-0773
Fax: 852-2773-1773
Email: info@myer.com.hk
Sunny Creations Ltd
Rm 1004
Hilder Centre
2 Sung Ping St
Hung Hom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2627-8517
Fax: 852-2764-0081
Email: design@sunnycreations.com.hk
Web: www.sunnycreations.com.hk
Waddy Jewellery Co Ltd
Rm 204, Tower 2
Harbour Centre
8 Hok Cheung St
Hung Hom, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2766-0183
Fax: 852-2334-4954
Email: marketing@waddyjew.com
Web: www.waddyjew.com
