Speech Script of ICA president Wilson Yuen at the 3^rd International Gem and Jewelry Conference (GIT) 2012 on December 12, 2012

Ladies & gentleman, thank you on behalf of ICA for this wonderful opportunity to share our views.

Since 2009, the consumer market has been focused towards the Greater China region which is a newly developing market with huge potential. Growth rate has been very encouraging. However, as global economic cycle flows, major economists are expecting a slowdown in 2013 due to the global down-trend. Stability in emerging markets-especially China-tends to drop gradually, in spite of the projected 8.4 percent in 2012 compared to 9.2 percent in the previous year.

With this expectation, let’s look at our industry in two distinguishing perspectives.

In terms of sales and export, Mainland China and India remain as the largest consumer markets.
As the markets of gold, diamond, pearl with higher price transparency mature, the profit margins become relatively lower. Attentions will continue to be on colored gems for its wide variety and higher profit margins.

For products of top quality, mainstream sales platforms are high-end jewelry shops & department stores. Segmentation is rather a niche like it is in any other regions. Planning for future retirement, education funds, health related expenses are factors which affect spending pattern on the top-end market in China. 

White Paper on Colored Stone Jewelry Consumption in China.

ICA supported the publication of research on the colored stone jewelry consumption market in China in 2009, just prior to the ICA Congress which took place in Panyu. This is the first wide-range investigation covering the present and future of the Chinese colored stone jewelry market. Data was obtained through a survey of jewelry consumers and business people from 16 large and medium cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xian, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang, Lanzhou, Taiyuan, Kunming, Hangzhou, Changsha, Dalian, and Qingdao. These cities are the most active consuming areas in all of China. Survey participants belonged to a variety of economic and cultural backgrounds to ensure the integrity of the research.

This project was also supported by China Gold News, Beijing Gold Economy Center, and the Gems and Jewelry Industrial Development Institute of Panyu Guangzhou City.

Click here to download the PDF.

World Mining Report

ICA published a World Mining Report in 2006. This report, acclaimed by the entire industry, gave a significant update of the gem mining situation and prospects in producing countries. The data was collected through the thorough collaboration of ICA directors, ambassadors as well as mining members.The mining report is updated and expanded every two years.

International Congresses

Every two years, the ICA organizes an international congress to provide a forum for the industry to come together to address new developments in the gem and jewelry industry. This unique international gathering of industry leaders and professionals encourages open dialogue and the sharing of the latest developments and issues facing all aspects of the trade.The first ICA congress was held in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, in 1985, and has been hosted by a different country every two years. The aim of the initial congress was to “unite the entire colored gemstone industry in order to improve working relationships, and ultimately, to establish closer international communication between miners, cutters, wholesale dealers, manufacturers, retailers, laboratories, gemological and trade institutions.” Numerous producing and consuming countries have enjoyed the opportunity to host this prestigious event. Recent congresses have been held in Italy, Brazil, Australia, India, Thailand, U.A.E and China. Each ICA congress provides the association’s members with valuable and timely information as well as lucrative contacts within the host country. Many trade publications send their representatives to showcase the events and cover decisions made on major issues facing the members, thereby bringing international recognition to every congress.