Rare mineral specimens, coloured gemstone carvings and sculptures, and decorative fossils for the home were among the standout exhibits at the second edition of Mineral, Gem & Fossil Asia.
Held concurrently with the 29th June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), the trade show drew some of the biggest names in the industry including Granada Gallery, The Collector’s Edge Minerals Inc and Henn GmbH.
The four-day fair, which opened on June 23, counted 150-million-yearold fossils unearthed from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone among its key attractions.
A number of exhibitors reported positive business at the show. Emily Yue of Seaquarium Ltd of Kenya said the company sold a number of important pieces, including a 220,000-year-old giant clam fossil or Tridacna gigantean, at the fair.
“It’s our first time to join Mineral, Gem & Fossil Asia, and we are happy with the results. We sold a very rare giant clam fossil from Kenya, which comes with two natural pearls, to a Chinese collector,” Yue said. “We also sold other rare stones.”
The company entertained existing and potential clients, and closed significant contracts at the fair. “The outcome of the show was very positive for us,” added Yue. Seaquarium also runs a subsidiary, Dragon Marble Ltd, in China and Hong Kong.
Colours of ammolite
Thomas Chant of Canada-based ammolite and ammonite dealer Enchanted Designs Ltd remarked that the show started out slow, but business started to pick up, thanks to steady demand from the company’s US and Asian customers.
Buyers at the show were partial to rainbow-coloured ammolite stones, in all sizes. “A lot of buyers were looking for bigger stones, but they also needed smaller ones to make matching earrings,” added Chant. “Overall, it was a good show for us and we look forward to coming back next year.”
Founded in 1984, Enchanted Designs Ltd specialises in ammonite fossils, ammolite gemstones and jewellery, and mammoth ivory jewellery and sculptures, among other products.