As Hong Kong’s jewellery industry continues to be dominated by the precious jewellery sector, jewellers are experiencing strong demand worldwide for rubies.

Hong Kong jewellers, renowned for their gem-setting skills, have responded to the trend by creating stylish, ruby-based items ranging from classic and contemporary to retro and antique for various markets around the world.

Versatility is essential, says Kevin Lee, manager of Hong Kong Universal Jewellery Ltd, a company established in 1949. “We use quality Thai rubies and recently put more emphasis on simpler designs.”

All production takes place in Hong Kong, where the company’s 80 workers create about 600 pieces monthly for export to the Middle East, Japan and the US.

Another jeweller, Denis Hazell Int’l Ltd, concentrates on higher-end jewellery, director Alain Wong says. Each month its craftsmen in Hong Kong turn out about 200 pieces of handmade jewellery, featuring Burmese rubies complemented by diamonds for export to the US, Europe, the Middle East and other markets. The firm’s line of ruby and diamond earrings and rings in simpler settings is popular among young consumers. “The designs are more contemporary and more European,” Wong says.

Legend Jewelry Co Ltd has 1,000 workers at Kunming in the Chinese mainland, producing up to 4,000 pieces of ruby jewellery each month. The company is planning a series of ruby-and-diamond pendants for people aged 18 – 25 years. “We see a lot of potential in younger-looking designs for this group,” marketing manager Kwok Wong says.

Combined with re-exports, Hong Kong is the fourth largest exporter of precious jewellery in the world. Its major markets are the US, followed by Japan, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.

Hong Kong’s jewellery industry is known for flexibility in accommodating customer needs; for the design capabilities of its craftsmen, and because Hong Kong has a highly-skilled and productive labour force capable of handling small orders with quick turnaround.