The Macao Jewelry and Watch Fair, with more than 500 exhibitors, opened on Thursday at the Venetian Macao, Asia's largest integrated mega resort.

Exhibitors from 24 countries, including Israel, Japan, and the United States participated in the four-day trade event.

A wide range of jewelry products were displayed at the fair, including antique and estate jewelry, jewelry watches, diamonds, pearls, gemstones, and other related products and services.

In recent years, Asian exhibitors have been popular among buyers at all key jewelry fairs in Europe, winning the largest number of buyers and orders internationally. Therefore, the Macao fair is held to provide an unprecedented market place for both Asian and international exhibitors, said Celine Lau, Director of Jewelry Fairs of CMP Asia, which is the organizer of the Macao fair.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2008)