Jewelry leasing rises in sharing economy

As China embraces sharing economy, jewelry industry insiders see significant growth potential in the ornament leasing market.

That's because Chinese women are stoking rising demand for jewelry that they now want to wear for different social occasions, unlike in the past when jewelry was reserved for big-ticket events like weddings.

High growth is foreseen in the high-end jewelry leasing segment. Although the business is well established in some Western markets, it is in its infancy in China where jewelry is still seen by many as a low-use, high-value consumer good not bought often.