From Sept 8th to 12th, at the fair the gold and jewelry supply chain.
Fine jewelry and gold production, diamonds and precious stones, as well as components and semi-finished products, packaging and visual merchandising services, and an area dedicated to the contemporary watch. There are more than 1,200 exhibiting brands coming from 34 countries around the world to Vicenzaoro September 2023 – VOS, the international salon by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), which brings together the entire gold and jewelry supply chain at the Vicenza fairgrounds from Sept. 8th to 12th, flanked from Sept. 8th to 10th by VO’Clock Privé, the event open to the public dedicated to contemporary watchmaking.
Germany, Turkey, China, India and Thailand are the countries most represented by exhibiting brands from abroad, covering about 40 percent of the exhibition offerings. The Made in Italy will be represented by all the main districts (Arezzo, Vicenza, Valenza and Campania) that will enhance the product and service excellence on which the business matching of the 400 foreign buyers involved in the incoming program activated with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the ICE Agency, arriving from all over the world and in particular from the U.S., United Arab Emirates, Israel, China and ASEAN countries, will focus.
Among the top brands present was the maison Damiani with its iconic timeless creations, Roberto Coin with its colorful collections with clean and unmistakable lines, the Valenza-based Crivelli, which combines precious stones with different shades of gold, the Vicenza-based FOPE, with her patented technology of small springs that make gold link chains flexible, Florentine Annamaria Cammilli, who has made an art out of researching the surfaces and textures of gold. Also on display were the creations of Roberto De Meglio, which are precious and at the same time comfortable thanks to an innovative elastic system that makes them easy to wear, those of Palmiero, which creates haute couture jewelry from Valenza, and the Genoese group Gismondi 1754, listed on Euronext Growth Milan. Also present were numerous classic jewelry brands that pass on the goldsmithing tradition that is breathed in Veneto and Piedmont, such as Leo Pizzo, Mirco Visconti, Davite & Delucchi, Giorgio Visconti, and World Diamond Group. There are also many fine jewelry houses from the rest of the world: from Germany’s Schreiner Fine Jewellery, known for its luxurious creations chosen by the royal houses of many countries, to the English brand Yoko London, which selects the most unusual pearls in color and size on the market; from Spain’s Dámaso Martinez, which from Bilbao has taken its clean lines dedicated to the contemporary woman to all continents, to Autore, one of the world’s largest South Sea pearl companies, with farms between Australia and Indonesia and a head office in Sydney. Also present were the German fashion house Stenzhorn, which signs its creations with an invisible setting technique, and the French Akillis, with its rock-style jewelry and graphic, clean yet bold lines.
The new entries of Vicenzaoro September 2023
The business experience in September is enriched with many interesting new features, including compared to the Vicenzaoro January 2023 edition. These include the Spanish maison Carrera y Carrera, which, with its more than 135 years of jewelry-making tradition and a new creative team headed by Daniel Calvo, offers creations inspired by art, architecture and nature.
Also featured are the made-in-Germany designs of Jörg Heinz, renowned for its system of interchangeable clasps that hide the clasp inside the jewelry, integrating it into it; the classic and more traditional lines of Staurino Brothers, for four generations among the protagonists of the Valenza goldsmith district with creations appreciated even by Hollywood divas such as Sandra Bullock; Butani’s high jewelry creations.
September’s Vicenzaoro also marks the return of the historic Valencian brand Vendorafa, recently taken over by Gismondi 1754 to round out the group’s offerings and in particular because of the brand’s recognized presence abroad, and particularly in the United States andJapan. Also returning to Vicenza is the French brand Djula, acquired in 2020 by the Chinese group Fosun, with its glam rock-inspired jewelry prized by singers Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Ariana Grande.
Creativity and research for red carpet jewelry: back to The Design Room
New market trends, craftsmanship and creative talent will be the stars of The Design Room workshop area, which returns to Vicenzaoro with a selection of international designers. Unique pieces with a strongly recognizable style will be on display. Landing for the first time in the Design Room are the creations of Stephen Webster, a true icon in the world of precious design, in high demand among celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Cate Blanchett and Megan Fox. Debut for the jewelry of Busatti Milano, a prestigious signature of the Italian fashion capital, and for the collections of Miseno Jewelry, which pay homage to the beauty of the Campania coast by celebrating the experience gained by the founder, Antonio Cardamuro, at major international fashion houses. Featured will be the baroque jewelry of Alessio Boschi, a true ambassador of the Design Room, who between Civita di Bagnoregio and Bangkok makes exclusive creations interwoven with cultural citations, as well as the eccentric and luxurious pieces of the young Chilean designer José María Goñi, which have won over the Malaysian Royal Family and the singer Madonna; the jewels decorated with the eye symbol by Netali Nissim; the dreamy collections of Morphée Joaillerie, signed by designer and gemologist Pamela Hastry; the personal interpretations of inclusive society by Salima Thakker, of Indian and Belgian descent; and the elegant creations of Marina B, a maison founded by Marina Bulgari and relaunched by French-Italian Guy Bedarida. In Vicenzaoro’s design treasure chest, featured Leonori’s high jewelry pieces, Osi Vitoria Jewelry’s Chinese ink painting-inspired hues, Mousson Atelier’s contemporary touch, Antonini Milano’s innovative design, chosen to be worn on the red carpet by stars such as Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway and Taylor Swift, and Beniamino Crocco’s signature Dreamboule rings, a mix of watchmaking culture, goldsmith tradition and liquid alchemy.
VO’Clock Privé, the contemporary clock salon, returns to Vicenza
From September 8 to 10, in the foyer of the Vicenza Fairgrounds, the event dedicated to watchmaking culture, the appointment with the contemporary watch, its iconic pieces, historical brands and new independent realities is in Vicenza for VO’Clock Privé, Italian Exhibition Group’s elegant salon entirely dedicated to watchmaking culture.
A confidential and exclusive setting where they can meet the industry’s key players, discover and admire the newest and most sought-after pieces presented by the watchmaking excellences: here watch enthusiasts can touch products and interact directly with international watchmakers, top brands and independent master watchmakers.
Following the success of VO Vintage for the vintage watch with now four editions behind it, VO’Clock Privé consolidates its second edition into a major event that increasingly puts watch enthusiasts and collector communities at the center. Not-to-be-missed talks by Tudor in conversation with Ander Ugarte, the house’s Head of Design; talks by Zenith and Hublot; and numerous appointments with opinion leaders, collectors and watchmaking personalities such as Beppe Ambrosini and Bruno Bergamaschi (aka Giorgione). Also eagerly awaited is the event “Italian Watchmaking and its Future” led by Ugo Pancani, trainer of the Geneva FHH, with Sandro Fratini, Auro Montanari, Marco Mantovani and other special guests.
VO’Clock Privé is about sharing experiences. Among them all, Zenith‘s Watch Clinic technical sessions will take watch lovers into the universe of the famous brand, under the guidance of expert watchmakers ready to unlock the secrets of haute horlogerie.
Great attention to the educational program that provides tools and preparation necessary to fully understand the secrets and facets of watchmaking, an art that is also science. Among the most eagerly awaited events are official courses from the influential Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva-among them the Watch Essential Course, open to enthusiasts of all levels who want a solid and comprehensive knowledge base that is also useful for embarking on a career in haute horlogerie, and a new in-depth course on one of the most fascinating complications: the Tourbillon.
Present were the prestigious Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) with an extraordinary selection of 8 master watchmakers-Andersen Genève, Ludovic Ballouard, Sinclair Harding, Vincent Calabrese, Stefan Kudoke, Matthias Naeschke, Meccaniche Orologi Milano and the applicant Marc&Darnò. Visitors to VO’Clock Privé will also be transported on a journey into haute horlogerie through the mechanical and artistic marvels of Luca Soprana, Romeo Ferraris and A.Favre & Fils and emerging brands with high creative content such as Kross Studio.
Opportunities for enthusiasts to meet-and try on the wrist-the most interesting watchmaking offerings are multiplied with the participation of many other brands, including Norqain, Speake Marin and Frederique Constant. The offer is completed with additional timepiece models presented by the top official dealers of the major brands with the most sought-after specimens by the public and connoisseurs.
Swiss watch exports of about 25 billion francs in 2022, (up 11.4 percent from 2021, data from Fédération de l’industrie horlogère suisse – FH) indicates watchmaking is growing. This is a significant sign, considering that the Swiss hub accounts for more than 50 percent of the industry’s global sales. In Italy, the market is worth 2 billion euros at the end of 2022, up 9 percent over 2021. According to data from Assorologi and GfK, watches purchased by the Italian consumer have decreased in quantity by 5.6 percent since 2021, while growing in value by 3.9 percent. The watchmaking channel, regardless of buyer nationality, registers a 4.3 million piece market (down 5.8 percent from 2021) worth €1.3 billion (+6.5 percent).
The Museum of Jewellery in Vicenza: discovering the art of the goldsmith
Located in the heart of Vicenza, inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site Basilica Palladiana, the Jewel Museum is a unique place. Inaugurated in late 2014, it is a cultural project that aims to celebrate not only the goldsmithing tradition of an area, but also Italian excellence in this field.
The nine thematic rooms, curated in their layouts by studio Urquiola (Symbol, Magic, Function, Beauty, Art, Fashion, Design, Future) allow visitors to discover the wonders of Made in Italy jewelry thanks to the permanent exhibition “Italian Jewels,” curated by Alba Cappellieri, which celebrates the best national jewelry stories with iconic pieces signed by artists, artisans, designers and major maisons.
From the brilliance of gold, diamonds and colored stones to the evocative hues of coral and cameo, from delicate filigree workmanship to striking micromosaic miniatures, the Jewel Museum’s precious narrative guides visitors through space and time, amid Iron Age amulets and futuristic jewelry.
Among the wonders kept inside is the famous Crown of Our Lady of Monte Berico made in 1900, along with the votive breastplate, a unique creation composed of pre-existing jewels and ex-votos that Vicenza’s noble families ideally donated to the city’s patron saint. A symbol of devotion par excellence, it is made with diamonds, amethysts, rubies, sapphires, pearls and colored stones set in white gold. A work of high goldsmithing, still emblematic of Vicenza’s long and prestigious goldsmithing tradition (the establishment of the “Fraglia degli Orafi,” a guild of jewelry artisans, dates back to 1399).
The Jewelry Museum is also involved in the programming of VIOFF, the Fuori Fiera of the international jewelry, gold and watch fair Vicenzaoro (Sept. 8th-12th). In collaboration with the Diocesan Museum on Sept. 8th, the opening day of the fair and the feast day of the patron saint, a guided tour to discover the jewels of the Madonna of Monte Berico, while in the afternoon of the following day it will be the turn of a workshop dedicated to Kintsugi, the ancient Japanese art of repairing with gold.
Moreover, a new media partnership for Excellence Magazine, this year present at Vicenzaoro September 2023.
