Highlights
Vicenzaoro September 2023 edition has just come to an end, the leading international jewelry exhibition promoting innovation, growth, and solidity, which comprised 1200 exhibitor brands and a significant increase of +6% in total visitors, of which 50% were international. Guests came from over 132 countries, of which 52% EU, 17% Asia, and Middle East, 11% Americas, 4% from Africa and 1% Oceania.
Following are some of the highlights that emerged from the plethora of talks and seminars that took place during Vicenzaoro September 2023:
SEPTEMBER 8th – OPENING CEREMONY
Vicenzaoro September 2023 edition officially opened its doors on September 8th, with a formal greeting from the Minister of Made-in-Italy, Adolfo Urso. The opening ceremony began with a heartfelt, emotional goodbye to the former President of IEG, Lorenzo Cagnoni, who recently passed away. “A large community has gathered here in Vicenza, for the man who single-handedly contributed to building the excellence that makes up the portfolio of Italian Exhibition Group”, these are the words spoken by Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG. Giacomo Possamai, Mayor of Vicenza, Andrea Nardin, President of the Province of Vicenza, Claudia Piaserico, President of Confindustria Fedeorafi, Roberto Marcato, Councilor for Economic Development, Veneto Region, and Matteo Zoppas, President of the ICE Agency: all institutional figures of great statue, which strive to highlight the Italian gold and jewelry industry, which ranks among the world’s top 10 exporters of jewelry and goldmsith art and the commitment of the whole sector working at Vicenzaoro.
SEPTEMBER 8th – The Italian Gold sector: between Made-in-Italy and International markets
Vicenzaoro saw on its first day the Club degli Orafi Italian presenting their economic survey, carried out in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo’s Studies and Research Department, which updated the audience on the status of the jewelry and luxury sector, addressing a change in turnover over six months, corresponding to a +10.2% compared to the fashion business and the average of the total Italian manufacturing industry. A tangible feeling of optimism spread across the interviewees: 39% of them expected an increase in turnover. 23% of small er businesses expect to experience growth; from 61% to 67% of medium to large corporates foresee an expansion in foreign markets.
SEPTEMBER 9th – AI – Art Intelligence: Will Human Creativity Survive Artificial Intelligence?
Trendbook 2025+: The new edition of the Osservatorio Indipendente from IEG Trendvision Jewellery + Forecasting, directed by Paola De Luca, studied the relationship between jewelry and AI, focusing in particular on the contraposition of Artificial Intelligence and human creativity. In the words of Paola De Luca, AI is generated from “the profound creativity of people asking who are they designing and selling their jewels today. “Consequently, it is possible to speak of “collective intelligence”. Many success stories took part in the event: Nadine Kanso, Stefano Russo, Lella and Davide Busatti and Sienna O’Rourke, to remind Gen Z of how essential it is to always think “outside the box.”
SEPTEMBER 9th – Humanity as competitive advantage: the strategic role of independent jewelers
Vicenzaoro was also the stage of a talk hosted by Assogeme and Carlo Bartorelli, President and CEO of Bartorelli 1882 spa, focused on independent jewelers. Jewelry shops are the places where relationships and connections with customers are forged, through active listening, empathy, and understanding: that is humanity. The kind of humanity made up of warmth, the innate ability to convey “the pleasure that is jewelry”, which can never be replaced by AI, but only merely enhanced. Cooperation and teamwork are at the core of humanity. Dialogue, meritocracy, and listening: these are core values for Carlo Bartorelli.
9 SETTEMBRE – The Vicenza gold sector and the challenge of education: success cases ITS Cosmo Fashion Academy and CPV
“Two case studies from Veneto give exemplary measures on how to pass on manufacturing traditions to new generations: a partnership between the School of Arts and Crafts – CPV of Vicenza and ITS Cosmo of Verona.” Roberto Peripoli, Director of CPV, and President Alessandro Testolin delivered the diplomas to the students of ITS Cosmo of Verona, to whom Elena Donazzan, Regional Councilor for Education, Training, Work and Equal Opportunities, wished: «Students, today you will be awarded a high training diploma recognized at a European level, which has become part of the national system. In a few years, I would like to see you back here, working as operators and entrepreneurs, showing us what you can do for the ever-evolving gold and silver sector.».
SEPTEMBER 10th – CIBJO – “Defending what’s yours: IP in the jewelry and watch industry” & “The coming revolution: artificial intelligence and its impact on the jewelry industry” Seminars; “CIBJO and Watch & Jewellery Initiatives 2030 on sustainability and the UN Agenda”
CIBJO, the Confédération International de la Bijouterie, Joaillerie, Orfèvrerie des Diamants, Perles et Pierres, addressed the sector’s fundamental issues at Vicenzaoro, including the defense of intellectual property in jewelry and watchmaking, AI and future ESG objectives on the 2030 Agenda from the United Nations. Among the latter, biodiversity, inclusion, and gender equality: «We know what the gaps are, now we must address them to make progress, as we work in an industry made of beauty and emotions», stated Iris Van Der Veken, General Secretary of Watch & Jewelry Initiative 2030. The seminars kick-start with a welcome greeting from Marco Carniello, Global Exhibition Director Jewelry & Fashion of IEG, and CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri, mentioning the regrettable, recent loss of president Lorenzo Cagnoni.
SEPTEMBER 10th – Gem Talk – The beauty of Japanese Akoya Pearls
The talk held in collaboration with IGI – Istituto Gemmologico Italiano, JPEA – Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association and JETRO – Japan External Trade Organization, researched the investigated the fascination behind Japanese pearls, and the origins of the trade with Italy, which dates back to as early as 1850, year in which Italy’ made its first commercial shift towards Japan. During the talk, the following points emerged: the importance of a return to the origins of pearl cultivation and a reflection on what a cultured pearl is; a reflection on the production method; sustainability and the SDG’s sustainable development goals; the value of pearls as “dreams”.
SEPTEMBER 10th – Gem Talk – The diamond, natural or synthetic, in the jewelry market: state of the art and proper marketing
The talk held in collaboration with IGI – Istituto Gemmologico Italiano discussed “the most loved and desired gem”, the diamond, both natural and synthetic, focusing on the topics of extraction of natural diamonds and the production of synthetic diamonds, the evolution of both the diamond market categories, based on the assumption that “the two products can coexist, but what is essential is delivering the correct information and training”: it is the final consumer who will decide on whether to purchase a natural or synthetic diamond, what is important is to deliver transparent communication.
SEPTEMBER 11th – Retail talk – In other words… Innovation! When business, sport, courage, creativity, and emotions become one!
During the talk, four pillars of the sectors, Stefano Andreis, President Federpreziosi Confcommercio, Pierluigi Ascani, President Format Research, Marco Carniello, Global Exhibition Director Jewelry & Fashionof IEG, and Francesco Moser, award-winning cycling champion, discussed innovation and how it can deliver positive change to oneself, perpetually seeking new paths, pursuing excellence and committing to continuous improvement.
SEPTEMBER 11th – Seminar – Coral Planet
Loredana Prosperi, Director of IGI Milan, and Vincenzo Aucella, President of Assocoral and Vice President of Federpreziosi Confcommercio, hosted a talk discussing the appeal of coral and its ancient tradition, which has held sacred connotations and has been a symbol of protection over the centuries. Loredana Prosperi delivered a precise, scientific analysis of the animal-originated material, as Vincenzo Aucella recounted the tale of Torre del Greco, which during the nineteenth century, from a small coastal village, became the center of excellence in trading the well-known coral that it is today.
SEPTEMBER 11th – The Italian gold sector between Made in Italy and international markets
In conclusion, the presentation of the study carried out for the export promotion projects developed by the Goldsmith Business Aggregations with the contribution of the Veneto Region POC, in which Sara Ferretti, Head of the Goldsmith and Jewelry System of Confartigianato Imprese Vicenza, and Vladi Riva, Head of International Department Confartigianato Imprese Vicenza, intervened.