“Craftsmanship is the language of luxury” – a report from INHORGENTA 2026

The quality and beauty of jewellery is not only about the sparkle of diamonds and gold – it is also about what happens behind the scenes of its creation. This was the message with which the INHORGENTA’s team welcomed 25,000 participants to the halls of Messe München. From 20–23 February 2026, the venue hosted another edition of one of Europe’s most important jewellery and watch fairs. What resonated with me most during this visit? Jewellery is about people – their talent, creativity, skills, hard work and passion.

Right from the start, the organisers highlighted the creative energy of the event – in the entrance hall guests were welcomed by an installation featuring sculptural objects by the outstanding Polish designer Oskar Zięta. I would bet that almost every one of the 25,000 visitors pulled out their phone to photograph the space adorned with steel mirrors – “jewellery for interiors”, as Oskar calls them. This year’s edition of INHORGENTA brought together 1,200 brands from 35 countries (more than half from abroad). Moving between the halls, I couldn’t stop admiring how thoughtful and visually striking the jewellery stands were. If I had to single out one, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second: Histoire d’Elle stole the show with a setting full of grandeur and romance, perfectly reflecting the brand’s DNA.

Craftsmanship in motion

The industry responded very positively to the announcement of INHORGENTA’s new central theme – craftsmanship. Yet few probably expected just how accurately, creatively and attractively this theme would come to life throughout the Munich fair’s programme. Parts of the exhibition halls were transformed into a vibrant jeweller’s workshop. Visitors could observe craftsmen at work up close: stone cutting, diamond setting, engraving and watchmaking. There was so much magic in the air: the scents, the sounds of tools, the beauty of raw materials from which brilliance gradually emerges… The excellent interactive exhibition The Atelier placed the power of craftsmanship in different contexts, while conversations among guests and exhibitors echoed with important reflections on how crucial it is to reveal and understand the behind-the-scenes process of jewellery making. Stefanie Mändlein, Exhibition Director of INHORGENTA, captured it perfectly in an interview for @blingsis.com: “Luxury today is not only about rarity. It is about what you can prove and explain. How something is made, what it is made from, who stands behind it, and why it will still matter years from now. Craftsmanship is the most convincing language of luxury because it turns skill, time and intention into visible quality.”

People at the centre

For me, one of the most unforgettable moments of this edition of INHORGENTA was the talk by the remarkable goldsmith Pablo Cimadevila (more than 460,000 people follow his work on Instagram!). “Honesty, storytelling, emotion, authenticity and deep respect for craftsmanship,” Pablo said – and it gave me goosebumps. Because that is exactly what it is all about – that is why we love jewellery and why we have made it our profession. People. Talent. Creativity. Work of the hands. “Making human expertise visible creates emotion,” the organisers wrote in their summary of the fair. Alongside the demonstrations of mastery by jewellery makers, the most powerful celebration of human talent was the INHORGENTA Awards gala. It is one of the most elegant and best-organised events of its kind in the industry. It was a triumph of craftsmanship. The “Grace 1991” ring by Capolavoro, a regal sapphire necklace by Krisonia, a refined pendant by Johannes Hundt, the brilliant “Affinity Bracelet” by the outstanding debutant Georg Schiller – the awarded pieces were a manifesto of precision and uniqueness.

Unexpected revelations

Don’t ask me how many pieces of jewellery I tried on during INHORGENTA (certainly the most at the stands of Histoire d’Elle, Autore and mandana). This time I also managed to spend more time exploring the fair’s less obvious (at least from my perspective) sections. I was completely swept away by the wave of excitement in the Carat section, where loose gemstones were presented. Europe may not be Bangkok or Tucson – global powerhouses of the gem trade – but the selection at INHORGENTA was spectacular: from beautiful yellow diamonds at Rosy Blue, through a breathtakingly large aquamarine at Gems by Nomads, to Arnoldi International triumphing in Gemstone Design of the Year category with a two-tone topaz. Although early in my career in the industry I decided to focus mainly on jewellery, I must admit that the watch section at INHORGENTA was super impressive. The watch segment occupies one of the largest areas of the fair, featuring presentations by luxury and independent brands, Watch Talks panels and demonstrations – a clear signal of how strong and independent this sector of the market has become. Kudos to the organisers for including educational initiatives and schools for jewellery makers in the programme. I wandered with a sense of nostalgia around the stands where emerging artists presented experimental designs made from unusual materials: paper, glass and textiles. It reminded me of my student years at the University of the Arts in Poznań, where I began my own creative journey.

INHORGENTA continues to grow stronger, but above all it consistently raises its quality and intellectual depth. This year’s execution of the central theme was a masterpiece in itself and an important voice for the industry – reminding us of what lies at the heart and mission of the jewellery world: beauty, quality and people.