Jewelry “Behind the Scenes” at Oroarezzo 2024 – A Preview of the Fair

I usually attend jewelry events with a clear (shiny!) purpose: to hunt for trends, follow new releases, and check out premieres from my favorite brands. However, my next trade fair journey will have a different focus. I’m counting down the days until my trip to Oroarezzo – from May 11th to 14th in the picturesque Italian town, I will be peeking into the production backstage of jewelry and uncovering the secrets of contemporary goldsmithing.

Oroarezzo has been a sparkling fixture in my calendar for several years now. The fair in Arezzo is the “younger sister” of Vicenzaoro – another project organized by the Italian Exhibition Group. Each IEG initiative has a clearly defined mission. Oroarezzo is a platform focused on exchanging knowledge and experiences in the field of jewelry production. The fair also serves to promote local manufactories and aims to boost exports. The main markets for today’s “made in Italy” gold and silver goods are the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, the USA, Hong Kong, and France. Representatives from these countries will flock to Arezzo to forge business contacts and plan purchases for their brands and boutiques.

Italian Know-How

Italians nurture craftsmanship and the cult of manual labor, but they also absorb technological innovations that enhance the production of jewelry. They have mastered the balance between tradition and modernity in this respect. Every trip to Italian fairs reminds me why I admire the Italian jewelry industry so much – they keep up with changes, yet draw fully from the heritage of their discipline. In terms of production, sustainable development is an important theme. At Oroarezzo, producers can educate themselves about current certifications confirming the verified and ethical origin of raw materials, as well as discuss optimizing supply chains and reducing carbon footprints.

Jewellery Lover-Geek

Fun fact: I love sparkles, fashion, and glamour, but deep down, I’m also a total geek! I could listen for hours about melting gold, intricate jewelry processing techniques, or curiosities about rare stones. During Oroarezzo, I plan to spy on mysterious jewelry machines and modern goldsmith workshops (such live “making of” shows are a trade fair rarity). I’ll also delve into the details of the chain-making process. Jewelry “basic” – it might seem, yet the richness of variations on this classic motif is immense, also in terms of production technology. In Arezzo, I will meet with specialists in this field, including the wonderful team from Alessi Domenico, the Italian “chain giants” family (read about my journey to their headquarters HERE). I will also show you the exact structure of the trade fair shows – during virtual tours on IG, you’ll be able to peek into every hall of Oroarezzo through my eyes.

Première: The Shine of Love

The May fair is not just about techniques and business. There will be no shortage of amazements – guests of the event will have the opportunity to admire dazzling creations by Italian goldsmith masters during the competitive review Première. This is the 33rd edition of the competition for the title of the most spectacular sparkles created under the Italian sun. The artistic director of the project, Beppe Angiolini, has once again taken care of the ideological envelope of the competition. This time, creators’ task will be to transform the theme “Love and Beauty” into gold and jewels. Angiolini emphasizes that translating feelings into jewelry forms or broadly into art has always been a key challenge for artists. I got to know the selection process of Première winners “behind the scenes” last year when I had the pleasure of judging the contest entries alongside other experts. This year’s winners will be announced during a gala on May 12th. In the Talents section, promising newcomers will be highlighted – here too, you can see the consistency and mission of the Italian Exhibition Group, which consciously drives the development of the local jewelry industry, motivating young creators to take up the goldsmith profession. Creativity, innovation, and a lot of Italian energy – that’s what I expect from the sparkling industry meeting in Arezzo this May!