Joy over Carats – A Report from Vicenzaoro September 2024

The Back to Office season for the gold community always kicks off in Italy, with the Vicenzaoro fair held from September 6-10. VO is not only a valuable business platform but also a powerful brand and one of the most dynamically growing sparkling events. The highlight of the September edition is the premiere of the Trendbook and lively discussions about the future of jewelry.

Vicenza’s exhibition district is undergoing a spectacular transformation – we mentioned this in our preview of VOS. The Italian Exhibition Group team did an outstanding job, creating temporary spaces and navigation that ensured 100% comfort for guests, blending business, inspiration, and pleasure.

“Work in Progress”

The construction of a new hall, which will increase VO’s exhibition space by 20%, is a huge undertaking. However, for the dream team at IEG, there was no question of a “transitional period” or compromising the quality of events during the project. The Vicenzaoro team is working faster, harder, and more efficiently, and the fairs are maintaining a high standard under new leadership. Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Italian Exhibition Group, and Matteo Farsura, global exhibition manager for IEG’s Jewellery & Fashion division, proudly summarized the September edition – attendance matched the record-breaking numbers of VOS 2023, with professionals from 132 countries visiting Vicenza. Bravo!

Emotions Are the Future

I still get chills thinking about Paola De Luca’s speech at the Jewellery Trendbook 2026 launch. “The most important thing in the communication of multimillion-dollar global brands is emotion, making the customer feel special. It’s no longer about carats and gems, but about the joy economy,” emphasized the founder and creative director of TrendVision Jewellery + Forecasting for VicenzaOro. What a powerful manifesto! I recommend all designers and managers hang this quote above their desks. These are the ideas and goals. But what about aesthetics? The Trendbook promoted at Vicenzaoro is a goldmine of inspiration for brands, identified through expert analysis. In the coming seasons, expect a brilliant play between historical heritage and contemporary innovations. Among the trends presented in the publication were themes such as Boldness, referencing vintage styles from the 70s and 80s, or X-Treme Décor – a trend inspired by the opulence of the Victorian and Gregorian eras, focusing on intricate techniques and lavish details. The Superstylingtrend celebrates individualism and creativity in wearing jewelry, with a street-style and TikTok spirit (examples include the popular “ear party”). Minimalists will love the Graphique trend, promoting elegant lines and light materials. You can see examples of this direction in the collections of the Ukrainian brand Guzema (earrings worn by Emily in “Emily in Paris”) and in the latest collection by Be8. The future is bright, diverse, but above all – joyful!

Emily Cooper of Netflix’s hit series Emily in Paris has been seen in these 18k gold Arch earrings ($2,050) from Guzema’s Classic collection.

Discoveries in the Glamroom

I realized that during previous editions of the fair, I was moving almost automatically – with my photographic memory, I knew where the booths and brands were located. The change in layout in the temporary VO spaces led to new discoveries! It’s worth checking out the Glamroom section of Vicenzaoro, where many interesting brands debut, whose budgets don’t yet allow for a booth in the premium hall. It’s a true incubator of talent! In the Glamroom, I came across Norwegian designer Katherine Lindman, who creates raw artistic forms (this bracelet made of over 300 elements is a hit). I was also delighted by German artist Brigitte Adolph, whose “lace” designs I already knew – I had to say hello and check out her latest creations!

Fairytale Pearls

The joy and emotions Paola De Luca spoke of also enveloped me in the luxury jewelry section, where I was mesmerized by trying on collections from one of my favorite brands – Autore. Those who have followed my blog for a long time know my love for pearls – and pearls in Autore’s rendition are a fairytale, a fantasy, a work of art. Their jewelry combines inspiration drawn from the raw beauty and power of nature with references to architectural heritage. The result is sculptural compositions full of stunning details, showered with awards in jewelry competitions worldwide. It was Autore’s dazzling pearls that were the main motif of my look for the Wonderland by La Prima Gioielli gala, which I had the pleasure of attending as part of my press accreditation. The hosts treated the guests to… a fairytale – literally. From the moment I left the hotel to the grand finale, the event felt like a theatrical spectacle or a beautiful dream. Fairies, feathers, dancing models, and, of course, jewelry. It’s hard to find a better realization of the “joy economy” principles. The golden community will return to Vicenza in January. Thank you, IEG team, for an unforgettable time, and in the meantime, I invite you to watch the VOS video recap on our Instagram!