Counting Down to Vicenzaoro – the Jewelry Industry’s Glittering Fair
The world of fashion has their legendary fashion weeks: Paris, Milan, New York, Copenhagen. But what about the jewelry industry? Designers, stylists, brand reps and jewelry trend experts also have their “special events,” among which the Vicenzaoro fair is one of the most highly anticipated. From the 10th to the 14th of September this Italian town transforms into the world’s bijouterie capital with collection previews from international powerhouses, watch and vintage jewelry exhibitions, lectures and discussions on the future of the industry, and demonstrations of the finest jewelry craftmanship. The good news is we’ll have our people on the “inside” as we’re sending our two Head magpies/nifflers, Agata and Katarzyna, to Vicenza.
Since this won’t be the bling sisters’ first time at Vicenzaoro, I’ve asked them to, so to say, spill the tea and share some of their favorite memories from the previous editions of this fair, which is how I found out how these two sisters from Poznań, with PRESS passes in hand, made it to one of the most prestigious events in the jewelry industry. “Four years ago, we were at the Hong Kong HKTDC fair, busy as bees, running around trying to see, photograph and find out all that we could to later spread the word to fellow jewelry lovers and create a positive buzz” recalls blingaholic Agata. “That’s when we spotted the director of the Italian jewelry fair, Marco Carniello – by the Vicenzaoro stand. I turned to Katarzyna and said: ‘It’s now or never!’ We walked up, introduced ourselves and, after a short conversation, a swift exchange of business cards ensued. A couple months later, with an official press invitation, we landed in Vicenza! At the time we were still a small blog with an old name, but our enthusiasm and willingness to put ourselves out there put us on the radar and led to a long-term cooperation with Vicenzaoro” she sums up. What, then, will we see this September through the eyes of our gemmaphile emissaries?
Vincenza draped in gold
As the name suggest – Vincezaoro (“gold Vicneza”) – the Italian fair is above else devoted to gold jewelry and goldsmithery. In the Icon District section attendees will be able to see the newest collections of renown global brands: the known for their innovative flexible gold designs Fope, the romantic creations of Robert Coin and maison Damiani, the dazzling diamonds and colorful gemstones of Salvini or Bliss, and finally the legendary atelier Faberge, which is sure to amaze those gathered at Vicenza with their magnificent 10-kilogram gold egg created to commemorate the 100-death anniversary of Peter Carl Faberge. This event will truly be a jewelry-lover’s paradise: over 700 brands will present their sparkling goods during this fair! And, since they wouldn’t be themselves if they didn’t try on all the bling they could get their hands on 😉 , we are sure to get a sneak peak of many of these wonderful shiny pieces exhibited in Agata and Katarzyna’s photo report on the Blingsis’ Instagram profile.
Do you, fellow jewelry-junkie, recall that time when, at the opening of Chart’s new branch in Poznań, I talked about a fascinating visit to a goldsmith’s workshop? It’s simply amazing how in goldsmithing traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technologies come together. During Vicenzaoro in the T.GOLD section guests will have the opportunity to discover the innovative technology and machines behind modern jewelry designs. Another important part of the September fair will be the VO Vintage section in which watches and jewelry pieces with a “history” will be exhibited. This will not only be a treat for the attending industry experts but to any vintage goodies collectors and jewelry aficionados as this part of the fair will be open to the public as well!
However, Vicenzaoro’s program is not only a treat for the gemmophile’s eyes but for their soul as well! The planned discussion panels and lectures are a treasure trove of jewelry knowledge which our bling duo and the other industry experts present will later put to good use in their editorial and creative work. Also, as this year’s the fair’s guiding slogan is “The State of the Art,” industry specialists and authorities will debate the state of the art of jewelry-making and current trends, setting the tone for the creative development of jewelry brands for the next three years!!! Social issues such as sustainability or the role of female experts in the industry will also be addressed at the fair’s think tank.
The Glittering Crowd
Safety as usual remains a top concern and the organizers from the Italian Exhibition Group have made every effort to ensure the highest quality and comfort possible for all those attending the fair. The exhibition area has been arranged so that social distancing restrictions can be maintained, and several safety and hygiene solutions have been implemented. Already in October 2020 the Vicenzaoro Team had shown great concern to comply with the current sanitary regime – Agata and Katarzyna were very impressed by the care they have taken in this respect.
Perusing Vicenzaoro’s 2021 fair program I was struck how often the importance of community is stressed and Agata confirms that one can definitely feel a connection both to the place and the people present at the fair. Vicenzaoro is not just where you come to be inspired or to discover future trends. It’s also where you make lasting friendships. Proof? During the first lockdown it was mainly our Vicenzaoro friends who shared with us their pandemic experiences and concerns for the jewelry industry (both articles available: here & here).
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