Europe’s foremost international gold and jewellery event, Vicenzaoro 2022, successfully brought together over 1,000 exhibiting brands and more than 300 buyers from 50 countries worldwide.
The Italian Exhibition Group’s flagship show solidified its indispensable role as a unique global platform for fostering business connections, driving innovation, promoting sustainability, and delivering essential training across the entire jewellery supply chain.
Running concurrently were T.GOLD, the esteemed international exhibition dedicated to machinery and advanced technologies for jewellery processing, and VO’CLOCK PRIVÉ, an exclusive new lounge celebrating contemporary watchmaking, which also welcomed enthusiasts over the weekend.
Following significant sector growth in 2021, the industry maintained positive expectations for a robust 2022.
www.vicenzaoro.com
Vicenzaoro 2022: Europe’s Premier Jewellery Event Drives Global Business, Innovation & Sustainability
The heart of the global jewellery world converged on Vicenza as Vicenzaoro 2022 – The Jewellery Boutique Show, the preeminent international jewellery exhibition meticulously organized by IEG – Italian Exhibition Group, unfolded from March 17th to 21st, 2022, at the prestigious Vicenza Expo Centre. This highly anticipated event served as an unparalleled opportunity for industry professionals to reconnect, discover the latest trends, and forge crucial business partnerships in a vibrant and dynamic setting. Accompanying Vicenzaoro were two equally significant co-located events: T.Gold, the essential international showcase for advanced machinery and cutting-edge technologies vital to the design and production of exquisite jewellery, and VO’Clock Privé, an innovative lounge dedicated to contemporary watchmaking, offering a unique space for 24 distinguished watch brands to engage with both sector operators and passionate enthusiasts. This powerful trio of events underscored IEG’s commitment to providing a holistic and comprehensive platform for the entire precious metals and watchmaking ecosystem.
A Resounding Return: Vicenzaoro Gathers the Global Jewellery Elite
Vicenzaoro 2022 proudly hosted an impressive assembly of over 1,000 exhibiting brands hailing from 27 countries, marking a significant return of international participation. Notably, companies from key markets such as Hong Kong, Thailand, and India re-established their presence, benefiting from eased global mobility restrictions and revitalized international trade. Complementing this expansive jewellery showcase, T.Gold featured more than 140 brands from 15 countries, presenting the forefront of technological advancements. The event also attracted an impressive contingent of over 300 highly qualified buyers representing more than 50 countries, with particularly strong representation from the USA (17%), UAE (7%), Israel (5%), Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. This diverse international presence underscored Vicenzaoro’s undisputed status as a truly global marketplace. To further facilitate seamless business interactions, The Jewellery Golden Cloud platform remained actively available, enabling participants to schedule invaluable on-site meetings and explore remote business opportunities, thereby maximizing engagement and fostering impactful collaborations. The event’s return, encapsulated by its compelling “All at Once” theme, brought together the very best of “Made in Italy” production, exclusive collection previews, and the unparalleled excellence of the world’s most authoritative jewellers. Esteemed names such as Roberto Coin, Damiani Group, Fope, Annamaria Cammilli, Crivelli, Leo Pizzo, Fabergé, Alessio Boschi, Schreiner, Yoko London, and Akillis graced the exhibition halls, showcasing their latest masterpieces and solidifying Vicenzaoro’s reputation as a launchpad for innovation and luxury. The organizers placed paramount importance on attendee well-being, implementing stringent safety measures through the #SAFEBUSINESS by IEG protocol and securing GBAC STAR™ accreditation for the Expo Centre, ensuring a secure and comfortable environment for all participants.
Fostering Industry Growth: A Positive Outlook for the Jewellery Sector
The jewellery sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and a clear trend towards recovery, with robust economic data reinforcing positive sentiment. According to meticulous estimates compiled for FEDERORAFI by Confindustria Moda’s Research Centre, the year 2021 concluded with an exceptional growth rate of over +54% compared to 2020, and an encouraging +11.9% compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This translated into an impressive estimated turnover of nearly 8.8 billion euros, fueling optimistic expectations for continued growth throughout 2022. Vicenzaoro’s success is intrinsically linked to the cohesive and unwavering presence of key institutions and influential trade associations. The event proudly showcased strong collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and ITA (Italian Trade Agency), alongside prominent industry bodies such as Confindustria Federorafi, Confartigianato Orafi, Confcommercio Federpreziosi, CNA Orafi, Confimi Industria Categoria Orafa ed Argentiera, Assocoral, and AFEMO – Italian Association of Jewellery Machinery Manufacturers and Exporters. Furthermore, its international standing was bolstered by the significant involvement of CIBJO – the World Jewellery Confederation. This united front of governmental bodies and industry associations underscored the collective commitment to supporting and advancing the global jewellery trade, highlighting the strategic importance of Vicenzaoro as a nexus for collective progress and prosperity.
Powering Progress: T.Gold and VO’Clock Privé Drive Innovation and Passion
The co-located events at Vicenzaoro significantly enhanced the overall value proposition for attendees. T.Gold, an indispensable fixture for professionals, offered an in-depth exploration into the latest advancements in innovation and technology. It served as a vital platform for showcasing the machinery, tools, and processes that define the future of jewellery manufacturing. Highlights included the insightful Jewellery Technology Forum, which brought together experts to discuss emerging trends and solutions, and a new edition of the Startup & Carats project. Organized with the invaluable support of ITA, this initiative was specifically designed to provide crucial visibility to promising young entrepreneurial companies, thereby fostering new relationship and business opportunities and injecting fresh perspectives into the industry. Meanwhile, VO’Clock Privé carved out a distinct and sophisticated niche for itself, catering to the burgeoning interest in watchmaking. This dedicated lounge presented a curated selection of contemporary watch brands and offered unique educational opportunities. On Saturday and Sunday, courses were made available to the general public, meticulously organized by the esteemed Geneva institution FHH – Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie and the reputable CAPAC watchmaking school in Milan. These sessions provided invaluable insights into the intricacies of horology, bridging the gap between industry professionals and enthusiastic collectors, and further cementing Vicenzaoro’s comprehensive approach to the luxury accessories market.
A Platform for Knowledge: Unpacking Key Trends and Future Directions
Beyond being a marketplace, Vicenzaoro 2022 distinguished itself as a crucial forum for debate and discussion on the most strategic issues facing the industry. A comprehensive schedule, engaging the entire community, leading players, influential opinion leaders, and special guests, centered around four pillars: training, sustainability, trends, and innovation. IEG underscored its unwavering commitment to strengthening its role in support of training. This involved actively promoting initiatives from trade associations, technical institutes—with Vicenzaoro notably hosting the RETE TAM Assembly—and universities. Simultaneously, IEG aimed to enhance the overall attractiveness of the sector to new talent. A shining example of this dedication was the innovative Inspiration Boards project, championed by influential entrepreneur and founder of Donna Jewel, Laura Inghirami. This initiative successfully engaged new generations, specifically welcoming second-year students from the IED (European Institute of Design) in Turin, specializing in Jewellery Design within their Fashion Design course. Educational momentum continued with programs from Assogemme and Fondazione Mani Intelligenti, alongside the illuminating Gem Talk programme and various Digital Talks, providing continuous learning opportunities for all participants. The critical discourse on sustainability was significantly advanced through specialized seminars organized by CIBJO, which also held its general assembly at Vicenzaoro, and Assocoral. A particularly consolidated trend within the modern jewellery world, the circular economy, was a central focus. A dedicated meeting organized by Trendvision Jewellery + Forecasting, the pioneering independent observatory conceived by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) and specializing in jewellery forecasting, delved deep into this vital topic. Furthermore, insights into broader market trends and expert opinions were collaboratively presented by Club degli Orafi together with Intesa Sanpaolo, offering invaluable strategic foresight for the industry.
Beyond the Expo Walls: VIOFF and the City of Vicenza
The immersive experience of Vicenzaoro extended far beyond the confines of the exhibition centre, with the city of Vicenza playing a fundamental and celebrated role. The now unmissable appointment with VIOFF, Vicenzaoro’s Off Show, provided an exciting and diverse range of events that seamlessly welcomed visitors into the vibrant urban fabric. Through the thoughtful enhancement of the territory and its rich excellences, VIOFF created a captivating synergy between the international event and its historic host city. This carefully curated programme allowed attendees to not only engage with the cutting-edge of the jewellery world but also to explore the cultural heritage, artistic beauty, and renowned hospitality of Vicenza, transforming the visit into a truly unforgettable experience. VIOFF solidified the connection between the global jewellery industry and the unique charm of the region, showcasing Vicenza as a destination that perfectly blends tradition with contemporary flair.
Italian Exhibition Group: A Global Leader in Event Organization
Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A. (IEG), a joint-stock company proudly listed on Euronext Milan—a regulated market organized and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A.—has consistently achieved national leadership in the organization of trade shows and conferences through its state-of-the-art facilities in Rimini and Vicenza. Over the years, IEG has strategically expanded its activities abroad, notably through successful joint-ventures with global and local organizers in key international markets such as the United States, United Arab Emirates, China, Mexico, Brazil, and India. This proactive international development has firmly positioned IEG among the top European operators within the exhibition and conference sector. The Group’s unwavering commitment to fostering industry growth, facilitating international trade, and driving innovation is exemplified by flagship events like Vicenzaoro, which continually sets benchmarks for excellence and serves as a vital economic engine for the sectors it represents. IEG remains dedicated to creating impactful platforms that connect businesses, inspire creativity, and shape the future of global industries.