After five days of business and events, Vicenza Oro September 2024 came to a close, ending another successful edition in the premier gathering for the global gold and jewelry industry.
This year, the “Jewelry Boutique Show” marked a historic milestone, celebrating 70 years since its first goldsmith fair in 1954. As it commemorated seven decades of excellence, the event further solidified its status as industry leader, both in Europe and worldwide, with record-breaking numbers aligned with 2023’s.
VOS24 welcomed 20,000 visitors from 132 countries, with a foreign share of 50% of the total attendance. 1,200 exhibiting brands came to represent every segment of the gold, jewelry, and watch industry, with 40% of them from 35 foreign countries. The remaining brands (700+) carried the flag of “Made in Italy” from each of the country’s jewelry hubs (Arezzo, Marcianise and Torre del Greco, Milano, Valenza, and Vicenza).
The September edition kickstarted the “Vicenza District Renewal Project”, a bold transformation of the Expo Center set to continue through early 2026. This ambitious restyling project is a celebratory self-gift from Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the event organizer, and will expand the exhibition space by 20%.
At the heart of the project is the replacement of the old-fashioned “Pyramid” with a new two-story hall covering 22,000 square meters. Once completed, this new space will stand as a global reference point for design, creativity, technology, and business in the jewelry sector.
This restyling has not come without challenges. The 300 exhibitors who were previously hosted in the demolished halls were relocated to temporary pavilions with open booths. These pavilions were built with state-of-the-art tensile structures to provide a cohesive, comfortable space that blends with the rest of the fairgrounds. In fact, many exhibitors viewed this relocation as an upgrade, appreciating the brighter and more spacious environment compared to the darker, narrower Pyramid. The ongoing renovations required designing new entrances, connecting routes, and pathways to maintain a seamless visitor experience. Managing this constant flow while undergoing such an extensive transformation has been the “real logistic miracle,” according to Corrado Peraboni, CEO of IEG.
Another way IEG ensured business as usual was by reorganizing the district into dedicated communities. The “Icon” community is dedicated to high-end branded jewelry, while the “Look” features trending contemporary jewelry brands. The “Creation” hosts manufacturers of jewelry, as well as semi-finished products and components. The “Expression” focuses on packaging and visual merchandising companies and the “Essence” is centered on diamonds, gems, and precious stones. The “Evolution” is the area for companies specialized in innovative machinery and technologies applied to the jewelry sector. Additionally, the recently acquired “Palakiss”, located opposite the Expo’s square, is used for cash & carry. Finally, “Time” acts as a B2B showcase for contemporary watchmaking.
The “Time” community also hosts VO’Clock Prive, an elegant lounge dedicated to haute horlogerie. This event, open to the public, offers an immersive experience in the world of contemporary and independent timepieces, through established brands and emerging creators. There are also training sessions, talks, and courses held by renowned experts and master watchmakers.
In conclusion, Vicenza Oro shines the spotlight on the entire jewelry supply chain. This is a business sector that, as noted by Italian Trade Agency’s President, Matteo Zoppas, must be considered one of Italy’s national prides. In the first seven months of 2024, Italian exports of fine jewelry reached 9.19 billion USD (+39.5% YoY) with significant growth registered in the top three importers: Turkey, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. While high precious metal prices may have influenced this trend, “Made-in-Italy” jewelry remains resilient and in-demand even in these uncertain international geopolitical scenarios.
To support Italian jewelers, a hosted-buyer incoming program is organized by the Italian Trade Agency and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with IEG. This program facilitates the presence of a broad audience of buyers from all over the world interested in attending the fair. The most recent incoming welcomed delegations upwards of 450 buyers from 60 countries, spearheaded by the US, the UAE, China, Spain, and France. This promotional strategy has proven effective. “After a steady progression of attendances”– said Mr Perraboni– “we have now reached the new normal”.
Looking ahead, Vicenza Oro January 2025 represents the beginning of a new chapter, aiming to strengthen Vicenza’s role as the world capital of jewelry. This vision is embodied in artwork by the Vicenza-born illustrator Alessandro Giorgini, who portrays the city as a woman holding a figure looking towards the future, symbolizing legacy and forward-thinking spirit.
