Good Turnout at Italy's VincenzaOro

RAPAPORT... Attendancewas strong at the January edition of VicenzaOro, spurring confidence that Italy's gold-jewelry exports would improve in 2018.Risingproduction and consumption of gold jewelry signaled a favorable outlook for thesector, said Lorenzo Cagnoni, president of organizer Italian Exhibition Group (IEG),in his opening address on January 19. "VicenzaOro January opens in a highly positive context, both in terms ofconfirmations coming in of a recovery in demand for gold, and of thesignificant results that our group is proving to obtain at this and at theother 60 shows in our company's portfolio," he said.The VicenzaOro show, which ran until January 24, is a gateway forexports of Italian gold jewelry, manufactured in centers such as Vicenza andArezzo, to leading markets, including the United Arab Emirates and the US. The show, which kicks offthe international trade-fair season, is a barometer of jewelry-design trendsfor the coming year. Hallswere packed as jewelry retailers from around the world came to stock the latestdesigns in their stores. VicenzaOro January hostedmore than 4,500 exhibitors, 35% of which were from outside Italy, and an estimatedmore than 96,000 visitors from 130 countries. A highlight of the event was the awarding of best designer toMassimiliano Bonoli, who works for jeweler Mattia Cielo, in the Andrea PalladioInternational Jewellery Awards staged on January 19. Trends emerging at the show included the influence of gender neutrality,preferences for ethically sourced jewelry, growing demand for men's jewelry, anda profusion of color across a range of mixed-and-matched materials. "Among thetrends that stood out this year was the playful application of color beyondgemstones, be it through nano-ceramic plating, as seen at Noor Fares, enameling, or evenhand-painted creations," said Kathryn Bishop, jewelry writer and cofounder ofthe Women's Jewellery Network. The next edition of VicenzaOrowill take place in Vicenza from September 22 to 26.