Italian Watch Group Becomes CIBJO Member

RAPAPORT... Italian watch association Assorologi has become the second major timepiece group to join the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) this year.Associazione Italiana Produttori e Distributori di Orologeria represents manufacturers and importers of watches and watchmaking supplies, CIBJO said Monday. It is also the industry's representative at Confcommercio, an Italian cross-sector trade body.In March, CIBJO announced that the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry had joined the confederation, noting that the watch, jewelry and gemstone trades had converging interests."Assorologi's becoming a CIBJO member is another important milestone in a process that cements the relationship between the watch and jewelry sectors," said CIBJO president Gaetano Cavalieri. "In so many respects, we already operate as one united industry, using similar raw materials, supply chains and outlets to the wholesale and retail markets, as well as interacting with the same consumers."Image: Luxury watches. (Shutterstock)