International News
THE VICENZA SYMPOSIUM: the new biennial event for innovation in the high jewellery and fashion accessories sector
The Vicenza Symposium is the new international platform aimed at professionals, academics, and industry leaders, entirely dedicated to technologies and manufacturing trends for jewellery companies

The first edition will be held from September 2nd to 4th, 2025, in Vicenza, at the prestigious Basilica Palladiana, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
This international event is designed to attract young talent, stimulate networking, and provide a periodic opportunity for professional development.
Introduced to the global industry community on the occasion of January’s edition of Vicenzaoro (17 – 21 January 2025), Europe’s leading International jewellery, goldsmithing, and watchmaking exhibition organized by Italian Exhibition Group together with T.Gold – International exhibition for goldsmithing machinery and technology, The Vicenza Symposium will take place every two years.
The Vicenza Symposium aims to carry forward the legacy of the Santa Fe Symposium, a historic event created and supported by Eddie Bell, the former technical director of Rio Grande Jewelers Supply, who, for over thirty years, from 1987 onwards, fostered a collaborative community in the jewelry industry.
Eddie Bell will serve as Honorary President of the Scientific Committee of The Vicenza Symposium, which will consist of prominent industry figures, including: Damiano Zito (Chairman and CEO Progold S.p.A.) President; Massimo Poliero (President and CEO Legor Group) Vice President; Giorgio Bodei (Industrial Director Pomellato); Florian Bulling (Materials Engineer at FEM Forschungsinstitut); Ezio Dadone (Jewellery Industrialization & Manufacturing Director at Bvlgari, LVMH Group); Frédéric Diologent (R&I Materials Director at Richemont); Valerio Doppio (R&D Manager Progold); Andrea Friso (R&D Manager for Master Alloy Legor Group); Ulrich Klotz (Head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy at the Research Institute for Precious Metals & Metals Chemistry [fem], Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany).
“The Vicenza Symposium not only celebrates technological innovations but also serves as a key platform for dialogue among professionals, academics, and industry leaders – as Damiano Zito declared ̶. Our mission is clear: to foster continuous learning, encourage networking, and share advancements that can have a tangible impact on the industry at a global level, always keeping a close eye on the evolving needs of the sector. I am confident that, over time, The VicenzaSymposium will become an unmissable event for all professionals who aspire to shape the future of jewelry”.
The program of The Vicenza Symposium will feature a rich schedule of professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions on key topics for the industry, including the integration and use of artificial intelligence (AI), regulatory updates, quality control, 3D printing, and additive manufacturing. The latter, a true revolution for the optimization of precious materials, will play a central role in the symposium discussions. The most innovative technologies in the field of jewelry and fashion accessories production will also be presented.
The Vicenza Symposium will be structured around two main sectors: fine jewelry and fashion accessories made from non-precious metals. It will be a non-commercial, highly technical event, featuring 21 international speakers addressing an audience of around 100 participants across 7 daily sessions. Each session will last about 45 minutes and focus on sharing advancements and innovations in the industry. The symposium will also include daily Q&A sessions (each lasting 20- 25 minutes), during which participants can interact with the speakers.
A significant part of the event will be dedicated to the presentation of numerous papers that will explore the most relevant topics for professionals in the goldsmithing and jewelry industry. Approximately 25% of the papers will delve into the world of fashion jewelry, with particular attention given to precious metals and production techniques, with an innovative and balanced approach that reflects the symposium’s mission: to foster the exchange of knowledge and technological advancements among experts and researchers, thus contributing to the growth of the sector.

International News
Gold price drifts lower to near $3,330 ahead of US-Ukraine talks
Pandora posted 4% revenue growth to DKK 7.08 billion in Q2 2025, driven by strong US demand and a 36% surge in lab-grown diamond sales. The brand will close 100 underperforming China stores—double earlier estimates—while still targeting 400–500 new global openings by 2026.

Gold prices edged lower to around $3,330 in early Asian trading on Monday, pressured by stronger-than-expected US economic data. The drop comes ahead of a key meeting later in the day between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, which traders are watching closely for geopolitical signals.
Last week’s US Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 3.3% year-on-year in July, well above market expectations of 2.5% and the previous 2.4%. The hotter-than-expected inflation reading reduced bets on a potential Federal Reserve rate cut in September, creating headwinds for the yellow metal.
Adding to the picture, US Retail Sales grew 0.5% month-on-month in July, matching forecasts but slightly below June’s upwardly revised 0.9%.
While strong economic data pressures gold, safe-haven demand linked to geopolitical tensions may limit further downside in the near term.
International News
Pandora to Close Up to 100 Stores in China
Pandora posted 4% revenue growth to DKK 7.08 billion in Q2 2025, driven by strong US demand and a 36% surge in lab-grown diamond sales. The brand will close 100 underperforming China stores—double earlier estimates—while still targeting 400–500 new global openings by 2026.

Pandora reported steady growth in the second quarter despite global challenges, while announcing plans to close about 100 underperforming stores in China to streamline its retail network. The closures are higher than the 50 previously expected, meaning net global openings will now total 25 to 50 this year, compared to the earlier forecast of 50 to 75. Still, Pandora aims to expand its footprint by 400–500 stores by 2026.
Product mix contributed negatively driven by the strong performance in Collabs and Pandora Lab-Grown Diamonds, which both carry gross margins below group level,
For the quarter ending June 30, revenue rose 4% to DKK 7.08 billion ($1.11 billion), with organic growth of 8% and like-for-like sales up 3%, driven by strong US demand, especially during Mother’s Day. Profit inched up 0.5% to DKK 803 million ($125.9 million). Lab-grown diamond sales surged 36%, though their lower margins pressured profitability.
Pandora also flagged potential tariff impacts, estimating costs of DKK 200 million in 2025 and DKK 450 million in 2026, and may consider price increases to offset pressures.
DiamondBuzz
De Beers, Endiama report first new kimberlite field in over 30 years in Angola
De Beers Group, in partnership with Angola’s Endiama, has discovered a new kimberlite field—its first in over 30 years—during initial drilling in July 2025. The find marks a major milestone in their long-term collaboration to responsibly develop Angola’s diamond resources.

De Beers Group, in partnership with Angola’s national diamond company Endiama, has reported the discovery of a new kimberlite field in Angola—the company’s first such find in over 30 years.The breakthrough occurred in July 2025, when the joint venture intersected kimberlite in its very first drill hole, targeting a cluster of high-priority sites identified through airborne surveys earlier in March 2025.
In the months ahead, De Beers and Endiama will carry out additional drilling, ground geophysical studies, and laboratory testing to confirm the nature of the kimberlite and evaluate its diamond-bearing potential.The find marks a significant milestone in the partnership between De Beers and Angola. It comes on the back of two Mineral Investment Contracts signed in April 2022 and a Memorandum of Understanding agreed at the 2024 Mining Indaba. These agreements have laid the foundation for a long-term collaboration focused on responsibly developing Angola’s diamond resources.

Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said: “Angola is, in our view, one of the best places on the planet to look for diamonds, and this discovery reinforces our confidence. It is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through partnership, and I commend President Lourenco and his government for all the work they have done to enhance transparency, adopt international best practices, and create a business friendly environment, all of which has enabled us to return to Angola and seek new sources of supply. We are excited about the role De Beers can play in helping the country deliver on its huge potential, both below and above the ground.”
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