JB Insights
VICENZAORO JANUARY 2024
IEG’s trade show is the global jewellery industry’s choice
Attendance +3% more than 2023 on the 70th anniversary, 141 countries of origin. The United States, Turkey and Spain on the podium. Enhanced hosted buyer programme thanks to ITA – Italian trade Agency
More than 1,300 exhibiting brands
Technologies: T.Gold, showcase of top products for the supply chain. In 2025, the first edition of “The Vicenza Symposium”, a global scientific event
Watchmaking segment consolidated with TIME for B2B. Visitors to VO Vintage up 13%
More than 490 students at the 20 events in the city’s VIOFF programme
Work to start on the new 22,000-square-metre hall: an investment of about Euro 60mn
Vicenzaoro January 2024 exceeds all the most optimistic prior expectations of the Vicenza – Italy gold and jewellery exhibition’s 70-year anniversary. Italian Exhibition Group’s «boutique show» closed today with a 3% increase in attendance at the Vicenza Expo Centre, surpassing last January’s record edition. Moreover, at this edition, six out of ten visitors came from abroad: the global jewellery industry has chosen, Vicenza will be a market hub for the next 70 years. IEG responds with the start of work on the new 22,000-square-meter hall.
THE VICENZAORO JANUARY 2024 NUMBERS
Foreign attendance has been confirmed at 60% of the total, arriving from 141 countries around the world, up from 136 in 2023: with Europe counting 53%, the Middle East 9.3%, Asia 10.5%, Turkey 8%, North America 7.2%, Latin America 5.1% and Africa 4.9%.
Among the most represented individual countries overall: the United States and Turkey; from Europe Spain, Germany, France, Greece and the UK; from the Middle East the United Arab Emirates, while standing out from Asia are India, China, Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong. The largest increases are for China (+188%), Japan (+44%), Colombia (+38%), Brazil (+36%) and France (+25%). Among the new entries at Vicenzaoro: Tanzania, El Salvador and Honduras. Veneto, Lombardy, Tuscany and Piedmont confirm an extremely positive trend for Italian attendance, which saw an overall increase of 3.2% compared to 2023.
T.GOLD ON THE RISE
At this edition, T.Gold, the leading international innovation showcase featuring the most advanced machinery for goldsmithing and the latest processes applied to gold and jewellery, organized in partnership with A.F.E.M.O., saw a 4.7% increase in attendance.
TIMEPIECES.
In the timepiece segment, VO Vintage consolidated its success with exhibitors up 22% for vintage watches and jewellery open to the B2C public, with collectors, experts and watch lovers from Italy and around the world also up +13%.
INDUSTRY AND TRAINING, PASSION MAKES A COMEBACK
Gold and jewellery see restored generational turnover in the labour market. Industry and education meet at Vicenzaoro: 23 schools at the Show, mostly from Italy and from France, Germany and the UK for a total of about 750 students and escorts, all involved in the many initiatives. In the VIOFF programme of city events, Vicenzaoro’s off-show, more than 490 students took part in the 20 events on the calendar.
THE EXPO CENTRE CHANGES FACE, 2024 IS THE YEAR OF WORK ON THE NEW HALL
The close of Vicenzaoro January 2024 will mark the opening of the building site that will return a new layout to the Vicenza Expo Centre for the September 2026 edition. The new 22,000-square-meter hall will replace Hall 2, the historic “snail” built in 1971, and Hall 5, to provide more space for exhibitors and better “navigability” for visitors inside the building. The investment of about 60 million euros is fully financed by IEG.
“THE VICENZA SYMPOSIUM”, THE NEW EVENT ON IEG’S JEWELLERY AGENDA
Italian Exhibition Group’s Jewellery Agenda will be further enriched as of 2025 with a new international event, “The Vicenza Symposium” scheduled to take place from 2 – 4 September. Vicenza will therefore inherit the scientific legacy of the “Santa Fe Symposium” which closed in 2022. A biennial event with a problem-solving approach for companies, the Symposium is the result of IEG’s collaboration with two leading companies in the T.Gold world: Legor and Xolutions.
GLOBAL STAKEHOLDERS AND INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
Vicenzaoro January confirmed its role as an international reference point due to the presence of the entire institutional and association world. From Confindustria Federorafi, Confartigianato Orafi, Confcommercio Federpreziosi, CNA Orafi, Confimi Industria Categoria Orafa ed Argentiera to Assogemme, Assocoral and A.F.E.M.O. – Association of Jewellery Machinery Manufacturers and Exporters, CIBJO – World Jewellery Confederation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ITA – Italian Trade Agency.
The community’s next appointment with Vicenzaoro will be from 6th to 10th September 2024.
JBExlusive
Jewel Buzz recently hosted a high-level panel featuring the titans of the jewelry manufacturing industry to discuss the significance of the JMAIIE 2026. The Panel of Stalwarts comprised :K Srinivasan: Chairman, Emerald Group,Dr. Chetan Kumar: CMD, Lakshmi Diamonds, Bengaluru Nitesh Jain, MD, Purple Jewels Private Limited,Nikhil Ranavat: Director, AR Gold Private Limited & Director, Swarnshilp Chains and Jewels Pvt Ltd
The discussion highlighted how technology is no longer an optional expense but a vital investment for global competitiveness. The importance of machinery was summed by said K Srinivasan: Investing in machinery is not an expenditure; it is an investment.
Key Objectives for JMAIIE 2026
The leaders identified several critical reasons for attending the expo, emphasizing that the “machinery-only” focus of JMAIIE allows for deep concentration without the distractions of finished jewelry.
- Technology Upgradation: K Srinivasan emphasized that with 41 years in the field, he views quality machinery as the foundation for working with all gold purities (from 9k to 22k) and silver. Continuous updating is required to stay relevant.
- Cost & Loss Reduction: Nikhil Ranawat pointed out that with rising gold prices, the priority is minimizing manufacturing losses. Even recovering an extra 1% of gold through better technology significantly impacts the bottom line.
- Weight & Aesthetics: Dr. Chetan Kumar noted the industry’s shift toward both ultra-lightweight and complex fashionable jewelry, both of which require advanced precision tools.
- Production Efficiency: Nitesh Jain highlighted the need for robust, “non-breakdown” machines to keep manufacturing costs low for the end consumer.
The State of “Make in India” Machinery
The panel offered a candid assessment of domestic vs. international machinery standards:
| Strengths of Indian Machinery | Areas for Improvement |
| Outstanding quality in Enameling, Casting Furnaces, and Buffing Machines. | Chain-making technology still lags behind global standards. |
| Excellence in CAD/CAM software and implementation. | Need for more robust, long-term durability to match Italian/Western builds. |
| High value-for-money and improving after-sales service. | Consistency in high-end finishing for luxury products. |
Future Outlook
The industry leaders called for a strategic shift to align with the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) vision.
- Technology Hubs: Dr. Chetan Kumar said government support was imperative and proposed the creation of a dedicated Technology Park for the jewelry industry where manufacturers and AI researchers can collaborate on new machinery.
- Skill Development: Nitesh Jain warned that high-tech machines are useless without a skilled workforce trained to operate them. A cultural shift from traditional handmade methods to tech-driven manufacturing is essential.
- Global Ambitions: With the conclusion of various FTAs (Free Trade Agreements), the panel believes that superior technology will allow India to truly become the “Jeweler to the World.”
Conclusion
JMAIIE 2026 stands as a pivotal platform for the industry. The consensus is clear: the future of Indian jewelry lies in the marriage of traditional hand-craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.
Ashth Prive Unveils Udaya – A Limited-Edition Jewellery Collection Inspired by the Timeless Geometry of Rani ki Vav
Lab- Grown Diamond Jewellery brand Ethera unveils “Queen of Hearts” Valentine’s Day Collection
Akoirah by Augmont Reimagines Romance with “Made of Us” Valentine’s Collection
GJEPC felicitates Piyush Goyal, Jitin Prasada on successful completion of the India–USA Interim Agreement
Akoirah by Augmont Reimagines Romance with “Made of Us” Valentine’s Collection
P N Gadgil Jewellers Records ₹365 Crore sales during the 3 Day foundation day celebrations
-
JB Insights2 weeks agoGold is Talking, Silver is Screaming – A Case for Prudent Repositioning
-
DiamondBuzz2 weeks agoAWDC Hails EU-India Trade Pact, Sees Strong Export Boost for Antwerp-Polished Diamonds in India
-
DiamondBuzz2 weeks agoJapan, US Weigh Synthetic Diamond Facility to Strengthen Strategic Supply Chains
-
International News2 weeks agoWGC: Gold Investment Rockets in 2025, Setting a New High as Uncertainty Bites
JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.