High turnout at VICENZAORO, Italian jewel exports rise on stronger gold price
by David Brough
VICENZA, Italy, September 2017 – Turnout was high at VICENZAORO as retailers re-stocked goods at the last major showcase of Italian gold and silver jewellery before Christmas.
The fair reported that Italian precious jewellery exports from January to June 2017 were 3.036 billion euros, up from 2.686 billion euros in the same year-ago period.
Jewellery Outlook Editor David Brough, with the team from Florence-based high jewellery brand Anna Maria Cammilli, and designer Isabella Liu The average gold price in the first half of 2017 was 1,144 euros per ounce, up from 1,093 euros per ounce in the first half of 2016.
Italy is a leading exporter of gold and silver jewellery to markets such as the Gulf Middle East and the United States.
Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) were key themes at the September edition of VICENZAORO.
A seminar hosted by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) discussed new EU “Mineral Conflict” legislation, which obliges importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold to carry out strict checks to ensure that their suppliers are respecting their social responsibility obligations.
Trends forecaster Paola De Luca presented the fair’s Trend Book looking forward to 2019 and beyond, and spoke of shifts towards personalisation, more stringent ethical standards, and growing tastes for imperfection in design.
