Steady footfall at INHORGENTA Munich 2020, exhibitors up, strong sales seen in gems hall
By David Brough
MUNICH, February 16, 2020 – INHORGENTA Munich saw steady visitor numbers and a rise in exhibitors, with jewellers talking of vibrant sales notably in the C1 gemstones hall.
There was talk of some visitors staying away because of concerns over coronavirus, but it was too early to estimate the impact.
C1 was among the busiest halls on February 16, with UK buyers among the international visitors ordering gemstones, and exhibitors upbeat about their sales at the show.
“There was a splendid range from top manufacturers of semi-precious. I opened a couple of new
accounts,” said Vanessa Burkitt, owner of retailer Catherine Jones of Cambridge, referring to C1 where she bought unusual stones and particular cuts.
INHORGENTA is renowned for its high-quality and varied gemstone offering, featuring a variety of coloured gemstones, as well as diamonds, some of them flaunting imperfection, such as the salt-and-pepper diamonds at Hatton Garden-based Bjorn Diamonds.
Madestones, Europe’s biggest supplier of laboratory-grown diamonds, had a packed stand throughout the day.
“INHORGENTA is one of the highest quality and best organised shows in Europe,” said designer and retailer Alexander Davis, who ordered gemstones in C1.
“There is an extraordinary variety of gemstones at this show.”
Other UK buyers visiting the show included UK retailer Alexis Dove.
INHORGENTA prides itself on its large gemstones hall, one of the biggest gem showcases in Europe, in part due to the proximity of Idar-Oberstein, Germany’s gemstone cradle, home of leading exhibitors at INHORGENTA, such as Groh & Ripp.
Among the other halls, C2 showcased innovation and offered on-trend jewellery such as Bristol-based designer Elin Horgan’s necklaces in recycled silver, in tune with increasing consumer requirements for sustainability in luxury.
Burkitt referred to “the coolest new craft-led but finely-made work” that she saw in C2, where she opened a new account.
The UK pavilion featured a variety of unusual concepts in jewellery design, such as a necklace from Lukas Caspar Jewellery featuring salt-and-pepper diamonds, and nude colour natural zircon beads.
Salt-and-pepper diamonds are a hot trend in jewellery design as part of emerging tastes for imperfection in luxury, jewellers and designers say.
The seminar programme featured well-known industry speakers, such as Rita Lahlou, head of jewellery at Amazon Europe, and influencer Katerina Perez.
This edition of INHORGENTA Munich ends on February 17, 2020.
