By David Brough
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Visitors crammed into the halls of the Istanbul Jewelry Show, including strong representation from the Middle East, Europe and Latin America, with numbers sharply down from Russia and Ukraine due to the war.
The atmosphere was positive from the outset with a “business as usual” sentiment felt across the jewellery, gemstones and machinery halls, after the opening ceremony on March 24 presided over by Mustafa Kamar, Chairman of the Jewellery Exporters’ Association (JTR), supported by a band of traditional Turkish musicians in colourful traditional dress to lift the mood.
The fair is a showcase mainly for gold and silver jewellery exports from Turkey, as well as state-of-the-art machinery. Stands such as Roberto Bravo, which features handmade gem-set jewellery, were consistently buzzing with buyers.
The Istanbul Jewelry Show proclaimed its support of Sustainability. Some of the leading Turkish gold jewellery suppliers, who are members of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), including Goldenline Jewellery and Gusto Gold, presented their own messages at their stands in support of sustainability and responsible business management.
The busy show came on the heels of Vicenzaoro, which reported a 24 percent jump in attendance compared with its previous edition in September 2021.
Around half a dozen wholesalers visiting the Istanbul show from the UK said they were impressed by the wide variety and competitiveness of the goods on display.
Istanbul Jewelry Show runs until March 24, 2022.
