onsolidated international leadership and the ability to accompany the jewellery supply chain into a new phase, supported by an Expo Centre in the final stages of expansion. This was the message launched this morning during the opening ceremony of Vicenzaoro January, IEG’s international jewellery show, ongoing at Vicenza Expo Centre until Tuesday 20^th.

The ceremony began with an official welcome from the President of the Veneto Region, Alberto Stefani: «Veneto is the beating heart of Italian goldsmithing excellence. With over 1,200 artisan businesses, our region generates 26% of the sector’s national exports. The Vicenza district, in particular, is the pride of our know-how: an example recognised worldwide for its quality and resilience, which shines on the global stage of Vicenzaoro as it interacts with international markets.»

Corrado Peraboni, CEO of Italian Exhibition Group, was next to speak: «This edition of Vicenzaoro opens with a strong signal of confidence and optimism thanks to a joint effort involving businesses and institutions. It is the last edition in an Expo Centre undergoing transformation, which will enter a new phase in September, making us even more competitive. Vicenza is sending a clear message: when the country works together, people, places and products become the drivers of development.»

The opening ceremony, hosted by Giuseppe De Filippi, deputy director of TG5, was also attended by Luca Zaia, President of the Veneto Regional Council, Matteo Zoppas, President of the Italian Trade Agency, Giacomo Possamai, Mayor of Vicenza, Andrea Nardin, President of the Province of Vicenza, and Maria Cristina Squarcialupi, National President of Confindustria Federorafi.

This new January edition of Vicenzaoro marks yet another sell-out with over 1,300 exhibitors, 60% of which are Italian brands and 40% foreign from 30 countries, mainly Turkey, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany, France and Belgium. Thanks to collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, over 560 hosted buyers arrived from 65 countries. In the lead in terms of attendance: the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

T.GOLD, THE TECHNOLOGICAL HEART OF VICENZAORO
T.Gold, Italian Exhibition Group’s B2B trade show that showcases the best machinery and supply chain technologies, opened in conjunction with Vicenzaoro and is the only event in the sector where exhibits can be seen in operation. 170 companies from 16 countries are exhibiting with a 40% foreign presence, led by Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, India and the United States. As of next September, when the new hall will be fully operational, IEG will further enrich its technology agenda with a second annual edition of T.Gold, thus boosting content, training and strategic partnerships.

VO VINTAGE, TIMELESS CHARM
The curtain has also risen on VO Vintage, the event for collectors and enthusiasts, which welcomes 55 exhibitors, up 25% on last September, and will be open until Monday 19^th January. The marketplace, with free admission on prior online registration at vovintage.com, hosts top Italian and international dealers in vintage jewellery and the most qualified watch specialists. In addition to the exhibition, talks with leading figures and experts, meetings and training sessions designed to explore the history, technique and cultural value of vintage pieces, will also be staged.

ON DISPLAY AT VICENZAORO JANUARY 26
The transparency of rose-cut diamonds, the use of titanium, an abundance of colours, and an occasional glance of Art Deco from the past. Innovative use of raw materials, over-size items that intrigue Middle Eastern markets, pearls making a comeback, including in an embrace with diamond pavé. At Vicenzaoro January, past and present merge with Eastern and Western influences that give shape to emeralds and white and rose gold. An event brimming with inspiration and stylistic crossovers. Major Made in Italy brands winningly coexist with the maisons’ vintage collections and new collections for the spring-summer season enclosed in the treasure chests at the stands.

GOLDEN TALK, TRAINING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE INDUSTRY’S FUTURE
A training morning preceded Vicenzaoro’s inauguration. Golden Talk, an event organised as part of VIOFF’s “Golden Key”, was held at the Palladio Theatre. The initiative, promoted by IEG with Confindustria Federorafi and Confindustria Vicenza and moderated by Skuola.net, involved around 650 students from 11 schools. The focus was on the personal stories of professionals who offered young people a concrete vision of the skills that the gold and jewellery sector requires.

TOMORROW’S EVENTS, JANUARY 17
On the afternoon of the opening day, the Educational Hub hosted an event organised by Club degli Orafi entitled Precious metals in the Trump era: the comeback of hard assets: a detailed analysis of the macroeconomic and sectoral scenarios affecting the goldsmith supply chain and the sector’s economic progress, the climate of confidence among entrepreneurs and the prospects for development in a changing global market.
Tomorrow, 17^th January, Vicenzaoro is offering a series of events and in-depth discussions for professionals and enthusiasts. It begins at 11 am in the Palladio Theatre with Coded Couture – Jewellery as cultural code in the age of Artificial Intelligence to explore the new paradigm in jewellery. At 11.30 am, in the Canova Room, The States General of Vintage will gather leading specialists to analyse the market, trends, risks and opportunities in the vintage and pre-owned sector. At 2 pm the Canova Room will also host a presentation of the book History of Italian Watchmaking: From the 14^th Century to the Rebirth of Made in Italy , which traces the history of the key figures who made the rise and development of Italian watchmaking possible. At the same time, in the Educational Hub, the Club degli Orafi will present The Goldsmithing Sector: characteristics and prospects of the national market, a conference addressing the changes that are characterising the domestic market, based on a sociological survey conducted in the field on multi-brand retail.