Editor’s Note
This article previews the opening day of Vicenzaoro’s January edition, highlighting its focus on nurturing future talent. The program begins with a student-led “Golden Talk” and culminates in the official opening ceremony.
The January edition of Vicenzaoro begins by focusing on people and the sector’s investment in tomorrow’s talents. On Friday, January 16, at 8:30 AM, students will inaugurate the program at the Palladio Theatre with the Golden Talk, organized in collaboration with Skuola.net. At 12:00 PM, the official opening ceremony of the event will be held.
Young jewelry-making talents will also be the protagonists of the PROGOLD Design Contest (Friday) and the meeting with Assocoral (Sunday), focused on the value of artisanal know-how as a key driver for the future, where technique, craftsmanship, and creativity become strategic assets.
Meanwhile, CIBJO will dedicate one of the eight seminars in the Jewellery Industry Voices series—an educational program on sustainability and social responsibility developed with IEG and recognized by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)—to future generations of consumers.
Another significant novelty will be the 27th Symposium marking the 30th anniversary of FEEG (Federation for European Education in Gemmology), which will bring together some of the most authoritative voices in international gemology, with special attention to young European talents.
The product is the heart of Vicenzaoro. As a trend show, the event relies on Trendvision Jewellery + Forecasting, its permanent luxury trends observatory, to anticipate the languages, forms, and directions of contemporary design. Under the title “Coded Couture”, the Saturday session will offer companies concrete tools for planning new collections and strategies.
Between Saturday and Sunday, gemstones will take center stage. The IGI Gem Talk, titled “Red Ruby. From the mine to the jewel”, will focus on the ruby, analyzing its value throughout the entire chain, from origin to the end consumer. The Japan Pearl Exporters’ Association will delve into the history, quality, and sustainability of the Akoya pearl, while CIBJO will address the impact of artificial intelligence on gemological laboratories and certificates, the potential of colored gemstones, and the current state and prospects of the diamond sector.
The narrative will be further enriched by the professional testimonials and cultural vision of jewelry that Assogemme proposes in each edition, with the participation of representatives from leading companies in the sector.
The industrial landscape will be completed with a series of technical analyses by CIBJO dedicated to sustainability, traceability, regulatory compliance, and innovation. Topics covered will include the Gold Principles Group, supply chain risk management, and the use of technologies such as DNA-based physical tracers and blockchain for tracking gemstones, diamonds, and jewelry.
Market analysis and the international context will be handled by the Club degli Orafi and Intesa Sanpaolo, with their usual reading of the economic scenario, the sector’s climate, and internationalization opportunities (Friday).
Places of consumption will be the focus of the Retail Talks by Confcommercio Federpreziosi (Monday), which will spotlight points of sale and consumer behavior, exploring the narrative and emotional factors that influence jewelry purchases.
All events will be streamed, and the complete and updated program is available at vicenzaoro.com.
The entire Vicenzaoro experience is designed to facilitate the meeting between supply and demand and generate real business opportunities. The Jewellery Connect platform, also available as an app, allows users to consult the exhibitor catalog, plan routes, manage appointments, and receive personalized suggestions.
Hospitality is completed with VIOFF, the program of events outside the exhibition grounds, developed around the concept of the “Golden Key”, the key that opens the door to new opportunities. In collaboration with the city of Vicenza, international visitors will be able to discover the Italian lifestyle in the historic center, amidst shopping, art, culture, and gastronomy.
The Jewelry Museum, located in the Basilica Palladiana, further enriches the cultural offering.