Editor’s Note
This article highlights VO Vintage, a dedicated exhibition for vintage jewelry and watches launching at Vicenzaoro 2026. It will feature specialized dealers, curated exhibits, and expert programming focused on provenance and value.
VO Vintage, held as part of Vicenzaoro 2026 (January 16-19, 2026), is a curated platform for vintage jewelry and watches, featuring specialized dealers, selected exhibits, and a professional supporting program at the Vicenza Expo Centre. With 55 specialized exhibitors and a supporting expert program, VO Vintage places a clear thematic emphasis on the provenance, rarity, and value preservation of historical jewelry and watch pieces. The focus is on certified pre-owned watches, signed vintage jewelry, and a special exhibition on the GMT-Master with gilt dials from the 1960s.
The platform for vintage jewelry and watches, organized by the Italian Exhibition Group, is experiencing significant growth. 55 exhibitors will present their collections, representing an increase of approximately 25% compared to the September edition. Admission is free after prior online registration. VO Vintage is located on the mezzanine level of Hall 8.1 and is accessible via the West entrance.
The exhibitor field is divided into 28 jewelry dealers and 27 watch dealers from Italy and the international market. Participants include established specialists in signed vintage jewelry, historical diamond cuts, colored gemstones, and selected timepieces from the secondary market. The event is specifically targeted at informed collectors, professional dealers, and industry experts who value provenance, condition, and gemological expertise.
A key thematic focus is a curated exhibition on the GMT-Master with gilt dials from 1960 to 1967. This dial technology, no longer used today, represents a brief but technically and aesthetically formative phase in watchmaking history. 15 examples will be displayed in chronological order, supplemented by historical advertising and archival material. The exhibition is based on loans from collectors and dealers and was curated by Fabrizio Artioli, Marco Di Falco, and Andrea Piccinini.
On Saturday, January 17, a compact program of lectures and discussions will complement the market activities:
- 11:30 AM: “States General de Vintage” – A panel discussion with leading Italian collectors and dealers on market mechanisms, rarity, and the preservation of historical watches.
- 2:00 PM: Lecture by Professor Guido Pancani from the Fondation Haute Horlogerie on the history of Italian watchmaking culture.
- 3:00 PM: Book presentation “GMT-Master 1675 – The Gilt Era” featuring technical analyses, material studies, and model comparisons in the context of the 1960s.
