VicenzaOro Signals Rise in Italian Jewelry Exports

RAPAPORT… Retailer traffic
was brisk at the September VicenzaOro, the last showcase of Italian gold and
silver jewelry before the festive season, with organizers reporting a rise in
Italian precious jewelry exports.



Italy’s exports
of precious jewelry increased 13% to $3.57 billion (EUR 3.04 billion) year on
year in the first half, supported by rising gold prices, organizers of the fair
reported.
Italy is one of
the world’s leading exporters of gold and silver jewelry to key markets such as
the Middle East, the US and Switzerland.


Trade fairs such
as the January and September editions of VicenzaOro, and VicenzaOro Dubai, as
well as OroArezzo, are leading gateways for Italian precious jewelry exports,
organizers say.


International sales
of Roberto Coin’s diamond-jewelry lines, such as the Cento Collection, have
been buoyant this year, the owner said.


“Women want diamond
jewelry that is unique and expresses their individuality,” Coin told Rapaport
News.

Roberto Coin presented the Princess Flower Collection at the show, a jewelry line inspired by
the flower of love. It also showcased the Dragons Limited Edition, representing dragons as
symbols of goodness and fortune, based on ancient oriental legends.


Mattia Cielo,
whose eponymous diamond jewelry brand is stocked at Neiman Marcus and Maxfield in
the US, said his sales were up year on year as women opted for less traditional
designs.


Sustainability
and corporate social responsibility were key themes at the September
VicenzaOro.


A seminar hosted
by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) discussed new EU “conflict mineral”
legislation, which obligates importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold to
carry out strict checks to ensure that their suppliers are respecting their
social-responsibility obligations.


VicenzaOro’s Trend Book 2019+
was launched at the fair, with forecaster Paola De Luca predicting more personalization
in jewelry design, consumer preferences for imperfection and asymmetry, and
growing demand from millennial consumers for high ethical standards in luxury
goods.


In jewelry, the black-and-white look is
becoming more popular, including black diamonds. Darker and warmer tones in
diamonds are also getting more play, De Luca said.