The Jewellery Revolution: Vicenzaoro 2025 Writes the Next Chapter
- JewelleryPursuer
- Sep 16, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 19, 2025
Vicenzaoro September 2025 closed on a high note, confirming its place as the beating heart of the global jewellery world. This edition recorded a +3% increase in visitors compared to September 2024, welcoming buyers from 130 countries. Spain, France, and Germany led the international presence, while attendance from the United States (+2%) and the United Arab Emirates (+21%) grew significantly. Australia doubled its participation, while China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Brazil also strengthened their presence. For the first time, delegations from 15 new countries, including Bolivia, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the Dominican Republic, walked the halls of the Vicenza Expo Centre.
With over 1,200 exhibitors from 30 countries and the strength of the entire supply chain, Vicenzaoro proved once again why it is an essential hub for international trade. Thanks to the Italian Trade Agency’s programme, 605 hosted buyers from 63 countries took part, led by the United States, the UAE, and France.
Jewellery from Ornament to Identity – The Quantum Age
One of the most compelling moments came on the second day with Trendvision Jewellery + Forecasting’s talk, “The Quantum Age. Jewellery and the Convergence of Cultural Transformations,” directed by Paola De Luca. It was here that jewellery was reimagined not just as an ornament, but as a cultural, technological, and emotional medium of identity.
Lebanese artist Samar Younes described jewellery as a “technology-interface” and identity prosthesis, while Archana Thani of Vogue India reminded us that in India, jewellery still retains its cultural roots, now layered with design, spirituality, and function. Helen Mao, Chinese cultural consultant, explored how small consumer communities in China are reshaping the market through technology-driven shopping experiences, and visionary designer Fabio Salini shared how unexpected materials and inner research are redefining fine jewellery itself.
✨ My reflection: Sitting in this session, I felt the pulse of the industry’s future. Jewellery is no longer just about beauty — it’s about identity, belonging, and the stories we choose to tell the world.
From Paola De Luca's Tredbook Forecas Panel Talk
China Looks at Made in Italy
Another highlight was the session on “Strategies and Success Models for the Jewellery World in China”. Chinese consumers, increasingly young, educated, and digitally connected, are seeking authenticity, tradition, and storytelling. Gold remains central, but pearls have seen a 60% year-on-year rise, particularly among women driving the She Economy.
Three profiles stood out: Gen Z, global but rooted in national identity; urban professionals, who value craftsmanship; and the super-rich, bold and younger than their global peers. The message was clear: Italian brands must blend heritage, innovation, and digital fluency to capture this audience.
Gold Above $3,000: Challenges and Creativity
The surge in gold prices — now above $3,000 per ounce — was the focus of the meeting organised by IPMI and CIBJO, chaired by Gaetano Cavalieri. Experts outlined the impact on manufacturing and retail. India (34%) and China (24%) dominate jewellery production, with Italy holding third place at 7%, driven by exports rather than domestic consumption.
Speakers like Alessia Crivelli and Giorgio Villa stressed the importance of design innovation to optimise material use, while sustainability advocates like John Mulligan (World Gold Council) and Alice Vanni (Italpreziosi) called for clearer standards on recycled gold and responsible sourcing. On the tech side, Federico Padrono Martini (IKOI Spa)presented the “green gold” project with vacuum refining — proof that innovation will carry us through volatility.
A Survey of Italian Jewellery’s Future
The 9th joint survey by Club degli Orafi Italia and Intesa Sanpaolo, presented on opening day, revealed that Italian jewellery exports in the first five months of 2025 totalled €5.2 billion — down 16.8% in value and 19.4% in volume. Yet optimism remains: more companies are planning to invest (30%, up from 21%), and Italy holds its crown as Europe’s top exporter, commanding over 50% of exports to the EU27.
Human Stories: “There is No Jewel Without Joy”
At Assogemme’s event Wise Forms, creativity took centre stage in a conversation with Fulvio Maria Scavia and his son Alessandro. Their Milanese maison, rooted in Valenza, spans four generations. Fulvio recounted how his hands were once destined for emergency surgery, but jewellery design became both vocation and destiny — allowing him to carry forward the family legacy.
His iconic Sandra Dia spiral earrings, commissioned by Liz Taylor and exhibited at MoMA, are proof of the timeless power of jewellery as both art and memory. “It’s about entrusting your dream to the goldsmith,” Scavia shared, “so that they don’t just comply with the design, but give life to it with their own hands.”
Innovation, Awards and Looking Ahead
Vicenzaoro September was also preceded by the first Vicenza Symposium, a biennial event held at the Basilica Palladiana, dedicated to precious metal technologies and innovation in jewellery and fashion accessories.
And this year marked the launch of the VO Awards — Vicenzaoro’s official recognition of excellence in jewellery design, innovation, and vision. These awards highlight the talents who balance tradition with daring creativity, underlining Vicenzaoro’s mission as not just a marketplace but a cultural and creative platform.
The trends on display at Vicenzaoro resonated strongly with me, and I found myself drawn to pieces that reflect the same themes. Here are some jewellery looks I styled during the fair, echoing the creative spirit of the event.
Beyond the Fair: A City in Celebration
After the fair’s business hours, the ViOff programme animated Vicenza, allowing guests to immerse themselves in its artistic treasures and vibrant lifestyle. The debut of VO Vintage in September added another dimension, with four days dedicated to collectors, enthusiasts, and the timeless beauty of vintage jewellery and watches.
Expansion Plans for Vicenzaoro
During Vicenzaoro, Mario Vescovo, Operations Director of Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A., highlighted the ongoing progress of the fair’s additional site development. He shared that the expansion project is advancing steadily and is set to enhance both the capacity and visitor experience of the event. According to Vescovo, the works are being carefully overseen to ensure completion by 2026, a milestone that will further strengthen Vicenzaoro’s role as a global hub for the jewellery industry. Looking ahead, the new site is expected to provide greater opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their creativity on a larger scale, while visitors will benefit from an even more dynamic, international, and immersive experience that reflects the evolving landscape of global luxury and design.
Mario Vescovo, Operations Director of Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A
Celebrating Beauty and Legacy
For the second time, I had the honour of being invited as part of the press to discover La Prima Joaillerie, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The event offered a closer look at the maison’s exquisite craftsmanship and distinctive design language, reaffirming its place as a rising star in the world of fine jewellery. Being surrounded by such artistry was inspiring, and I’m excited to share a glimpse of this special occasion with you through the photos I captured during the event.
From La Prima Joaillerie night
Closing Thoughts
Vicenzaoro September 2025 was not just about numbers — though they were impressive. It was about vision, creativity, resilience, and identity. From the “quantum” future of jewellery to the pressing realities of raw material costs, from China’s She Economy to the timeless wisdom of master jewellers like Scavia, the fair reflected the complexity and beauty of an industry in transformation.
✨ For me, joining from the second day meant stepping into an atmosphere where heritage and innovation danced together — in meetings, panels, and conversations. Jewellery here is more than trade: it is a medium of culture, a marker of identity, and above all, a source of joy. Vicenzaoro truly remains the place where the jewellery world comes together to craft the future.
Author: Shohista Turdiyeva
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