While bringing into limelight-focus the glorious fifty years legacy of Italy in the world of gold, Vicenzaoro Autumn Fair in new structure and management with an aggressive strategic plan, expanded network of alliances for consolidating Italian leadership on the global gold and jewellery market has refuelled this thrust in its latest 2007 edition. %% Vicenzaoro Autumn-07, the third international gems and jewellery Vicenzaoro fair with emphasis on gold was held from September 15 to 19, 2007. Innovation based on speed and excellence of service for competing on international markets is the message launched by the President and the Director General of the Vicenza Fair, Dino Menarin and Maurizio Castro on the occasion. %% In April 2007 a new company structure was laid out, the Vicenza Fair became a Limited Company and the end of May brought new management appointments. %% July-end saw the Vicenza Fair Board of Directors putting the new strategic plan in place, oriented towards organizational efficiency, competitiveness in service and the implementation of new ploys to assist and support the gold jewellery sector. At the centre of the project the rediscovery of gold and jewels as tokens of cultural identity and as protagonists, together with fashion and design, in the winning role of “Made In Italy.”

Economy, market, art and culture in fact enrich Vicenzaoro Autumn, for the first time open to the general public as well as to exhibitors and operators. On September 17, a convention with participation by the Minister for International Trade and European Policies, Emma Bonino and by Antonio Marzano, President of the CNEL (National Economic and Labour Council) took an in-depth look, together with exhibitors and operators, on crucial matters regarding the prospects of a sector faced with global competition. %% On September 18, a follow-up session moderated by Irene Pivetti was dedicated to the deep co-penetration that exists between gold jewellery, fashion design and style and to finding grounds for operational and cultural synergy in sectors that are strong drivers for Italian export. %% Again on September 18, well-known names from culture, art and journalism explored at a round table the relationships between luxury, jewellery and cultural identities. %% The exhibition “Gold from Peru- Jewels, Symbols & Legends of Lost Civilizations”, curated by Prof. Antonio Aimi, Professor of Hispanic-American Language and Literature at Milan University and set up by the Vicenza Fair, was the debut of a project spanning several years offering cultural support to the goldsmith’s art. %% On September 18, five pioneers of this Fair in Vicenza, among the first to show their loyalty when the event was launched received awards during a gala evening presented by Ilaria D’Amico. The Vicenza Calcio Football Team was also there there to underline the Vicenza Fair’s decision to sponsor their championship and set up new relationships between gold and the world of entertainment.

Future Challenges:

During the press conference, Maurizio Castro announced Vicenza Fair’s future challenges. “Exporting the brand outside the city of Vicenza, building a fertile close-knit network of alliances, contaminations, integrations, with fashion and design. We have chosen Milan, the capital of fashion and design, for the first edition of a new event from March 2 to 4. This will be extremely selective and positioned in the highest product-market segment and will present the most exclusive new gold and jewellery lines.” %% “We have also decided”, continued Castro, “to round out our gold jewellery shows by opening up to the fast growing adjacent world of lifestyle and luxury”. The Vicenza Fair and Veorna Fiere have in fact signed an agreement which will transfer the prestigious international event totally dedicated to ‘Luxury to Vicenza’ in March 2008.

50 Golden Years:

“50 Golden Years” was the title of the event organized by the Vicenza Fair on September 18 in the Leonardo Pavilion. %% Presented by the journalist Ilaria D’Amico, this gala evening also provided an opportunity for remembering the work carried out by Italian gold jewellery enterprises. %% A video filmed especially for the occasion by the Director Andrea Bettinetti illustrated moments from the history of five top selective companies. %% They each represent a different gold jewellery district and their names are among the best-known and esteemed in the sector. Novarese & Sannazzaro in Valenza, Mattia Mazza in Torre del Greco, Oma27AR in Arezzo, Fratelli Cacchione in Milan and Fope in Vicenza. %% The jewels and products that have made these examples of Italian gold jewellery industries so important then starred in a show, which in turn lead to a special historical staging with all the feel and settings of the fifties, sixties, seventies and so on, whereby each producer was matched to a different decade.

Best Collections of 1500 Gold Jewellery Producers:

For 28 years Vicenzaoro Autumn has been the benchmark Fair for national and foreign gold jewellery retail. %% Vicenzaoro-07 showcased the best collections by 1,500 gold jewellery producers from the most important production districts in the sector. %% The goods on show included fine gold jewellery, gems studded jewellery, precious gemstones, natural and cultured pearls, coral, semi-precious and ornamental stones.

Foreign Participation:

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Macao, People’s Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Principality of Monaco, Republic of San Marino, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and USA. %% Buyers from more than a hundred countries came to Vicenzaoro.

Candid Comments of Attendees:

It was a good Show, the turnout of visitors was much better than previous years. Demand was mainly for high-end jewellery or for the Italian gold jewellery, for which the Show is known. As we see everywhere in Europe the jewellery manufacturing is declining and shifting towards Asia. This was a big reason why the exhibitors of loose gemstones were not satisfied in the Show. %% As evident worldwide, the markets are consolidating and the business is concentrated in the hands of a few companies, the same was distinctively felt at the Vicenza fair also. %% The popular brands like – Recarlo, Roberto Coin, Stefan Hafner etc. were busy as usual. It was also observed that the products of higher quality had better demand than the lower-end goods. Middle class buyers have many other areas to spend their money into and their pockets are being tapped by the electrical, travel and other industries.

Exhibitors’ Assessment:

{{Roberto Coin}} $$ Vicenza is always a good Show for us. The business is generally good since we deal in very high-end products and that market is inceasing. I have been selling in Japan and Hong Kong for 20 years and now we are keenly considering to enter the Indian market which may take a year or two. Europe, Dubai and Russia are also very important markets for us. All our jewellery is manufactured in Italy and that is the main reason it is known for high design and quality.

{{Santi Chowdhary}} (Royal Gems & Arts): $$ We have been participating for more than 15 years in the Vicenza Fair. It is an important show for our company since Italy is one of our major markets. We deal exclusively in high-end Kundan, Meena and diamond Jewellery. People of Spain, Russia and Austria come here as good buyers in the Show. Emerald is in fashion; or your can say mainly green color is in demand. As per the current scenario, I think market outside Italy is much better. Buyers from other countries are giving better business at this Show. The future market is that of high-end jewellery since quality is in demand worldwide.