CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF VICENZAORO!

I will admit that I approached the September 2024 edition of VicenzaOro with slight trepidation - the District Renewal project is underway, a massive undertaking that will elevate our beloved Vicenza playground to a whole new level, and I was nervous about what to expect! The sounds of drilling? Dust everywhere? How would it be possible to have a show of this magnitude, while in the midst of construction? I need not have worried! A new temporary layout was waiting for us, and the clear signage everywhere meant there was no disruption whatsoever to business (in fact, new/first time visitors were blissfully unaware of any changes at all!) and business flowed as fruitfully and as smoothly as always. Diamonds sparkled, coffee was enjoyed, and champagne flowed at the close of every day.

Allow me to highlight some of my favorite moments.

1. Discovering new brands: this is always a joy for me. I love bringing you brands that deliver beautiful jewelry constantly, year on year (think Roberto Coin, Hans D Krieger, Crivelli, and so many more!) but there is a special pleasure in meeting a brand for the first time, and feeling that thrill of seeing something new! Yes friends, I never tire of it, no matter how many shows I attend, and how many pieces of jewelry I see, its always gives me such a boost to see something new! Two brands which stand out to me from this edition are Yana Nesper and Akillis Joaillerie Paris. Yana Nesper is a German brand that comes from a pearl heritage, and have developed a chic, contemporary pearl and gold line that was recently featured prominently on the hit Netflix Show, Emily in Paris. Two features captured my attention. First, their genius magnetic clasps! No fidgety clasps, the pieces snap securely together, and can be adjusted to the desired size. Second, pretty much all their pieces can be worn multiple way, allowing for flexibility and versatility, as well as giving the wearer the option to individualize the jewelry to their personal style. Akillis was discovered by accident - I walked past their booth, and their unique Puzzle Collection caught my eye, a collection made with realistic puzzle pieces. There is so much meaning to the collection, from imagining life as a puzzle, to gifting a piece from the collection to someone special who is the missing piece that completes you.

2. Meeting soooooo many people from all over the world! With 1200 exhibiting brands, and international buyers from 132 countries, you can imagine the people! "Media visibility of the show and the increasingly high quality of the events, both at the Expo and in town with VIOFF, confirm VicenzaOro's status as a reference point for the international community", said Matteo Farsura , global exhibition manager of IEG's Jewellery & Fashion division, and I couldn't agree more. I bumped into friends from India, The Philippines, South Africa, America, Dubai, and more! It really felt like a global event, as the entire jewelry community came together to enjoy the magic that is VicenzaOro.

3. The parties! Would it be VicenzaOro without jaw dropping events? I think not! The opening welcome party was held this year in the Vicenza town square, the beautiful Piazza dei Signori. The square is surrounded by architectural masterpieces including  Andrea Palladio’s Basilica Palladian and the Loggia del Capitaniato, along with Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, Chiesa di San Vincenzo, Torre Bissara and the Lion of St. Mark and Christ the Redeemer columns. Under the impressive architectural feats, we ate, drank, danced, and laughed, and toasted the continued success of VicenzaOro. The following evening we were invited to “La Dolce Vita” Gala Dinner event celebrating the rebirth of La Prima Gioielli. The event was held at Villa Solatia, and the details that went into the panning of the evening make it one of the most unforgettable, special events I have ever attended. Guests were taken around the beautiful grounds in golf carts, past magical installations, dancers, musicians, and of course, showcases of jewelry, highlighting the new "Bloomy" collection by La Prima Gioielli. Dinner was held in a flower filled, candle lit, glass house in the gardens, and after a superb dinner, the party continued until late into the night.

There were many, many more special moments during the three days I spent at VicenzaOro. It would be impossible to capture them all in this blog, so be sure to visit the social feeds of VicenzaOro as updates and recaps are being posted regularly. And be sure to save the dates for the next edition of VicenzaOro, taking place 21-25 January 2025. I hope to see you there!