Vicenzaoro saw high attendance, signaling solid orders by retailers restocking after the festive season.
US retailers were out in force at the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) event staged in the Vicenza show grounds in northeast Italy from January 17 to 21. In attendance were buyers from leading companies, such as Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Off 5th, AAFES, Ben Bridge Jeweler, Diane Glynn Jewelry, and Manfredi Jewels.
“Vicenzaoro was a fruitful experience where I filled some orders and discovered unique, well-crafted jewelry,” Lisa Vinicur of Pennsylvania-based Diane Glynn Jewelry told Rapaport News. “I specifically sought important pieces like bangles, earrings, necklaces, and rings that are only available in Vicenza, and I’m pleased to say I found them.”
The show’s layout had been changed to facilitate reconstruction works, which are expected to increase exhibitor capacity by 20%.
“Although the venue had construction happening, [the organizers] increased the signage to make the show easy to navigate,” said Nina Bruno of Macy’s, based in New York. “We are always shopping for new inspiration in chains. We were pleased to see fresh manipulations in chains and innovative diamond cutting.”
Sylvia Smitherman of Army & Airforce Exchange Service (AAFES), based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, was pleased with the selections at the fair, finding new products across all categories from diamonds, gemstones, gold, and silver.
Laura Barringer, Seattle-based senior buyer at Ben Bridge Jeweler, said the brand refilled all of its core selections and resourced and created a new collection it hoped to launch this spring. “Although we sensed a bit of hesitation among some buyers, and maybe some ‘wait and see,’ we found Vicenzaoro very productive, and it delivered all our shopping needs,” she continued.
Managing partner of New York-based Manfredi Jewels Bianca Chiappelloni explained that part of the show’s draw is the ability to access Italian companies in one place. “It’s been beneficial for us to visit with so many of our Italian brands, in most cases seeing a much more complete and full showcase of their offerings than we see at some of the shows in the US,” she said. “We’ve been able to place some orders early in the year, which is helpful in terms of timing to receive products for the summer as opposed to just in the fall and for the holidays.”
Vicenzaoro, one of the world’s leading jewelry trade events, which takes place twice a year in January and September, unfolded against a backdrop of lofty gold prices, trading in late January not far below an all-time high touched in October 2024.
The show’s exhibition director, Matteo Farsura, told Rapaport News that high gold prices had contributed to a 7% year-on-year increase in the value of Italian goldsmithing jewelry exports in the first 10 months of 2024, the most recent available data. He gave no dollar figure for the value of exports.
Farsura saw a favorable outlook for Italian gold-jewelry exports by value in 2025.
While “Made in Italy” goods were a key part of the show, Vicenzaoro also presents the latest jewelry designs from suppliers across the world, such as India, China and Thailand. The event offers a vast array of jewelry products, ranging from the latest creations in precious metals with diamonds and colored gemstones, to the newest technologies and jewelry-industry machines in the separate T.GOLD halls, which were packed during the January edition.
Following the expected conclusion of the reconstruction works in September 2026, the T.GOLD area will be integrated under one roof with the rest of the show, Vicenzaoro executives said.
Image: The exterior of the Vicenzaoro show. (Vicenzaoro)
