Amidst skyrocketing gold prices, global economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the jewelry industry prepares for one of its most consequential annual events: Oroarezzo, which showcases Italian jewelry design and made-in-Italy gold and silver jewelry excellence, along with goldsmithing companies from Turkey and Spain. Presented by Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), “Oroarezzo 2025 will embody an expanded exhibition layout as compared to last year’s,” said Matteo Farsura, IEG’s division head of Fashion and Jewellery. The 44th edition of the business-to-business Oroarezzo show will take place at Arezzo Fiere e Congressi from May 10th to May 13th in Arezzo, Tuscany.
Presenting Made In Italy Jewelry To Top Retailers
While the show’s tagline is “Shaping Jewelry Ideas”, Oroarezzo welcomes a rarefied selection of international jewelry and accessory buyers from the most strategic and mature markets for Made in Italy exports. In addition, it attracts buyers from countries with potentials that have yet to be fully realized. For these and other reasons, Oroarezzo continues to be an important platform for the fashion industry. The four-day trade fiesta includes exhibitors specializing in processes and technologies that produce jewelry as well as such fashion accessories as belts, handbags, etc. Like jewelry, other upmarket accessories often embody luxury design codes, precious metals and other valuable materials. In addition, many other upmarket accessories are also made according to technically precise, artisanally advanced standards.
Strategies For Thriving Amidst Uncertainty
Oroarezzo’s relevance to the global jewelry industry is also embodied in “Precious Fashion”. This carefully programmed event is dedicated to supplying metal accessories supply chain professionals with evidence-based data and actionable insights for consideration plus strategies and tactics for potential use. Taking place on May 12 in the Arezzo Fiere e Congressi, the “Precious Fashion” program titled Maximalism and Competitiveness: Opportunities and Challenges for the Fashion Accessories Supply Chain, will attempt to answer such urgent questions as: How is the upsurge of maximalist design and rising gold costs affecting planning and conceptualization of jewelry collections? What technologies can be employed to make beautiful, lightweight, yet resilient gold jewelry? How and where will fashion brands evolve in the next five years, and what will they expect from the supply chain?
“The six distinct sectors of Oroarezzo 2025,” Farsura explained, “will provide retail buyers, manufacturers and others with rich opportunities for making new design discoveries, learning about advanced manufacturing technologies and connecting with industry professionals.” IEG reports that the 2024 edition drew just over 400 high-profile international buyers from 60 countries. Attendance figures totaled 11,550 visitors from 109 countries, with a 14% increase in foreign attendance. “Last year’s edition saw a 5% increase in overall visitation compared to the previous year,” said Farsura.
Oroarezzo’s Influential And Valuable Offerings
Oroarezzo, it should be noted, does far more than unite made-in-Italy jewelry companies with top-tier luxury buyers from 60-odd countries. The show also attracts jewelry and fashion reporters, opinion leaders and influencers who then disseminate jewelry Images, videos and feature articles online and in print media. Seen, studied and/or saved by the world’s jewelry and fashion retailers and consumers, Oroarezzo stories and images make impacts that are difficult to quantify, yet nevertheless affecting consumer purchasing decisions.
According to Farsura, the six zones of the Oroarezzo fair include Goldsmith and Jewelry Creation,where artisanal and contemporary designs from Italy’s finest heritage houses, independent and global brands will be presented. Inside of Semi-finished Products and Components, goldsmiths and manufacturers will be able to find everything from mountings to clasps. As the realm of Tech Innovations presents cutting-edge machinery and technologies that are revolutionizing jewelry production, this area promises to attract designers, international jewelry brands and manufacturers.
As David Brough, editor and publisher of the global jewelry trade magazine Jewellery Outlook noted, “The trade is grappling with the impact of soaring gold prices, which have hit a series of all-time highs lately. Buyers will need to be in close contact with manufacturers to ensure that gold jewelry is crafted as efficiently as possible at a time of buoyant bullion prices.” Brough ventured that, “Some manufacturers may offer lower purities of gold jewelry while deploying the latest technologies, including electro-forming, to reduce gold weight in designs.”
In the Cash & Carry realm of Oroarezzo, retailers will be able to purchase an array of finished pieces on the spot, while a treasure trove of colorful and rare gems plus high-grade gemstones for designers and manufacturers will animate the Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones area. Fashion Accessories and Packaging will be a showcase for innovative bejeweled accessories plus new and novel solutions for packaging.
Wherever they go in Oroarezzo, Farsura promises, “Foreign buyers will see and feel a vast catalogue of made-in-Italy gold and silver jewels, along with jewelry containing precious stones. They will view an array of the most advanced, top-quality technologies.” Also important, Farsura continued, “Oroarezzo provides the chance to speak with companies so as to plan or design new products and collections for the second half of the year. IEG,” he observed, “considers Oroarezzo and its relationship to the Arezzo area as fundamentally important.” (Together with organizers in Arezzo, IEG has prepared a program of professional and cultural events that are taking place during the show.)
With support from the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), Orozrezzo also generates cultural messaging that reaffirms Italy’s commitment to upholding and enhancing its renowned jewelry heritage. (The history of made-in-Italy gold jewelry stretches back to the Etruscan civilization, which flourished from 8th century B.C. to the 2nd century B.C., in what is now Central Italy. Etruscan jewelry, particularly from the 7th to 5th centuries B.C., embodied labor-intensive, highly precise and intricate artisanal techniques such as granulation, filigree and repoussée.)
The Première Design Competition
Past and present glories of made-in-Italy jewelry shine especially bright during Oroarezzo’s annual Première design competition. This aims to recognize and promote the productive and creative excellence of “Made in Italy” jewelry by showcasing original, one-of-a-kind creations based on a theme. The theme of this year’s competition is “Mirror of Time”, and it’s curated by Oroarezzo’s Art Director and Jury President, Beppe Angiolini. The jewels designed and crafted for “Mirror of Time” will be displayed in two large showcases at the center of the “Chimera” pavilion, facilitating visitors’ contemplation. The “Mirror of Time” theme encourages designers to create jewels that mark significant moments in time, or tell stories of far longer duration. Referencing the show’s theme, Angiolini noted in an IEG press release, “A jewel is more than just a precious object, it’s also a keeper of memories.” Angiolini is the owner and founder of the Arezzo multi-brand luxury boutique, SUGAR, founded in 1978. His Première jury is comprised of industry experts, journalists, bloggers, fashion influencers, and style authorities.
The “Mirror of Time” theme also references how certain jewelry materials, such as gold and platinum, are of ancient and extraterrestrial origin. (Scientists believe gold and platinum hurtled to earth in meteorite bombardments about 3.9 billion years ago.) Likewise, the competition’s elemental theme encourages use of materials and techniques that amplify effects of light while suggesting purity and clarity. This writer looks forward to seeing whether jewels created for the “Mirror of Time” contest will enchant with mirrored materials, highly polished metals, scintillating gemstones, crystals or hyper-bright facets. Will kinetic elements that catch the light as they move on the wearer’s body also come into play? Winners will be announced at the Première award ceremony on Sunday, May 11.
As Farsura explained, “Première celebrates how ancient Italian traditions of artisanal excellence are expressed in 21st century jewelry and also looks to the future. Along with the main competition,” he related, “Première’s Talents category returns for its third year in a row. This is for students from Italian goldsmith schools and young designers under 30. The winning project will be crafted and presented at the Italian Jewelry Summit in December, thanks to support from Italian partner companies. “Première is the creative heart of Oroarezzo,” Farsura mused. “This competition supports and promotes Italian jewelry design and craftsmanship while connecting generations of artisans with emerging talents.” Connecting these creators with the world’s most important jewelry and fashion retailers, ultimate beneficiaries of Oroarezzo and its Première competition seem destined to include jewelry shoppers as well as the narrative of jewelry history.