‘Within 48 hours of its Thursday opening, exhibitors were already hailing the GemGenève trade fair as a success.
Words like “jolly,” “friendly” and “good vibe” peppered descriptions of the Geneva-based show, which welcomed 147 exhibitors spanning the full spectrum of the industry. Booths included diamond, colored-gemstone and estate jewelry dealers, high-jewelry designers, up-and-coming designers, and labs such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and Gübelin.
Foot traffic was strong during the first few hours of the event and didn’t show any sign of abating over the next three days. But even before it opened to trade members and the public, exhibitors felt the fair was living up to their expectations at a pre-show ceremony on Wednesday night. In attendance were Geneva economy minister Pierre Maudet and a crowd that one exhibitor described as “everyone who’s anyone in Geneva high society.”
One reason the participants cited for the show’s promising start was that it brought together disparate elements of the industry. Another was the care and understanding the organizers displayed for exhibitors.
Besides dealers, the event is open to consumers who care enough about jewelry to pay CHF 50 — about $50 — ensuring that only serious buyers attend the show. Buyers from Richemont, Chanel and Louis Vuitton also attended the show, according to the event’s organizers.” – Rapaport
