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The second edition of Vicenzaoro Dubai from April 14-17 consolidated its position as an important international gold and jewellery trade show in the Middle Eastern region. SHANOO BIJLANI reports. Yvel Jewelry
TRADE FAIR Dignitaries and key partners Her Excellency Mona Al Marri, director general of the Government of Dubai Paola de Luca presented market trends at a seminar. he second edition of Vicenzaoro Dubai (VOD) was organised in Dubai between April 14 and 17, 2016, by DV Global Link, a joint venture between Fiera di Vicenza (FDV) and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The VOD show has been conceived to offer a strategic platform to enable key players in the trade to enter new markets that have an appetite for high-end, designer jewellery. Moreover, the show also showcases new jewellery trends from the global industry. Dubai, one of the major world capitals of luxury goods consumption, has a deep-rooted tradition in gold and jewellery trading, and is a central gateway to areas such as the Middle East, Africa, India, the CSI countries, Central and Southern Asia. The second edition of VOD involved 21 key partners and dealers from the Dubai Jewellery Community. The show also had the support of important strategic partners, such as the Dubai Multi Commodity Center (DMCC), Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group (DGJG), L Azurde, and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India. Over 10,400 international operators, buyers and visitors from 107 countries, including the four strategic markets the Middle East, Eurasia, North and East Africa, and Central and Southern Asia, attended the four-day fair that housed over 400 brands from Italy, India, UAE, Turkey, Hong Kong, Belgium, KSA, Greece, Thailand, USA, Spain, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, France, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Lebanon and Jordan. For easy navigation on the show floor, the sections were divided into Global Brands, Fine Jewellery & National Pavilions, Gemstones & Diamonds, Packaging & Supply. There was a strong presence of exhibitors to represent the best of Made in Italy brand, thanks to the effective collaboration with the Italian ministry for economic development, which, through the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), organised the coordinated presence of the Italian pavilion. The show was inaugurated by director general of the Government of Dubai media office, Her Excellency Mona Al Marri in the presence of His Excellency Helal Al Marri, director general of tourism & commerce marketing and director general of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority. The opening was also attended by T.P. Seetharam, Indian ambassador, Liborio Stellino, ambassador of Italy to the UAE, SOLITAIRE INTERNATIONAL MAY 2016 57
Liborio Stellino, ambassador of Italy to the UAE, seen with Dr. Maria De Toni curator of Dubai & The Made in Italy - The Original pavilion. The three gold necklaces at Dubai & the Made in Italy The winner (above), Gold Mashrabiya, second winner (right) and Gold (below) in the Student Category. Burqa with gold decorations. The Burqa collection revives the historic cultural links which were sources of exchange between the merchants of the Republic of Venice and those of the Middle East. The patented necklace by Maria De Toni from the Al Nahda East & West Jewellery Renaissance collection features engraved Italian acanthus leaves symbolic of the Renaissance period, and seven precious symbols depicting the colours of 64 SOLITAIRE INTERNATIONAL MAY 2016
TRADE FAIR A special pavilion was dedicated to display the Arabic heritage and contemporary jewellery designs Made in Italy. The exhibition curated and designed by ace Italian designer Maria De Toni highlighted the importance of tapping synergies between the two regions. The ornaments had a distinct link between the historical culture of the UAE by incorporating the beauty of gold inspired by the art and design of the Made in Italy brand. Burqa in gold of Nabati-Bedouin Culture by Maria De Toni. A special pavilion at VOD dedicated to Arabic Heritage & Contemporary Arabic Jewellery Designs Made in Italy. he exhibition was divided into three sections Arabic heritage in the UAE through Historic Artifacts of Identity such as Gold Abaya and Gold Burqas; the second section showed Al Nahda Renaissance Jewellery Collection by Maria De Toni as a unique Italian symbol-masterpiece of Renaissance between East and West; and the third section presented the Arabic Design Competition World Book by Auritalia showing Arabic jewellery for international trade based on culture, fashion and design to overcome global price competition with identity products. We are living in a world which is increasingly orientated towards a global economy, in which product characteristics rarely take into consideration the cultural differences of countries, and where the price seems to be the only deciding factor for the consumer, said Maria De Toni. A stylist and a scholar of design, Dr Maria has studied many cultures of the world through jewellery. Thanks to the international jewellery competitions that she initiated based on African culture in 1998-1999, Arabic culture in 1999-2000, and on the jewel as a vehicle of peace for UNESCO in 2000, the goldsmith s ornament expresses the history and culture of nations. In 2004, her research focused on the Middle East, valorising those jewels of identity such as the burqa, an important artefact in the Arabic culture. From Central European design to Africa and the burqa, always following cultural paths which apply an integrated economy to her own history, her new brand Maria De Toni highlights the importance of the Islamic veil within the Middle Eastern culture. The Burqa collection in gold, cloth and semi-precious stones by Maria De Toni is a collection of jewels of identity of the Arabic Culture with Nabati-Bedouin roots. It is born of the synergy between the stylist Maria Loretta De Toni and the historiographic contribution on the jewel and ornaments of Giulietta Cozzi. SOLITAIRE INTERNATIONAL MAY 2016 65