The forty-third edition of IBERJOYA, the International Jewellery, Silverware, Watch and Related Industry Exhibition, ended last 13th September. This event, which is organised by IFEMA, took place in Hall 10 at FERIA DE MADRID and presented the products and services of 350 exhibiting companies. The fair, which was staged within the framework of Giftrends Madrid and coincided with INTERGIFT and BISUTEX, welcomed some 13,794 professionals. The three events as a whole recorded the attendance of a total of 48,992 professionals.
Another outstanding aspect of the fair was the strong level of attendance on the part of foreign buyers. On this occasion, they numbered nearly one thousand professionals from 69 different countries, including large groups from Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, India and the United States.
From Spain itself, after the visitors from Madrid, who accounted for 24.3% of the overall figure, we might mention the professionals who attended the fair from the Regions of Andalusia(15.09%), Valencia(8.95%), Catalonia(7.10%), Castile-Leon(6.48%) and Galicia(6.07%).
On this occasion the IBERJOYA exhibition reflected the desire of the exhibiting companies to boost trade activity with a number of different product lines, although always based on high levels of quality. In this respect, the exhibition featured everything ranging from exclusive pieces of designer jewellery, timepieces and silverware - all at the cutting-edge in terms of materials, designs and fashion - to numerous collections aimed at general consumers, lines that also presented the high levels of quality and appeal that traditionally characterise Spanish products. Alongside these items, the fair also presented the latest technological developments under the heading of machinery,window-dressing techniques, jewellery boxes ...etc., all of which form part of related industries.
Among some of the most prominent trends at this edition, the jewellery section presented a predominance of highly versatile pieces featuring considerable movement. Details inspired by nature and the world of animals, alongside coquettish camellias and all kinds of floral motifs sculpted in precious stone adorned a large number of the collections, together with mythological figures as the central motif in one of the starring items on this occasion: the brooch. Rings stood out for their incorporation of stones in very bright colours and for their extraordinary size, whilst earrings, in general, were presented in very long format and adorned with a profusion of stones.
We must make special mention of the pearls, which were presented in all kinds of colours, ranging from white to chocolate and including shades such as pistachio and grey. They formed part of numerous jewellery designs, combining successfully with diamonds and white gold. In the more commercial lines, visitors came across a large number of designs made of silver combined with semi-precious stones.
Women´s timepieces boasted an extensive range of models, ranging from tiny designs that appear to have been salvaged from former ages, either in white or yellow gold, to more informal collections in stainless steel with leather or satin straps.Men´s timepieces featured the latest technology applied to chronographs and sports watches, as well as straps in striking colours and XXL sizes.
Many of the other new features on show at IBERJOYA were aimed at men, especially bracelets and necklaces made with Tahiti pearls, in grey or chocolate shades, combined with leather, rubber, pink gold, white gold and silver.
Coinciding with the trade exhibition, IBERJOYA provided the setting for the presentation of various different activities, including the traditional staging of Prodiam, the Meeting of Diamond, Jewellery and Gemmology Professionals in Spain, an event organised by the Nexo Group through the publication, GOLD & TIME, alongside the laboratory, Gemacyt. This Meeting, which brought together nearly two hundred professionals from the industry, provided the framework for a number of important debates on the current situation within the field of jewellery and precious stones, both within Spain and throughout the world.
Two of the largest bodies linked to the world of diamonds, namely the Diamond High Council-Antwerp (HRD) and the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, were represented at the highest level at this meeting in order to express their opinion regarding the state of the market within the context of the current economic climate.
Alongside these participants, representatives of different companies and a number of outstanding experts and scientists examined the latest advances regarding the marketing of gems and scientific research applied to the field of gemmology. Furthermore, a delegation from the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) was present at IBERJOYA with its own stand, reproducing the atmosphere that exists at Diamond Exchanges throughout the world.
Another of the activities that was staged within the framework of IBERJOYA consisted of a demonstration of Integral Security Technology for jewellery establishments, which was organised by TELEFONICA INGENIERIA DE SEGURIDAD, a branch of the TELEFONICA Group.
Change of Dates and Extra Fashion Appeal
The next edition of IBERJOYA will take place within the framework of Giftrends Madrid between 4th and 8th February 2010, which entails a modification to the IFEMA calendar, given that the winter edition of the fair will take place almost one month later than its habitual dates. This decision corresponds to requests for extra time on the part of companies from the sector, enabling them to prepare their new features for the fair properly once the Christmas and New Year campaigns have concluded.
These new dates will also encompass the staging of SIMM, the Madrid International Fashion Fair, between 4th and 6th February, thus shaping the largest promotional forum for fashion in all its different facets: fashion jewellery, accessories, clothing, jewellery, home furnishings and decoration in general.
