Retailer traffic was brisk at the September VicenzaOro, the last showcase of Italian gold and silver jewelry before the festive season, with organizers reporting a rise in Italian precious jewelry exports.

    Italy’s exports of precious jewelry increased 13% to $3.57 billion (EUR 3.04 billion) year on year in the first half, supported by rising gold prices, organizers of the fair reported. Italy is one of the world’s leading exporters of gold and silver jewelry to key markets such as the Middle East, the US and Switzerland.

   Trade fairs such as the January and September editions of VicenzaOro, and VicenzaOro Dubai, as well as OroArezzo, are leading gateways for Italian precious jewelry exports, organizers say.

   International sales of Roberto Coin’s diamond-jewelry lines, such as the Cento Collection, have been buoyant this year, the owner said.

 “Women want diamond jewelry that is unique and expresses their individuality,” Coin told Rapaport News.

  Roberto Coin presented the Princess Flower Collection at the show, a jewelry line inspired by the flower of love. It also showcased the Dragons Limited Edition, representing dragons as symbols of goodness and fortune, based on ancient oriental legends.

   Mattia Cielo, whose eponymous diamond jewelry brand is stocked at Neiman Marcus and Maxfield in the US, said his sales were up year on year as women opted for less traditional designs.

   Sustainability and corporate social responsibility were key themes at the September VicenzaOro.

   A seminar hosted by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO) discussed new EU “conflict mineral” legislation, which obligates importers of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold to carry out strict checks to ensure that their suppliers are respecting their social-responsibility obligations.

  VicenzaOro’s Trend Book 2019+ was launched at the fair, with forecaster Paola De Luca predicting more personalization in jewelry design, consumer preferences for imperfection and asymmetry, and growing demand from millennial consumers for high ethical standards in luxury goods.

  In jewelry, the black-and-white look is becoming more popular, including black diamonds. Darker and warmer tones in diamonds are also getting more play, De Luca said.