The 54th edition of the Istanbul Jewelry Show, recognized as one of the world’s top five jewelry exhibitions, was held from October 5th to 8th, 2023, at the Istanbul Expo Center. Organized by Informa Markets and sponsored by Elmas Kule, this event proved to be a tremendous success, bringing together over 1,000 companies and brands to showcase their products and services. Drawing more than 26,000 visitors from 136 different countries, the exhibition not only provided networking opportunities but also facilitated an exchange of information through a series of concurrent events.
Held biannually, this particular edition marked a record-breaking event, surpassing previous exhibitions in terms of exhibition area, the number of exhibitors, and visitor attendance. Notably, there was a 38% increase in visitors from South American countries, a 31% increase from North American countries, including the United States, and a 10% rise from Asian countries when compared to the October 2022 exhibition.
Model Kuyum Merkezi was the Buyers Lounge sponsor for this edition of the Istanbul Jewelry Show, offering a wide array of product categories, including gold, jewelry, diamonds, colored stones, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, silver, silver jewelry, household goods, gold mounting, refinery, watches, molds, window dressing, machinery and equipment, sub-industry, cash registers, software, logistics, and lighting.
The Istanbul Jewelry Show served as a global platform for the jewelry industry, not only for its products and services but also for its events that facilitated the exchange of information. One such event, “Art for Jewellery – Inspiration Hub,” brought together classic cars, iconic designs of an era, and artificial intelligence under the name “Timeless Elegance – Sources of Inspiration from Classic to Artificial Intelligence.”
The show also hosted seminars with renowned industry figures, including a session titled “Secrets to Success in Social Media and Digitalization in the Jewelry Industry” on the first day of the exhibition. This session discussed the profound impact of social media on the jewelry industry and provided key insights for those seeking to expand their businesses in the digital realm.
Another seminar delved into industrial trends, with Seden Ünlü, Account Manager of WGSN Türkiye, as the speaker. This session offered crucial insights into consumer behavior preferences for visitors and exhibitors preparing for the new season.
In support of sustainability and to raise awareness within the jewelry industry, a seminar titled “Why Sustainability is Vital in Jewelry?” was conducted on the third day of the exhibition. The session featured Melanie Grant, the Executive Director of the Responsible Jewelry Council, and Esther Ligthart, a jewelry blogger and journalist.
The exhibition also recognized excellence with the Leaders of Export Award Ceremony, where companies with the highest export volumes in 2022 received their awards. Additionally, the winners of the 13th Jewelry Design Contest, organized by the Jewellery Exporters’ Association, were honored during the exhibition.
The Designer Club, a joint initiative by the Turkish Jewellery Exporters’ Association and the Istanbul Jewelry Show, provided a platform for jewelry designers and masters to showcase their designs and creations.
Founding Partner of Istanbul Jewelry Show, Şermin Cengiz, expressed pride in the exhibition’s contribution to the global jewelry industry and the national economy, emphasizing that it had grown in both quality and quantity. She also announced that next year’s exhibition, scheduled for April 17 to 20, 2024, would begin on Wednesday and end on Saturday, marking a significant change in the event’s schedule.
In line with the increasing importance of sustainability within the industry, the Istanbul Jewelry Show took several environmentally friendly actions to reduce carbon emissions during the event, such as minimizing printed materials, recycling name tags and exhibition carpets, using energy-efficient LED technology, and conducting visitor surveys via tablet computers to reduce paper usage. Furthermore, exhibitors and visitors were encouraged to use public transportation to minimize CO2 emissions in transport to the exhibition area.
