Gemstones and Diamonds to Have its Own Stage at JGF Europe

From the 2014 JGF Europe tradeshow

Gemstones and diamonds will have its own space for the upcoming Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe tradeshow, March 22 - 25 in Messe Freiburg, Germany. 

The fair will occupy 25,000sqm of exhibition space as it expands from three to four halls, including the central foyer. Under the product “sectorisation” concept, it will be divided into three sections: loose materials, fine jewelry and packaging, tools & equipment. “We are so glad that many of our exhibitors in the loose materials section who took part in the first edition are returning, this time with bigger booths,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia, which owns and operates the trade fair.

Group pavilions in loose materials section will offer distinct market specialties, such as emeralds from Acodes and corals from the Italian Pavilion, Lau says. The pavilions from Germany, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United States will showcase a range of loose semiprecious and precious stones. Diamonds will be available at the AWDC Pavilion.

Buyers can also expect to see well-known names in the gemstone market, such as Caram e. K., CHQ GmbH, Emil Weis Opals KG and Paul Wild OHG from Germany, RMC Gems HK Co from Hong Kong, Imagem from France, and M. Golab Co Ltd from Thailand.

JGF Europe will include 400 exhibitors from around the world. As of January, more than 60 percent of the exhibitors are from various parts of Europe, The fair also features suppliers from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. 

Visitor pre-registration for the fair is now open and can be accessed through this link. 

UBM Asia will offer a free shuttle bus service from Basel Badischer Bahnhof/Freiburg Hauptbahnhof to Messe Freiburg during the fair’s four-day run. The fair organizer is working with Deutsche Bahn AG to offer a special concession on train tickets for visitors travelling from any German city to JGF Europe in Freiburg, Germany. For transportation details, visit this link. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

Jewellery & Gem Fair - Europe To Divide Products Into Three Sections

UBM Asia will implement what it calls a product “sectorisation” concept for the tradeshow Jewellery & Gem Fair-Europe. Under the concept, the fair will be divided into three sections—loose materials, fine jewelry and packaging, tools & equipment—with of the goal of making it easier for buyers to locate exhibitors and products. It's the same concept it uses for its other trade fairs.

The second annual JGF Europe will be held March 22 – 25 at Messe Freiburg, Germany. 

“The product sectorisation concept received a warm welcome from exhibitors and visitors at the world’s number one fine jewelry event—the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. We are bringing this idea to JGF Europe,” said Celine Lau, director of Jewellery Fairs, UBM Asia. 

JGF Europe is positioned as a B2B mid-end jewelry sourcing platform for continental Europe. This year’s fair will expand from three halls to four halls and will include the central foyer. The exhibition area totals 25,000sqm, 47 percent larger than the first edition.

Most exhibitors expanded their booths, according to Lau. At the fine jewelry section, there will also be a wider range of products and product categories with associations and group pavilions from India, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong, Mauritius, Thailand, Turkey and the United States.

Fine jewelry companies that have confirmed their participation include Friedrich Binder GmbH & Co KG, DiamondGroup GmbH, Euro Gems Srl, Herbert Giloy & Soehne GmbH & Co KG – bellaluce, HN Jewelry Group, Lenti Srl, Lorenzo Jewelry Limited, Rio Pearl, Pranda Group, Su-Raj Inter Gold Pvt Ltd and Thien Po Ltd.

As of now, more than 60 percent of exhibitors are from Europe. The remaining suppliers are from around the world with the larger contingents from Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Visitor pre-registration for the fair is now open online. More than 1,200 buyers pre-registered, UBM Asia said.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

Meissen Porcelain Jewelry Combines German Craftsmanship and Italian Design

Meissen Montgolfière with Meissen Boule Dragon in rose gold, 310 white diamonds and hand-painted Meissen Porcelain. It is modeled after the invention of the hot air balloon by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, enabling air travel for the first time.

Porcelain isn’t the first material that comes to mind when thinking of jewelry. However, when the company producing the pieces is the 300-year-old German porcelain brand, Meissen Couture, the material will be used.

Fortunately, two years ago the company created a new division, Meissen Italia, based in Milan, bringing modern design and new products that complement the craftsmanship of Europe’s oldest and best-known porcelain manufacturer.

This separate division produces everything from couture evening gowns and accessories to furnishings, artwork, and jewelry and watches. It’s headquartered in a 4,000-square-foot showroom on Milan’s most prestigious shopping street, Via Montenapoleone.

Mystery pendant and ring in green hand painted Meissen Porcelain, rose gold and champagne diamonds.

Meissen Italia is largely a feminine world, every bit as delicate as the decorated porcelain pieces that makes its foundation. The jewelry I’ve seen at Baselworld for the past two years certainly reflects this. Hand-painted porcelain is the starting point for the various collections it introduced at Baselworld 2014. But the lines expand into other materials, including crystal, diamonds, colored gems and gold.

Violet Dragon Mystery Ring in hand painted dragon Meissen Porcelain with amethyst and gold and diamond swords (the brand’s famous trademark) set on a rose gold ring studded with diamonds.

The brand’s “my little Mystery” collection features porcelain in various hand-painted shades topped with faceted crystal, giving the appearance of a colored gem. The oval-shaped rings, earrings and pendant necklaces are set with rose or white gold and surrounded by round diamonds.

Rose gold Follia necklace with 258 champagne-colored diamonds and hand-painted Meissen Porcelain.

1739 Royal Blossom Collection targets a younger demographic, “but one which has just as high standards in terms of quality and value,” said Ileana Turrini, Meissen Couture public relations and communications Manager.

Blossom Boule ring in rose gold and pavé diamonds.

The jewels are inspired by snowball blossoms, which were a gift from King Augustus II to his wife, Maria Josepha. Along with porcelain, the collection combines gold, precious stones and elastic knit. “It is a new way to think about jewelry simplicity and a more informal attitude as a way to create fascinating and eye-catching features,” Turrini said.

Two engagement rings, both with diamond center stones with one surrounded by a heart-shaped halo made of 12 white diamonds.

There’s also a bridal line featuring simple, delicate solitaire engagement rings with a round diamond and white gold. In some cases the center diamond is haloed by diamonds in the shape of a heart. To go with them are white and rose gold wedding bands, featuring the crossed swords engraving, the famous Meissen trademark.

Mini Swords earrings in rose gold and full pavé champagne-colored diamonds. The crossed swords is the brand’s famous trademark.

The crossed swords also makes its mark in its own jewelry line featuring gold and pavé diamonds and in other collections.

Pendant Bird House, with chain in white gold, diamonds and a Kogolong stone in the shape of a cube.

The Haute Couture collection includes the Montgolfière collection modeled after the invention of the hot air balloon by the Montgolfier brothers in 1783, enabling air travel for the very first time. The hand-painted porcelain “balloons” depicts different scenes, such as Arabian Nights and butterflies, colorful dragons, the city of Venice, and Chinese themes. Similar Chinese motifs appear again in jewelry as objets d’arts based on pagodas and bird houses. 

Perhaps a nod to the Chinese who were the first to master porcelain production but more likely a tradition of Messen from its beginnings to use fanciful Chinese-inspired in many of its porcelain works.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

First Jewelry Tradeshow in Freiburg Reports Positive Results, Plans Expansion

While at Baselworld I was planning to spend at least one day at the inaugural Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe 2014 tradeshow held in Freiburg, Germany. However, a Lufthansa pilot strike forced me to leave Europe early so I didn’t get to attend.

The only report I received on opening day was that there was a good crowd and positive feeling. A report from UBM, the organizer of the B2B sourcing fair held April 1 - 4, said that 6,000 trade professionals attended. 

The show presented a range of goods including finished jewelry, diamonds and colored gemstones, jewelry mountings, and manufacturing tools and equipment.

Of the 6,000 visitors, about 4,280 were professional buyers, according to UBM. Most of these buyers were from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and Brazil. The show is held at approximately the same time as Baselworld and is about an hour away by train, giving jewelry industry professionals the opportunity to attend both shows. 

“The vast majority of exhibitors and traders viewed the exhibition as a success. We are very pleased with the positive feedback from the market and see this as a confirmation that JGF Europe is now listed as an important industry event in the jewelry calendar,” said Wolfram Diener, senior VP of UBM Asia.

The 2015 edition is scheduled for March 22 to 25. Due to an increase in the demand for exhibition space, the fair will occupy an additional hall at Messe Freiburg, UBM said.

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes website.

NOMOS Glashütte Supports Doctors Without Borders With Limited Edition Watches

Tangente 33 and Tangente 38

NOMOS Glashütte has launched a limited edition of its classic mechanical watches to support Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) and their relief operations worldwide. The watches are scheduled to be released in the U.S. this month.

The German watch brand has launched special models of the NOMOS Tangente 38 and Tangente 33 to benefit the Noble Prize winning international medical humanitarian organization. 

With these particular models the 12 o’clock indicator on the white silver-plated dial is in red, the name “Doctors Without Borders” is below the seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock and an engraving on the back refers to the organization. In addition, these models have black oxidized hands instead of the Tangente’s usual tempered blue ones. Both watches have in-house mechanical movements.

NOMOS Glashütte is making 1,000 of each model to support Doctors Without Borders in the USA—namely the NOMOS classic Tangente in two sizes: 38mm and 33mm. One hundred dollars from the sale of each watch goes directly towards the organization. However, customers pay no more than they normally would for a regular Tangente, as NOMOS Glashütte and retailers are waiving a share of their margin.

The 38mm model costs $2,140 and the 33mm model is $1,840.

“We’ll be delighted if a large number of watch enthusiasts opt for the best of both worlds: to help and, at the same time, enjoy an excellent timepiece,” said NOMOS General Manager Uwe Ahrendt. “Every look at your watch will also remind you of the people around the world in need of help.”

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

UBM to Launch Jewelry Fair in Germany during Baselworld 2014

Does Baselworld have competition? Hong Kong-based tradeshow and publishing company, UBM Asia, has been coy about this but its new jewelry show in Europe will butt heads with Baselworld in 2014.

This new tradeshow called, “Jewellery & Gem Fair – Europe,” will be held April 1 – 4, 2014, in Freiburg, Germany. The dates and location line up nicely with Baselworld 2014, which will be held March 27 – April 3, 2014. Freiburg is less than an hour away from Basel, Switzerland. In fact, it’s so close that when I attended Baselworld two years ago, I stayed in Freiburg

This announcement of a new tradeshow comes after the world’s largest watch and jewelry tradeshow finished a $454.5-million upgrade to the Messe Basel complex that came with several upset vendors. In fact, the 1,460 companies who exhibited at the recently concluded Baselworld 2013 was 355 fewer than those who exhibited the prior year.

The biggest player to exit Baselworld this year was David Yurman, after what was described as “‘exasperating’ back-and-forth with the powers that be at Baselworld.” People from several companies expressed their dissatisfaction to me with their booth placement, the substantial increase in the cost of participating this year, and the pressure to construct newer, larger and more expensive booths for the show. One company, which was one of the few companies to both remain in the same space and not expand their booth, told me they still had to pay 30 percent more than the prior year.

UBM Asia is refusing to acknowledge that they are creating a competing show, calling this new fair “a comprehensive sourcing fair offering a wide range of jewelry products.” It is being positioned “as a high-efficiency, high-level face-to-face jewelry business platform to create real business value for international suppliers and buyers.”

UBM says that more than 260 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions have reserved exhibition space a year ahead of its launch. “This figure represents more than 50 percent of the expected number of exhibitors and represents 60 percent of the total exhibition space which indicates the market’s enthusiasm for this new fair in Europe,” UBM said.

Exhibitors that have signed up are from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong region, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Zambia.

The fair is open to the jewelry trade, business professionals and members of the media. Free admission to save €30 will be granted to preregistered visitors and online preregistration opens in June 2013. 

Please join me on the Jewelry News Network Facebook Page, on Twitter @JewelryNewsNet and on the Forbes Website.

Montblanc and the Couple of the Year Awards

The winning couples: Christiane and Herbert Knaup (“Creative Couple”), Sabine Christiansen & Norbert Médus ("Couple of the Year"), Annemarie Warnkross and actor Wayne Carpendale (“TV Couple”), and Olympic Champion Maria Höfl-Riesch and husband Marcus Höfl (“Power Couple”). Photo credit: Montblanc

HAMBURG, Germany — It’s not often that you see someone in the news business get emotional over receiving a bit of recognition. But there she was, one of Germany’s best-known journalists, Sabine Christiansen, being reduced to tears on stage, sharing the limelight with her husband Norbert Médus, as she spoke in German about being named “Couple of the Year.”

That’s right, you read correctly. Each year couples in this northern port city are honored and given awards for having successful relationships. In addition to the “Couple of the Year,” three other couples received awards at the April 23 event in the categories of: “TV Couple,” “Power Couple” and “Creative Couple.”

Couple of the Year Award 2012, German television journalist, Sabine Christiansen, and and her husband, French entrepreneur, Norbert Medus with their Montblanc TimeWalker watches. Photo credit: Montblanc

The criteria for receiving an award is largely undefined or unknown to the public (believe me I asked). Outside of the top honor, the categories change each year, again for unspecified reasons. Being married is often a criterion, although it isn’t set in stone as you will soon learn, and being in the public eye is certainly a top consideration.

The awards event in its 10th receives a great deal of attention from the German media. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Montblanc along with Gala magazine, the largest celebrity publication in Germany, and the Hotel Louis C. Jacob, the romantic inn overlooking the Elbe River where the event was held, are sponsors of the event that celebrated its 10th anniversary. Despite its apparent vagueness, The Couple of the Year Awards has grown to become a very important part of the social calendar in Hamburg and increasingly well-known throughout Germany. It had all the trappings of big celebrity gala. Current and past winners stepped on a red carpet and were greeted by a large bank of photographers.

Past Couple of the Year winners, Sir Christopher Lee and his wife, Birgit "Gitte" Kroencke Lee. They have been married for 51 years. Photo credit: Montblanc

Among the best-known past winners in attendance were British actor Sir Christopher Lee and his wife, Birgit “Gitte” Kroencke Lee, who’ve been married 51 years; and American socialite, model and actress Olivia Palermo and German model, Johannes Huebl, who have been dating for about four years. Palermo and Huebl received the award last year for “International Couple.”

Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl, who have been dating for four years, received a Couple of the Year award last year for "International Couple." Photo credit: Montblanc

However, once inside the room where the awards were presented, it was a more intimate affair. In fact, you might say that minus the stage and awards presentation, it looked a bit like a wedding. But in many ways it’s better than a wedding because saying “I Do” is the easy part. Being successful at marriage or a relationship takes hard work and sacrifice. Add to that the demands of celebrity that most of these couples face and it becomes an even greater challenge and achievement.

German TV presenter Frauke Ludowig led the Couple of the Year presentation at the Hotel Louis C Jacob. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

“These are exactly the values for which Montblanc stands for,” said Lutz Bethge, Montblanc CEO.

Yours truly flanked by Lutz Bethge, Montblanc CEO, and his lovely wife Gaby. Photo credit: Montblanc

For example, Christiansen gave up her position hosting the most popular political talk show in Germany to move to Paris with her husband, Médus, an entrepreneur. As Couple of the Year, they received two Montblanc TimeWalker watches.

Montblanc presented the three other winning couples with jewelry from the Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco for the women and Montblance writing instruments for the men.