Passing on heritage is one of the main themes of this ninth edition of the event, with the organisers placing a special focus on all those encouraging others to learn about the various jewellery trades through original and innovative initiatives. Budding gemmologists, students, emerging talents, new dealers and traders all embody the future of jewellery – and of an industry that encompasses a whole range of artisanal excellence.
“The proportion of visitors aged between 29 and 39 has increased at every edition of GemGenève,” notes Mathieu Dekeukelaire, who explains that as well as coming to acquire outstanding jewellery and gemstones, visitors are also there to discover, learn and network – or in some cases simply dive into a whole new world that’s both fascinating and awe-inspiring. The event is a hit with young people, too : for many of them, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to find out what goes on behind the scenes in the business they’re interested in – and for some, it’s a chance to take the first steps into that world by exhibiting their work for the first time.
Learning and passing on skills
The ninth edition of GemGenève will bring together partners from a wide range of backgrounds, including scientists, heads of cultural institutions, researchers, teachers, gemmologists and artisans. Using a host of unusual tools and formats, these experienced professionals will be sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm – as well as all their specific ‘tricks of the trade’. In passing on what others taught them they’ll be doing their bit to train tomorrow’s talents, educate future dealers and traders, and inspire vocations. Once again this year, GemGenève’s partners will be empowering others, helping them understand precious stones, learn how to enhance jewels and master the techniques involved in creating and restoring jewellery. The Gem Museum, the Eric Horovitz Foundation, Donna Jewel, HEAD, the Grand Théâtre de Genève and the Gemmologie & Francophonie association are among those taking part in this ninth edition. GemGenève has been working with them since 2018, producing a whole series of projects and collabs extending throughout the year. The event organisers have devoted several spaces and special events to these initiatives to make sure visitors are fully immersed in an environment where sharing expertise and passing it on are second nature.
JEWELRY FROM THE FUTURE by DONNA JEWEL
Every year, inspired by her firmly-held belief that jewellery is a mode of expression in its own right, Laura Inghirami showcases the creativity of young apprentices in an inventive and original project. The Donna Jewel community founded by Laura Inghirami in 2017 is now the most influential jewellery account on Instagram in Italy, with over 165,000 followers, and Forbes Italia has ranked Inghirami as one of Italy’s one hundred most influential individuals in its Art & Style category. For the ninth edition of GemGenève, Donna Jewel is inviting students to design and create the jewel of the future. The students in question are from Milan’s Galdus School and the Tarì Design School (the Centro Orafo il Tari’s training school), both of which offer courses focusing on jewelsmithing trades. All the resulting pieces will be on display at the exhibition, where visitors will also have the opportunity to chat with Laura Inghirami and the budding artists, who will be there throughout the four-day event. Visitors can also vote for their favourite jewel, with the ‘People’s Choice Award’ going to the artist that wins the most votes.
ELIXIRS
For the fifth consecutive year, GemGenève will be devoting space to a display organised by students on the Jewel Design course at Geneva’s University of Art and Design (HEAD). The young designers have each devised a jewel capable of containing a powder, liquid or other substance, in line with the mystical theme of ‘Elixirs’ – freely inspired by the opera Tristan & Isolde staged by the Grand Théâtre de Genève as part of its 2024 / 2025 season. In this musical drama by Richard Wagner, Tristan and Isolde unwittingly drink a love potion that makes them fall passionately in love with each other; being unable to declare their love publicly, it ultimately destroys them. Offering a whole swath of creative possibilities ranging from a poison ring to a perfume pendant, the project has revealed all the creative talents of HEAD students. The only college in Switzerland to offer a Bachelors in Product Design for Jewellery and Accessories, HEAD has trained a large number of artists and designers. The winner of the GemGenève x HEAD x Grand Théâtre de Genève project will be announced on Sunday 11 May at the GemGenève awards ceremony. Another of GemGenève’s loyal partners, the Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF), is supporting this artistic challenge by giving the winner the chance to attend any course on its syllabus free of charge. GemGenève’s renewed partnership with HEAD and the Grand Théâtre de Genève serves as an ongoing reminder of how important it is to create synergies between training institutes, cultural players and the artistic market.
ERIC HOROVITZ FOUNDATION AWARD
© András Barta
Christine Horovitz’s aim in setting up the Eric Horovitz Foundation in 2020 was to provide support and accompaniment for new entrants in the jewellery industry. Recognised as being in the public interest, every year the Foundation honours one emerging talent with an award presented at GemGenève. United in their conviction that training future professionals is vital, Eric Horovitz Foundation and GemGenève share the same commitment to promoting apprenticeships. By helping the new generation connect with well-established traders, the Foundation has also fostered some truly inspiring projects. At the fifth edition of GemGenève in 2022, Clarisse Vittoz received the Eric Horovitz Foundation Award for a jewellery piece made using gemstones provided by traders Tank Fine Gems. Struck by the way the young artist brought the stones to life, Tank Fine Gems proprietor Dharmendra Tank invited her to visit his workshop in Jaipur. There, he introduced her to precious stone lapidary and taught her techniques passed down through six generations of his family, offering Clarisse Vittoz an unparalleled learning experience – with support and mentoring provided by the Eric Horovitz Foundation. This year’s Eric Horovitz Foundation Award will be announced on Sunday 11 May during the awards ceremony at the forthcoming ninth edition of GemGenève.
About GemGenève
GemGenève is the go-to event for lovers of precious stones, jewel collectors and jewellery industry professionals. The friendly show with an intimate feel brings together all the players in the industry – including leading international dealers – in Geneva for a cross-cutting event now recognised as a meeting-place for enthusiasts and experts from all over the world.
GemGenève also offers a vibrant overview of work by younger artists, serving as a valuable springboard for emerging designers and other talents of the future. Open to connoisseurs and the general public alike, GemGenève invites everyone to celebrate jewellery arts and crafts and strives to pass on rare knowhow through an intense programme of cultural activities: original thematic exhibitions presenting museum-quality pieces, talks, temporary bookshops and arts & crafts workshops. Evey year, leading jewellery houses, institutions and museums partner with the event to display historic items and masterworks of high jewellery.
For more information, please visit https://gemgeneve.com/.
