News on watches & jewelry from the Inhorgenta 2017 Munich

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International trade fair for the jewelry and watch industry

As an international order and communication platform for the jewelry and watch industry, Inhorgenta brought together 987 exhibitors from 40 countries with 27,500 trade visitors from over 70 countries from 18 - 21 February 2017. Young professionals were given the opportunity to make direct contact with experts and find out about opportunities in the industry at workshops and presentations.

Focus on digitalization and the "store of the future"

Changing consumer behavior through digital sales channels is also affecting the jewelry and watch industry. Bloggers on social media are also influencing the jewelry and watch industry. The extensive 2017 seminar program in Hall C2 provided visitors with new ideas for future business models. One of the highlights of the seminar program was a presentation by Google guru Jeremy Abbet on the topic of "The store ot the future - concepts and ideas". Patrick Schaab's thoughts on the topic of smartwatches also attracted a great deal of interest from the audience.

Exclusive ambience and great emotions at Inhorgenta

Watches, jewelry, gemstones, design and technology are the métier of Europe's leading jewelry, watch and gemstone fair. In an exclusive atmosphere, trade visitors gained an overview of the latest trends, innovations and popular designs. Great emotions were released at the jewelry shows, where models presented selected pieces of jewelry from exhibitors on the catwalk. Renowned watch brands such as Doxa, Traser H3 and Victorinox were new to Inhorgenta, as were Colpo & Zilio, London Pearl, Roberto Demeglio and Zoccai.

Sparkling gemstones and a spring mood

On a tour of the exhibition, Messe.TV was able to immerse itself in the sparkling world of gemstones and the wide variety of materials used in jewelry at various trade fair stands and learn from renowned watch manufacturers that a watch can be much more than just a timepiece. The CEO of Messe München, Mr. Klaus Dittrich, spoke to us about the jewelry trends for men. Overall, he was very satisfied with the trade fair and diagnosed a "spring mood". The annual orientation of Inhorgenta at the beginning of the year proves to be an ideal time for retailers to place orders. In contrast to previous years, Inhorgenta 2017 took place from Saturday to Tuesday in order to avoid an overlap with the carnival period.

Messe-Highlights: Premiere des Inhorgenta Award

The jewelry and watch industry described the creation of an award for the sector as long overdue. Over 100 applications were received in advance for the Inhorgenta Warad. No easy task for the renowned jury. Robert Demeglio from Turin was named Designer of the Year, while the audience award for "Best Piece of Jewelry" went to Portuguese jewelry designer Liliana Guerreiro. The winners of the 6 different categories were honored with a 3.5 kg diamond-shaped trophy at a grand gala at the Postpalast in Munich.

Design diversity and new materials in the jewelry industry

Inhorgenta 2017 once again demonstrated the breadth of modern jewelry design. Materials such as wood, glass, and even slate found their place alongside classic precious metals and gemstones. The focus was not only on luxurious one-of-a-kind pieces, but also on designs suitable for everyday use with an individual touch. The trade fair impressively demonstrated that design and function are no longer opposites.

• Use of unconventional materials for wristwatches and jewelry
• Combination of traditional craftsmanship with modern forms
• Strong presence of individual designs and small series

Many exhibitors took the opportunity to present their latest collections to an international audience. The creative use of materials and forms reflected the desire for more personality in jewelry design—a trend that is likely to continue at future trade fairs.

Trends and industry insights at a high professional level

With an extensive supporting program, Inhorgenta 2017 offered not only products but also well-founded inspiration for trade visitors. Lectures, workshops, and panel discussions addressed current developments – from new sales concepts and digital strategies to the future of brick-and-mortar retail. The industry was particularly interested in the topic of the “store of the future” and the increasing role of social media.

• Industry discussions on digitalization and changing consumer habits
• Inspiration for retailers through practical presentations
• Combining brand presentation and continuing education

The trade fair was thus perceived not only as an ordering platform, but also as a forum for knowledge transfer and future strategies. This makes Inhorgenta an indispensable industry meeting place for players from the worlds of trade, design, and production.

Emotion and presentation: Jewelry as an expression of personal identity

In addition to technical innovations and material trends, Inhorgenta 2017 also showed how strongly jewelry acts as a means of emotional expression. Whether in the form of artistic individual pieces or expressive collections, the desire for individuality and personal symbolism was clearly the focus of many presentations. Fashion, art, and lifestyle are increasingly merging with jewelry design.

• Jewelry as a reflection of personal values and styles
• Staging on catwalks and in worlds of experience
• Increasing importance of storytelling in presentations

The Jewelry Fashion Show underscored this approach with impressive staging. It became clear that jewelry is more than just decoration—it tells stories, conveys attitudes, and is increasingly understood as part of a holistic lifestyle.

Trailer for Inhorgenta 2017 at the Munich trade fair