By Karen Nuckols
Unusually fair skies and gorgeous autumn weather brought crowds to the opening day of the 27th annual Intergem show, held in the state-of-the-art Messe Idar-Oberstein. Stands were crowded and merchants seemed happy. By closing day, October 4, about 3,700 attendees from around the world had come to see the products from 200 exhibitors. Sales were reported to be about the same as last year.
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| Ring by Jutta Munsteiner |
Talk in 2011 has been about the emerging Chinese and Indian markets for diamonds, gemstones, and jewellery. Not surprising, then, was a contingent from China, coming for the first time. About 20 percent of buyers were from the USA, European countries other than Germany, and even Bermuda. Dr. Konrad Henn of the Idar-Oberstein Trade Fair Organization stated, “We have seen a considerable increase in the quality of the registered trade fair visitors,” adding that purchases were planned and deliberate for coloured gemstones, diamonds, objets d’art and jewellery.
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| Boulder Opal rough from Queensland at Schlangenotto Opals. |
Nicole Ripp from Groh & Ripp confirmed the demand for coloured stones: “Stones of top quality and in the upper price range were especially sought after.” Buyers were seeking unique cuts, top stones in spectacular colours as well as creatively designed jewellery.
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| Manfred Wild of Emil Becker with his “Giant Wheel.” |
Manfred Wild, the renowned gem cutter from Emil Becker of Kirschweiler, Germany, presented his “Big Wheel,” a bejewelled 22-pound Ferris wheel, which took three years to build. Made of 18K gold with more than 4,000 single parts, it included a cashier’s box in a big octagonal shaped 234.44-ct faceted citrine. The passenger seats were made of 20 faceted stones of various types. To complete its realistic appearance, the “Big Wheel” turned to music. Wild refers to Intergem as the “smallest but finest gem fair in the world,” confirming that his gemstones sold well at the fair, but noted that there were fewer Americans than in past years.
Sir Gabrielle Tolkowsky, the brilliant diamond cutter from Antwerp, spoke to a standing-room-only crowd on the “WOW factor” of gems and jewellery, declaring that although this is a global society, gemstones and jewellery are totally personal choices, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He urged older people in the business to encourage the creativity of the younger generation and to embrace their fashion sense rather than to squelch it.
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| Officials at opening ceremonies, from left: Kai-Uwe Hille, Managing Director; Bruno Zimmer, Mayor; Roger Lewentz, Minister of the Interior for the State of Rhineland Palatinate; and Jochen Mueller, President of the Diamond and Gemstone Bourse in Idar-Oberstein. |
Intergem officials also believe in encouraging newer, sometimes untraditional designers. Each year, the “Young Designer” section hosts a number of up and coming artists. Local gemmological institutions and professional jewellery schools are also present.
Fair officials announced before the close that about 80 percent of this year’s exhibitors planned to return to Intergem 2012, to be held October 5 to 8.
