The company’s vice president of operations in South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Kurt Zbinden, said interest in the Swarovski Gems offering had increased greatly among the Australian jewellery industry.
“By exhibiting at the fair we hope to further reach out to the Australian market by providing a general overview of our product portfolio of genuine gemstones and created stones and focus especially on our innovations for 2014,” he explained. Innovations are said to include the natural brilliance cut for genuine topaz that reportedly increases the brilliance of white topaz by 130 per cent, and the company’s new zirconia colours and cut.
While Swarovski Gems’ exhibition space at the International Jewellery Fair (IJF) will follow a similar design concept to those that the company has used at other international shows, Zbinden told Jeweller that the stand had been designed and built specifically for the Australian event.
Throughout the three-day show, the Austrian-based company will also be conducting seminars about its Gem Visions 2014 report.
Gem Visions is a compilation of jewellery design directions, themes, trends and inspirations. It is said to position the “gemstone” in the broad context of fashion, culture and art and serves as an inspiration for general brand and communication topics.
The exclusive seminars are open to jewellery designers and manufacturing jewellers, but are invite-only. (See below to request an invitation.)
Swarovski Gems’ creative and retail marketing director Birgit Rieder – who founded the annual publication more than 10 years ago – will present the Gem Visions sessions. Rieder has been working in the industry for more than 15 years and is an expert on gemstones and jewellery trends.
Local supplier takes spotlight
As previously reported by Jeweller, local jewellery supplier Georgini appeared in this year’s Gem Visions publication after being approached to design a jewellery piece by Swarovski Gems at last year’s IJF. The item, titled Fur Elise, will be showcased during the presentations, alongside 10 other international designs that are also featured in the Gem Visions 2014 book.
Georgini sales and marketing manager Marissa Gouras said it was a privilege to be part of the initiative and hoped it would provide the jewellery brand with global exposure.
“It was also amazing to be recognised as jewellery designers and not just suppliers. Swarovski Gems approached us about the project because they loved our designs and that in itself is a great compliment.”
Seminar attendance:
Birgit Rieder will conduct two presentations each day of the fair at 10am and 2pm. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Swarovski Gems via
kamolthip@signity.co.th
The IJF runs from Sunday 1 September to Tuesday 3 September.
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