The JAA International Jewellery Fair concluded on Tuesday 2 September with organiser Gary Fitz-Roy stating that comments regarding the three-day event – held at the new Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island – had been “overwhelming and extremely positive”.
“There was an upbeat feeling and I think the venue surprised so many: its natural light really showed the pieces on display at their best and I think the roof [which was noticeably lower than the Darling Harbour venue] added to the ambience,” he explained.
While a sizeable number of exhibitors reported strong trading during the show – some even stated they had experienced “record” sales – Jeweller also received unsolicited positive feedback in the days following the event.
“We were very busy. Sales were good but more importantly the response to the Gemini Collection program was better than expected,” Lost River Diamonds director James Lehman said. The Gemini Collection was launched at the fair and was the loose diamond supplier’s first foray into finished jewellery.
Both Lida FitzGerald, marketing and brand development manager for Story Jewellery Company, and Renee Blackwell of Renee Blackwell Design also noted positive results from the show.
In addition, Najo general manager Susan Francis said that the supplier’s stand, which was inspired by a Mexican fiesta and awarded best large stand by the fair’s organiser, generated a great deal of interest.
“We were very pleased with the positive feedback on our stand. It seemed to create a lot of interest which is exactly what we intended. Our only problem now is to come up with something bigger and better for next year!”
2015 jewellery championship
The Jewellers Bench was another feature that appeared to draw interest from fair attendees, and has consequently prompted the launch of the first national Jewellery Design and Manufacturing Champion (JDMC Champion) competition at next year’s show.
As previously reported by Jeweller, the Jewellers Bench was a live jewellery manufacturing demonstration hosted by the Young Jewellers Group (YJG) Facebook forum.
Members of the group used various manufacturing techniques over the course of the show to create two rings, and was an initiative that Ewen Ryley, one of the founders of the YJG, described as being a “very successful event”.
“At the start of each demonstration on Sunday the seating was completely full and many of the onlookers were asking questions of the masters throughout their demonstrations,” he said. “On the Monday and Tuesday, the seating was a little less full but the onlookers were more engaged and were peering over the jewellers’ benches to get an eagle-eye view of what was happening.”
Ryley explained that next year’s inaugural jewellery championship was an extension on this idea and would involve the industry’s “most elite tradespeople” competing in a live format for the JDMC Champion crown and a range of prizes.
He said competitors would be judged on a number of different categories including designing, CAD drawing and rendering, hand-making, gemstone setting and engraving.
The competition is loosely modelled on the US-based Bench Pressure Challenge that is held at the Smart Jewellery Show in Chicago.
Ryley explained there would be no limit to the amount of categories a jeweller could enter, adding that jewellers can register their interest to participate in the competition by emailing champ@yjg.com.au.
In other jewellery manufacturing news, the design talents of local jewellers were also placed in the spotlight last week at the biennial JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards. Winners were announced at a ceremony held during the jewellery fair and Jeweller’s report can be read here. A video featuring interviews with the award recipients can also be viewed below.
The JAA International Jewellery Fair concluded on Tuesday 2 September with organiser Gary Fitz-Roy stating that comments regarding the three-day event – held at the new Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Island – had been “overwhelming and extremely positive”.
“There was an upbeat feeling and I think the venue surprised so many: its natural light really showed the pieces on display at their best and I think the roof [which was noticeably lower than the Darling Harbour venue] added to the ambience,” he explained.
While a sizeable number of exhibitors reported strong trading during the show – some even stated they had experienced “record” sales – Jeweller