Vicenzaoro, a premier international gold and jewelry exhibition, has commenced the first edition of its VO Awards, celebrating creativity, innovation, sustainability, and design excellence within the jewelry sector. An esteemed international technical jury has meticulously chosen three finalist jewels for each of the eight categories. These distinguished creations were submitted by exhibitors from Vicenzaoro January 2026's ICON (high jewelry), LOOK (contemporary jewelry), and CREATION (gold and silver manufacturing) communities. Additionally, special categories have been established to honor the distinctive Italian goldsmithing tradition of chains and to acknowledge the burgeoning talent of young designers under 30.
The 24 selected pieces will be prominently displayed in a dedicated exhibition space within the Hall 7 lounge. The expert jury will conduct their final evaluations behind closed doors, contributing 70% to the overall score. To ensure a robust connection between creation and commerce, the remaining 30% will be determined by a 'popular vote' from industry operators, including buyers, visitors, companies, association representatives, and media, who can cast their preferences via QR code during the initial days of Vicenzaoro January 2026, from Friday, January 16th, to the morning of Sunday, January 18th. The inaugural VO Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 6:30 pm in the elegant Palladio Theatre.
The VO Awards significantly enhance Vicenzaoro's exclusive 'The Jewellery Boutique Show' format, which strategically unites leading Italian and international industry players. This initiative, according to Matteo Farsura, Global Exhibition Manager Jewellery & Fashion at IEG, provides the industry with crucial market intelligence and strategic planning tools by leveraging trends, expertise, and innovation. Michela Amenduni, Product Marketing & Communication Manager for IEG’s Jewellery & Fashion division, emphasized that the awards aim to champion product excellence, pinpoint contemporary design trends, and foster a productive exchange concerning creativity, manufacturing, sustainability, technological progress, and distribution. A diverse panel of twelve experts from international jewelry, fashion, gemmology, manufacturing, retail, and communications backgrounds forms the technical jury, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the competing creations.
These awards are a testament to the jewelry industry's continuous pursuit of innovation and artistic integrity. By recognizing and promoting groundbreaking designs and sustainable practices, Vicenzaoro cultivates an environment where talent thrives and the future of jewelry is shaped by vision and responsibility. This initiative not only celebrates achievement but also inspires growth, encouraging all stakeholders to contribute to a more beautiful and ethically conscious world of jewelry.