• Responsibility for Europe's leading trade fair for watches, jewelry and gemstones
• Return after two years parental leave
• Experienced trade fair manager with in-depth industry know-how

INHORGENTA MUNICH: stunning growth and brilliant business

Many premieres, international growth, and good business—INHORGENTA MUNICH from February 24 to 27, 2023 in Munich was a great success. Europe's leading platform for watches, jewelry and gemstones impressively reaffirmed its position with significant increases in exhibitor and above all visitor numbers.

“Approximately 24,000 trade visitors, a 51 percent increase compared to 2022, and a foreign share of 40 percent—INHORGENTA MUNICH is back in a spectacular way, more international than ever and strikingly confirmed as the most important business platform for the watch, jewelry and gemstone industry in Europe,” says Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München. “The foundation has been laid for further international growth for brands and retailers in 2024, when INHORGENTA MUNICH celebrates its 50th anniversary.”

Visitors came from 90 countries. For comparison, the figures from 2022 were: 15,664 visitors, 81 countries, 39 percent from abroad. After Germany, the top ten visitor countries in 2023 were: Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and Ireland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece and Poland.

As regards the exhibitors: 802 companies from 38 countries showcased, an increase by 10 percent (2022: 732 / 32). 49 percent came from abroad—again the highest internationality to date (2022: 45%).

The top ten exhibitor countries in 2023 after Germany were: Italy, Belgium, India, Austria, Poland, France, Hong Kong/China, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands.

Successful premieres included Damiani, World Diamond Group, Cielo Venezia 1270 and Carrera y Carrera, and from Germany NXT LVL Brands (Christ) with the brands Esprit, Jette Joop, Guido Maria Kretschmer and Favs. Two joint stands from Italy (Elegance & Lifestyle) and France (watches) also made their debut. Salon Suisse (watches) doubled its involvement—and all relevant wedding ring manufacturers were represented again.

Top trade visitors met glamorous brands

“Our brands attracted a lot of interest—the premiere was exceedingly successful,” said Volkert Schmitz, Managing Director of NXT LVL Brands (Christ). Jérôme Favier, CEO of Damiani says: “Consumers from German-speaking countries already know us from their travels or from digital channels. The reason why we are at INHORGENTA is that we now also want to reach them through retail trade and thus build a trusting relationship.” Marc Czemper, Division Manager WATCH Division of Casio Europe explains: “INHORGENTA 2023 was great, by far exceeding our expectations. The many personal discussions with our trade partners from Germany, Austria and other European countries were especially invaluable.”

Nicole Ripp of Groh & Ripp emphasizes: “For us, INHORGENTA is the most important trade show and it has been very successful; this is where we meet the exact right audience from all over Europe.” Johannes Weege, owner of MANU Schmuckmanufaktur says: “Once again we are pleasantly surprised by the large number of visitors and the good atmosphere.” It thus once again showed: “The watch and jewelry industry needs the face-to-face trade fair despite increasing digitalization,” says Bernd Dahlinger, Managing Partner of Dahlinger.

INHORGENTA AWARD for outstanding creations

The winners of the INHORGENTA AWARD 2023: BINDER Jewellery, BOLTENSTERN, Casio Europe, egf Manufaktur, Gerhard Hahn, Margret Hipp, Pavit Gujral, Sebastian Frost, Theodora D. and Uhrenfabrik Junghans.

Outstanding: the winners of the
INHORGENTA AWARD 2023

It was a sparkling celebration of outstanding creations and their creators from the international jewelry, watch and gemstone industries—the INHORGENTA AWARD ceremony. Well-known jurors presented the coveted trophy to the winners of ten categories. Traditionally, the gala evening is the glamorous highlight of INHORGENTA MUNICH.

“The INHORGENTA AWARD is our way of providing a great stage for exceptional creations from the jewelry, watch and gemstone industries—from a piece of jewelry by a young newcomer, a special watch by an established brand to a newly conceived retail concept,” explains Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München. “We are particularly pleased with the strong international participation: 80 of 137 submissions came from 37 foreign countries.”

The award winners

Timeless jewelry, elegant and of lasting value—these were the hallmarks of the “Fine Jewelry” category, with jewelry pieces starting at a retail price of EUR 2,000. The award winner is BINDER Jewellery with “Perception Collection”.

The new category “High Jewelry of the Year” featured jewelry in a class of its own with a retail price of EUR 30,000 and up. The award winner is Pavit Gujral with “Crab Earrings”.

In contrast, the “Fashion Jewelry” category addressed jewelry as accessories for current fashion trends with a retail price of up to EUR 2,000. The award winner is BOLTENSTERN with “FABNORA Mix and Match” earrings.

The “Designer of the Year” accomplished extraordinary work in design, innovation and craftsmanship. The award winner is Theodora D. with „Flamenco“ ring.

Young talents competed as “Design Newcomer” with self-manufactured jewelry or watches. The award winner is Margret Hipp from Pforzheim Goldsmith School with the “PISCIS” earrings.

The category “Watch Design” demanded an innovative concept and independent design with a high recognition value. The award winner is Uhrenfabrik Junghans with “Junghans 1972 Competition”.

This year for the first time, the “Gemstone Design of the Year” category honored special-colored gemstones, diamonds and gemstone objects. The award winner is Gerhard Hahn with “bi-color Saphir”.

A trendsetting retail concept were honored in the “Best Jeweler of the Year” category. The award winner is Sebastian Frost with his store in the small fishing village of Listed on the east coast of Bornholm in Denmark. The white purpose-built building on the harbor has been the setting for his production of exclusive, handmade jewelry since 1999—today expanded as the “Smykke Concept Store” with a café and bar.

The retailer's voice

This year, the nominees in the two Retailers Choice categories were also selected by the jury. The specialist audience voted on these online prior to the trade show as well as on site on the first day of the show. The winner of the “Retailers Choice Awards—Best Pieces of Jewelry” is egf Manufaktur with “Precious Heritage”. The winner of the “Retailers Choice Awards—Best Watch” is Casio Europe with “G-SHOCK GM-B2100GD5AER”.

The jury

Renowned personalities testify to the INHORGENTA AWARD's quality: watch expert Gisbert L. Brunner, jewelry designer Leo Eberlin, Sarah Fabergé (Director of Special Projects Fabergé), Anja Heiden (Member of WEMPE’s Executive Board), Martin Julier (Head of Gemlab Bucherer), Giorgia Mondani (watch expert and digital entrepreneur), designer Patrik Muff, founder and editor-in-chief Katerina Perez, blogger and fashion label owner Nina Schwichtenberg, Christoph Stelzer (Dfrost, retail specialist) and Dr. Christianne Weber-Stöber (Managing Director of the Gesellschaft für Goldschmiedekunst e.V. (German Association of Goldsmith's Art).

• Outstanding watches, jewelry, gemstones, designers and retail concepts
• Gala evening at BMW Welt on February 25, 2023
• Jury and retailers choose winners

Most important trade show for jewelry, watches, gemstones

• INHORGENTA MUNICH, February 24 to 27, 2023
• Brilliant investments, industry confident
• Of plagiarized watches and AI that designs jewelry

“With around 800 exhibitors from all over the world—including many brands of great charisma—INHORGENTA MUNICH is Europe's leading platform for jewelry, watches and gemstones,” explains Stefan Rummel, Managing Director of Messe München. “Both manufacturers and retailers are confident about the future as their goods are valued investments.”

Reflecting this, the exhibition is growing, especially by luxury brands. Among them are watch brands such as Citizen, Garmin, MeisterSinger, Mühle-Glashütte, Raymond Weil and jewelry brands such as Bering, Breuning, Hans D. Krieger, Niessing and Thomas Sabo.

INHORGENTA: stage for practical knowledge

• From product trends and brand strategies to interior design
• Clearing the stage for TRENDFACTORY, Watch and Campus Talks
• Top speaker: Jean-Claude Biver, legend of the watch industry
  
  

From Friday to Sunday during INHORGENTA MUNICH (February 24–27, 2023), the TRENDFACTORY will offer practical expert knowledge and particularly highlight trends such as digitalization and sustainability. Timepieces will be the focus of the Watch Talks—and young professionals can find out about careers in the watch, jewelry and gemstone industries at the Campus Talks.

“Given the many current challenges we all have to face, it was more important than ever for us to create a conference program that gives trade show participants practical orientation”, explains Maritta Lepp, Exhibition Director of INHORGENTA MUNICH. High-profile experts will highlight market segments and share valuable knowledge on sustainable and digital value creation, brand strategies, and career opportunities.

Watch Talks in Hall A1

The Watch Talks will bring to the stage Jean-Claude Biver, former top manager at Hublot, among others, and “Watchthusiast” Thomas Gronenthal, who will speak on the plagiarism of luxury watches. In addition, there will be a panel discussion on “Smartwatches vs. Mechanical Watches: An eternal duel or perfect symbiosis? How essential are the two big ‘competitors’ for the successful jeweler?”. Hosted by Gisbert Brunner, this panel discussion will include experts from Garmin, MeisterSinger, renowned jewelers and the Watch Monitor.

TRENDFACTORY highlights (hall C2):

• Anant Sharma: “Crafting timeless brand strategies through storytelling and innovation”, Friday, February 24, 14:00–14:30
• Rachael Taylor: “The evolution of the family jeweler—new concepts for a successful future”, Friday, February 24, 14:30–15:00
• Leanne Kemp: “Blockchain technology: the next wave of innovation in the jewelry and watch industry”, Friday, February 24, 15:30–16:00
• Benjamin Guttery: “Social Media in a new area: What should the trade be focusing on?", Saturday, February 25, 12:30–13:00
• Chantal Matar: “Spekalutiv —future interior retail design for luxury & jewelry brands” , Sunday, February 26, 12:30–13:00
• Carmelo Zappulla: “The sensible dimension of future retail”, Sunday, February 26, 13:00–13:30

And then there will be the Campus Talks especially aimed at career starters: in Hall C2, schools and universities will introduce themselves and present creations by the “young and wild”, while associations will show professional paths and training programs in the jewelry industry.

INHORGENTA MUNICH: perfect for trend scouting

• Top jewelers were asked about market developments
• Anja Heiden (Wempe), Dominik Maegli (MAEGLI)
• Major industry get-together at INHORGENTA (February 24–27, 2023)
  
  

• Award for jewelry, watches, gemstones and retail concepts
• International submissions now possible until February 7
• Award ceremony at INHORGENTA MUNICH in February
  
  

Starting immediately, international designers, goldsmiths, watchmakers, jewelers, manufacturers and up-and-coming talents can apply for one of the most coveted trophies in the jewelry, watch and gemstone industry: the INHORGENTA AWARD. A prominent jury will nominate the best submissions and honor the winners at a prestigious gala during INHORGENTA MUNICH (February 24 to 27, 2023).

“The INHORGENTA AWARD will again honor exceptional jewelry and watch creations along with retail concepts—and we have newly added a category for gemstones. Another new category is High Jewelry,” explains Maritta Lepp, Exhibition Director of Europe's leading platform for the jewelry, watch and gemstone industry. “We are very much looking forward to receiving applications from all over the world by February 7.”

The award will be presented during an exclusive gala evening at BMW Welt on February 25—the glamorous highlight of INHORGENTA MUNICH from February 24 to 27, 2023. The top-class jury including watch expert Gisbert Brunner, Leo Eberlin (jewelry designer—Leo Mathild), Anja Heiden (Member of WEMPE’s Executive Board), Martin Julier (Head of Gemlab Bucherer) and designer Patrik Muff will make the selection.

Ten categories open for entries

Prizes will be awarded to the best jewelry, watches, designers as well as retail concepts in a total of ten categories, two of which are new: in the “High Jewelry of the Year" category, top-class jewelry with a retail price of EUR 30,000 or more can be entered. The Gemstone Design of the Year category sets a stage for special colored gemstones, diamonds and gemstone objects.

The other categories focus on Fine Jewelry, Fashion Jewelry, Designer, Design Newcomer (who are exempt from the entry fee), Watch Design and Best Jeweler of the Year. In the latter, concepts for modern store design, private sale areas or cross-channel marketing, for example, can be submitted. Additionally, there are again the categories “Retailers Choice—Best Piece of Jewelry” and “Retailers Choice—Best Watch”. For these, visitors to INHORGENTA MUNICH can vote online in advance and on site on the first day of the trade show.

More international than ever: INHORGENTA MUNICH 2023

• About 800 exhibitors, almost half from abroad
• New: joint pavilions from France and Italy
• Top new exhibitors: Damiani, World Diamond Group, NXT LVL Brands (Christ)
  
  

With around 800 exhibitors and a high level of internationality, INHORGENTA MUNICH reaffirms its position as Europe's leading trade fair for jewellery, watches and gemstones. Italian and French joint pavilions will make their debut, and there will be many new international exhibitors present. The fair will take place from February 24 to 27, 2023.

INHORGENTA AWARD
starts application phase

• Award for jewellery, watches, gemstones and retail concepts
• International submissions now possible until February 7
• Award ceremony at INHORGENTA MUNICH in February