In a single event, GemGenève established itself as a key date for those in the jewelry trade and the public alike.

 

 

Because GemGenève is all of the following:

 

1- A mine of precious stones

The excellence of the exhibitors means that you can choose in total confidence from thousands of diamonds, sapphires and tourmalines of every shade, Colombian emeralds, fine or cultured pearls, pigeon’s blood rubies and atypical stones like opals with kaleidoscopic reflections. You can take stones loose or already mounted, by the unit or in matching pairs (as a set). You can also simply drool over the ones on display – don’t miss the stone creating a buzz this year: the 9.30 carat blue diamond that belonged to Shirley Temple.

 

2- A museum where everything is for sale

All in one place: Thomas Faerber, Horovitz & Totah, Veronique Bamps, Pat Saling, Morelle Davidson, Shalom Bronstein, Yafa Signed Jewels and Steven Neckman provide a magnificent overview of jewelry history. There is a real mix on display, including earrings by Suzanne Belperron, a “Soudanais” Cartier bracelet, a 19th century fine pearl tiara, an Art Nouveau pendant, a Van Cleef & Arpels mystery setting brooch and a Templier Art Deco necklace. One of the most appealing pieces this year is a 19th century Renaissance-style amethyst brooch. It’ll be hard to keep a cool head!

 

3- A plethora of contemporary designers

The Designer Vivarium area is presenting a dozen talents selected by historian Vivienne Becker. My favorites include Swiss designer Nadia Morgenthaler, who has masterfully reinterpreted the 18th century spirit with highly graphic lines, and the UK’s Alexandra Jefford, originally a painter and draughtswoman, who is offering sculptural pieces inspired by the Bauhaus and Fifties American Abstract Expressionism. Meanwhile Belgian designer Tatiana Verstraeten makes her jewelry debut with various pieces that include a sublime two-winged boa necklace.

 

4- A place where you can have your treasures valued

If you don’t know how to sell a piece of jewelry lying around in a box, and have no idea of its value, then take it to a dealer at the Show. If you are looking for a quick sale, they have excellent networks of customers whose tastes and financial means they know inside out. One piece of advice: go to see several. If you want to know the characteristics of the emerald or diamond left to you by your old aunt (weight, treatments, cut, etc.), you can approach several well-known laboratories at GemGenève.

 

5- A series of talks on the history of jewelry

You can attend talks given by various erudite scholars like Gislain Aucremann, a teacher at the Van Cleef & Arpels school, historian Amanda Triossi, formerly in charge of Bulgari’s heritage, and Vanessa Cron, in charge of courses at Christie’s. The programme includes: “Art Nouveau jewelry: sacred beauty”, “Muses and collectors: the women who inspired jewelry”, and “Une vie d’aventures et de diamants au 17ème siècle” devoted to the diamond- and adventure-strewn life of Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, Louis XIV‘s gem dealer.

 

6- A chance to enter a secret world

GemGenève takes you behind the scenes of the jewelry world, the source of every fantasy… Here you have an exceptional opportunity to meet stone and jewelry dealers who normally sell only to other dealers, never to private individuals.  Without knowing it, you will also come across design studio directors, gemmologists, precious stone buyers and top merchants working for Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, etc. In short, you will be immersed in the unique atmosphere of the huge jewelry community.

 

GemGenève from 9 to 12 May 2019