Craftsmanship, Heritage and Innovation: the Signature of Inhorgenta 2026
Stefanie Maendlein, Exhibition Director, talks about the recently concluded edition: new exhibitors, high-profile talks, and a renewed focus on the value of materials
«The 2026 edition of INHORGENTA placed the spotlight firmly on the value of craftsmanship. Across six halls, visitors found a vibrant and comprehensive panorama of the industry: gemstones, jewellery, watches, design, technology and services. Curated special areas made craftsmanship truly tangible. In MasterCraft Live and the Craftsmanship Area, artisans worked on site, showcasing their techniques and processes. With THE ATELIER, the fair offered a journey through jewellery-making savoir‑faire, from its Mesopotamian origins to today’s high‑tech landscape, highlighting the constant interplay between tradition and innovation.INHORGENTA confirmed its international standing, presenting a broad and qualified line‑up of exhibitors, including many important returning brands such as Maurice Lacroix and MeisterSinger. The watch sector also continued to grow: for the second year, we collaborated with the Fondation Haute Horlogerie, and the FHH Cultural Space expanded both in exhibition area and content, with Piagetand Oris as partner brands. Complementing this offer were Salon Suisse, the French Pavilion and the Watch Boutique.In the Fine & High Jewelry segment, the fair welcomed new international players such as Akillis, Busatti Milano, Govoni Gioielli, Pesavento, River Mounts, Takto, Tirisi and Via Maggio. The Lifestyle & Elegance area also saw new entries, including Ania Haie (UK), Edblad (Sweden) and Rosefield (Netherlands).The program of talks transformed sector expertise into practical tools. In the TRENDFACTORY and the WATCH TALKS, international speakers from design, retail, media and manufacturing discussed topics with direct relevance to daily operations. One of the most appreciated moments was the panel “How do watchmaking and jewelleryintertwine?”, featuring representatives from Piaget, Grima and Wempe, moderated by Scarlett Baker. Additional sessions on materials, education and brand management further explored the contemporary meaning of craftsmanship. The goal remained the same: to provide clarity, foster new connections and offer ideas that could be implemented immediately upon returning to work.Looking at the broader international context, we can say that the rise in gold prices did not diminish the pursuit of beauty, but it did transform the design approach. Designers reimagined constructions in lighter forms without compromising visual impact. They experimented with modular solutions to enhance versatility and communicated intrinsic value more transparently—from alloy choices to durability and after‑sales services. Retailers responded with more focused, timeless collections, highlighting at the point of sale exactly why a piece is priced as it is.For us, all of this represented the true essence of craftsmanship: making conscious decisions, respecting resources and creating emotion that endures.»
