The VO Awards Are Born: Vicenzaoro Honors the Future of Jewelry

Vicenzaoro, the international exhibition for the goldsmith-jewelry and watchmaking supply chain, a global reference point for the gold industry with its two annual editions in September and January, presents a major new initiative: the VO Awards, the official prize that celebrates the finest expressions of creativity, innovation, sustainability, and craftsmanship in jewelry design. This award, promoted by Italian Exhibition Group’s longest-running trade show with over 70 years of history, aims to highlight exhibitors who are key players in the supply chain, elevating internationally those creations capable of inspiring and shaping the future of the industry. Thanks to an international jury of high-profile experts, supported by votes from buyers and visitors, the VO Awards will honor the most extraordinary pieces, offering winners a unique stage: Vicenzaoro January 2026, held at the Vicenza Expo Centre from January 16 to 20, 2026. “With the VO Awards we want to celebrate the art of jewelry in all its facets,” says Michela Amenduni, Marketing & Communication Manager Jewellery & Fashion at IEG, “further strengthening Vicenzaoro’s role as an international hub for jewelry design. We are consolidating a tradition that for over 70 years has united heritage and the future, business and creativity, style and technology as drivers of innovation, while also showcasing one of the distinctive elements of Made in Italy—chain making—and giving space to the new generations of designers who bring fresh energy to the sector.” Matteo Farsura, Global Exhibition Manager Jewellery & Fashion at IEG, adds: “The VO Awards bring additional value to the Vicenzaoro universe with a project that involves not only the jewelry production world but also distribution and the many skills that converge in our industry, fostering a virtuous circle centered around the show itself, and sharing the expertise in trends and design that has always characterized our Jewellery Boutique Show. This initiative is part of IEG’s broader ability to create market opportunities through innovative formats and original content.”

VO AWARDS CATEGORIES

Eight competition categories, each representing a creative world, a stylistic vision, and a different interpretation of goldsmithing excellence. In line with the exhibition format of Vicenzaoro – The Jewellery Boutique Show, based on homogeneous Communities of companies with shared identity, positioning, and language, the VO Awards are open to exhibitors from the ICON, LOOK, and CREATION communities, both Italian and international. For the high-end jewelry of ICON, the categories are Best in ICON – High End Jewellery and Best in ICON – One-of-a-kind Jewellery; for the gold and silver craftsmanship of CREATION, Best in Creation – Goldsmith Production and Best in Creation – Silver Production; for the contemporary jewelry of LOOK, Best in Look – Fashion Jewellery and Best in Look – Fine Jewellery. Two special categories complete the selection: Best in Special – Chain for innovation and excellence in chain-making, and Best in Special – Young dedicated to talents under 30, the new emerging players in the industry. Applications are already open: exhibiting companies at Vicenzaoro January 2026 have until November 30, 2025, to submit their creations. The winners of the 1st edition of the VO Awards will be announced at Vicenzaoro January 2026, selected by a multidisciplinary panel of expert judges. The finalist pieces—the top three in each category, as selected by the technical jury—will be showcased during the January edition of Vicenzaoro, allowing buyers and visitors to vote and contribute to the final outcome.

THE JURY OF EXPERTS

Twelve experts make up the technical jury. A multidisciplinary panel of prominent figures from the international worlds of jewelry, fashion, gemology, manufacturing, retail, and communication, all called to offer their authoritative analysis of the competing pieces. For technology and innovation: Damiano Zito (CEO & Chairman at Progold S.p.A., and President of The Vicenza Symposium); for production and manufacturing: Nicolò Rapone (Chief Operations Officer at Bulgari); for sustainability: Alice Vanni (CSR Director; Board Member at Italpreziosi) and Iris Van Der Veken (Executive Director & Secretary General of WJI – Watches & Jewellery Initiative 2030; Member of the 100 Women @ Davos Inclusive Leadership Council); for distribution: Stéphanie Hernandez Barragan (Buying and Marketing Director for Watches & Jewelry at Galeries Lafayette Group), and Costanza and Candido Operti (Owners and administrators of Antica Orologeria Candido Operti); from the world of gemology: Rui Galopim De Carvalho (Gem Education Consultant); designer: Carolina Bucci (Carolina Bucci Firenze); trend forecaster: Paola De Luca (Founder & Creative Director at TRENDVISION Jewellery + Forecasting); and journalists: Kyle Roderick (Fine jewelry and timepiece journalist for Forbes.com; author and photo editor of Bejeweled: The World of Ethical Jewelry, Rizzoli 2019; founder and editor of @bijouxreview) and Federica Frosini (Editor in Chief of VO+ Jewelry Magazine). Rules and contact details at www.vicenzaoro.com/en/vo-awards