Idar-Oberstein. After three exciting days, Intergem 2023 held at the Idar-Oberstein exhibition centre ended with a respectable success despite the difficult industry environment. 85 exhibitors from 11 countries presented their high-quality jewellery creations and a diverse range of diamonds, pearls, and coloured gemstones to the interested trade audience.
1,489 trade visitors from 27 countries came to Intergem, 6% more than in 2022. Intergem 2023 was able to grow slightly – against the general trade fair trend. The international proportion of trade visitors remained constant at 27%. The high internationality of the trade visitors is based on visitors from Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland. Trade visitors from the Baltics, the USA, New Zealand, and Hong Kong were also represented.
The Intergem 2023 supporting programme contributed to this success. The second edition of the live jewellery show was again created by Katerina Perez. With over 400,000 followers on Instagram, the trained gemmologist is an outstanding international influencer and blogger for high-quality jewellery and trendy creations that go with it. She also accompanied Intergem 2023 with her social media activities. During Intergem she curated, combined outfits and single pieces of jewellery, moderated and promoted the show through her social media channels.
The GemTec exhibition area was completely new and had a very successful premiere at Intergem 2023. The GemTec exhibition was accompanied by a two-day symposium with top-class lectures. GemTec is about innovative technologies, devices, and tools for processing hard and brittle materials. The companies in this competence cluster, which developed from the jewellery and gemstone industry of the region, show how innovative methods and new processes can influence the jewellery design of the future. GemTec was created in collaboration with the IHK Koblenz and the regional business development of Kreis Birkenfeld and will be continued at Intergem 2024.
The opening ceremony of Intergem was accompanied by Daniela Schmitt (Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture) and Dr. Heide Rezepa-Zabel (gemologist, art historian, diamond appraiser and known as an expert from the ZDF program “Bares für Rares”). Dr. Heide Rezepa-Zabel also received the “Deutsche Edelsteinstraße”- Award in recognition of her achievements in the region’s jewellery and gemstone industry. She actively supported the second “Long Night of the Gemstones.”
On Intergem Saturday, eight outstanding and unique institutions and locations from the jewellery and gemstone industry in Idar-Oberstein and the region presented themselves in a pleasant evening ambience with a suitable musical and culinary supporting programme. New participants were the Fischbach Copper Mine and the Trier University on the Idar-Oberstein campus. The offer was free for trade visitors and citizens of the region and there was a shuttle service to the buildings provided by the team of Intergem. The positive response to the “Long Night of the Gemstones” was overwhelming.
The German Gemstone Museum welcomed over 350 visitors. All tours in the museums, the Industrial Monument Bengel, the Fischbach Copper Mine and the Steinkaulenberg Gemstone Mine were fully booked. Over 150 visitors were welcomed to the Industrial Monument Bengel. It shows that Intergem was once again able to build a bridge to the city of Idar-Oberstein and the region. Only Idar-Oberstein can make this happen. In 2024, the 40th edition of Intergem and the 3rd edition of the “Long Night of the Gemstones” will be held in Idar-Oberstein. The exact date for both events will be announced as soon as possible.
Exhibitor statements to Intergem 2023:
After three very intensive days, our hoarse voices and aching feet show how successful and great Intergem 2023 has been for Osmium. We are grateful and proud that we were able to present the rarest precious metal in the world among all the other gemstone exhibitors and that it was so well received. The discussions, but above all the consistently positive feedback, show us that Osmium is looking forward to a sparkling future in the jewellery market, and we will definitely try to be part of Intergem 2024. A particular thanks to the trade fair team, who looked after us fantastically and was always available to answer our questions or requests. Intergem 2023 – we had a great time!
– Scarlett Clauss, Managing Director of Oslery GmbH and Deputy Director of the Osmium Institute.
Intergem 2023 was a great show for us this year. We have been attending for many years and most of our customers are repeat customers. We have expanded our customer base year by year. Of course, sales last years were not good as Europe was hit by high energy prices and uncertainty. This year there were few visitors at the fair, but the visitors who were at the fair needed South Sea and Tahiti pearls for their stock and Christmas sales, so we had a very nice fair. We are looking forward to the 40 years anniversary fair next year.
– Torben Skov, Torben Skov Pearls.
The 39th Intergem was a complete success in terms of the entire organization, the supporting programme, and the catering. You could realize an upward trend in terms of visitors. Even though the total number has only increased slightly compared to 2022, there were significantly more guests, especially on Sunday. The proportion of visitors with clear purchase intentions also felt higher than in the previous year. The new GemTech area with the highly interesting seminar programme represents a significant enrichment of Intergem. The same also applies to the new exhibitors in the foyer. The overwhelming success of the “Long Night of Gemstones” has shown that we are unique in the world as a trade fair location for gemstones, diamonds, and jewellery. It also shows that the team of Intergem is on the right track with the concept “Intergem and Idar-Oberstein are one” to make Intergem successful for its 40th anniversary and beyond.
– Dr. Konrad Henn, Karl Faller e.K.
Die Intergem was a positive experience for us. We’ve met new customers and are looking forward to Intergem 2024.
– Vanessa Kreis, Kreis Jeweller.
From our point of view, the premiere of GemTec was a success. The participating companies were very satisfied. They had good conversations and promised to be part of GemTec in 2024. The initiative to revive this competence cluster was highly praised by the exhibitors. The topic has great potential for the region and also for Intergem.
– Christina Schwardt, managing director of IHK Koblenz in the office Idar-Oberstein.
