At this week’s VicenzaOro Winter fair, Jan. 14–Jan. 18, Fiera di Vicenza organizers had more to juggle than its typical first-of-the-year trade-fair events. Announcements included the launch of a new research department and name and logo changes.

Revised corporate identities were on tap for all three of show editions. First, Charm, and Choice are now Winter, Spring, and Fall, reflective of the seasons in which the shows take place. The new names are “closer to the identity of fashion shows,” said Roberto Ditri, president of Fiera di Vicenza, at a press conference held during the fair. According to fair officials, the new logos themselves highlight the letters W, S, and F in season-appropriate colors, and their shapes will comprise repeating patterns of the VicenzaOro X graphic.

Trend Vision Jewellery + Forecasting, a permanent research center headed up by industry veteran Paola De Luca, was also officially launched during the fair. De Luca, who has 20 years of jewelry experience, most recently with the Trends, Jewellery, Forecasting Group and magazine, will report on trends in jewelry, watchmaking, and luxury accessories and will continue to give timely seminars on trends at trade fairs around the world.

“We are the first and only trade fair in the world to unveil a research center dedicated to revealing consumer attitudes and decoding trends,” said Ditri. “Trend Vision Jewellery + Forecasting will serve as a driving engine to promote industry know-how, and will be an authority on research, design, and innovation—from products to lifestyle to consumer emotions.”

Within the fair itself, eight new brands—including Bapalal Keshaval of India, Brumani and Vianna from Brazil, Armas Jewelry of Belgium, Cervera Barcelona of Spain, Swarovski Gems, Tirisi Jewellery of the Netherlands, Effy Jewelers from the United States, and the Institut Privé de Gemmologie Monaco from the Principality of Monaco—were evident. Additionally, Bapalal Keshaval and Brumani were both stationed in prestigious Hall B1, a location traditionally reserved for Italian-only firms. Noticeably absent from the fair: Marco Bicego, which traditionally exhibits in Hall B1, and the World Gold Council, whose familiar space in the center of Hall F was occupied by the Trend Vision Jewellery + Forecasting department.

Officials also revealed that a traveling exhibition of T-Gold, the international exhibition of machines and equipment for jewelry manufacturing, will go on the road to fairs in Brazil, Russia, India, and China, or the BRIC developing nations. Promotional activities slated to take place abroad include a trio of specialized manufacturing seminars, including electroforming.

Finally, Fiera di Vicenza officials debuted the month-long Scarpa Jewels Exhibition (Jan. 13–Feb. 15), in remembrance of Afra Bianchin Scarpa, who passed away July 30, 2011. Located at the Palazzo Bonin Longare in Vicenza, the exhibit will feature 72 pieces of jewelry created between 1970 and 2011 for manufacturer San Lorenzo.

JCK