The participation of a number of leading Spanish companies, manufacturers, designers and importers and the strong international dimension at the fair, which accounted for somewhat more than 32% of overall participation based on the direct presence of 153 exhibitors from 16 countries, reflect the confidence that the industry places in Iberjoya, thus confirming its role as one of the main points of reference on the European jewellery fair circuit.   Another of the characteristics of this edition consisted of the exhibiting companies' strong emphasis on innovation and quality, as well as the implementation of numerous special marketing and promotional measures for the launch of new jewellery products, collections and fashion brands, in accordance with the demands of the current climate within the industry.   The activities at Iberjoya were completed by the staging of the Seventh Trends Fashion Parade, the presentation of the AN Gems Awards, a series of homage awards for leading figures within the industry and the staging of the traditional Gala Dinner.

 

With regard to visitors, the fair welcomed 16,352 professionals on this occasion, a lower figure than that of previous editions, which reflects developments within the industry's commercialisation channels themselves, which are characterised by a decreasing number of establishments specialising in the sale of jewellery. The fair's statistics, according to the activities pursued by the visiting professionals, show that some 39.4% of the visitors at the fair were retailers, 25.9% represented large stores, 11% were wholesalers and 13.4% were designers.          

 

Another important aspect of the fair at this edition was the significant presence of buyers from abroad. Thus, on this occasion Iberjoya welcomed some 1,063 professionals from 55 countries, including a large number from Europe, especially from Portugal, Italy and France, as well as from the Latin American region, with Brazil and Mexico sending the largest numbers to Madrid. The progressive internationalisation of Iberjoya, which is based on the wide-ranging promotional campaigns and the Foreign Buyers Programme organised by IFEMA in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Madrid, constitutes an important working tool for exhibitors, offering them an ideal opportunity to extend or initiate business dealings abroad in order to boost their exports, based on the safest and most reliable framework for establishing new contacts.   

The fair also focuses strongly on the Spanish market, where 93% of the professionals at the event come from, with an especially large number attending the exhibition from the Madrid Region. On this occasion, members of the trade from Madrid accounted for 23.7% of overall participation, followed by those from Andalusia, who accounted for 15.5%; the Valencian Region, 9.4%, Catalonia, 8%; Castile – León, 6.4%; Galicia, 5.3%; the Canary Islands, 4.6%, and the Basque Country, 4.4%.        

 Coinciding with the trade fair itself, Iberjoya provided the setting for the staging of various activities, exhibitions, design awards, homage presentations, etc. These activities were organised jointly by the fair and the exhibiting companies, based on a series of unique ideas and projects designed to boost demand, strengthen relations with customers and clients and provide a framework for the staging of a number of social and cultural events linked to the jewellery industry.    

The star event at this edition was the Seventh Iberjoya Trends Fashion Parade, which took place on the afternoon/evening of Friday 12th September and brought together the most outstanding ideas and fashion trends in jewellery and time-pieces on the catwalk, based on a special "space" theme depicting life on another planet. In this respect, under the heading of Iberjoya Future Show a minimalist and other-worldly image was combined with the most modern and daring range of jewellery items, featuring both cutting-edge and classic lines and always packed with beauty, luxurious appeal and sophistication. This thematic show enabled exhibitors and their customers to discover the latest fashion trends within a special futuristic setting.  

As at previous editions, an entire series of events was organised around the Fashion Parade, including presentations of awards and honourable mentions, granted in recognition of the achievements of various sectors of the jewellery industry. In this respect, we might highlight thehomage that Iberjoya and the Guild of Jewellery Makers and Silversmiths of Madrid paid to the retailersAntonio Hernández Gómez, from Joyería Gómez; to theman-and-wife team of jewellers made up of Domingo Pérez Soto and Carmen Somoza Díaz, from Joyería Domingo; toIsmael Aranda Alberca, from Joyería Macarfe; to Mercedes Muñoz Oyarzabal, from Muñoz Joyeros, and to Antonio Vázquez Raposo, from Joyería Ragil, all of whom have been running their establishments for more than fifty years. Along the same lines, the Duplex Group paid homage to the professional careers of Juan Peña and Luis Navarro within the industrial sector.

Iberjoya September '08 also provided the setting for the company, Antonio Negueruela, to announce the winning pieces and designs in the third edition of the AN Gem National Coloured Stone Jewellery Design Awards. The GeMerald Category, which focuses on pieces in which precious stones feature prominently, was won by Isabel Alcón with her ring entitled "Autumn"; the GeMotion Category, which is for pieces in which coloured precious stones feature prominently, was won by Gerard Valls and his necklace known as "Eclosion Esferad"; the Gemadness Category, for designs on paper, was won by the same designer with his project known as "Rodo".  

At the end of the Trends Fashion Parade and its complementary activities, Iberjoya staged its traditional Gala DIinner for exhibitors, clients and customers and the specialised press, featuring more than 700 guests.    

This edition of Iberjoya was also the setting chosen by the company, Pedro Durán, to present its exhibition entitled "Moments". At this show, visitors had the opportunity to view various pieces that hold special memories, featuring designs that date back in some cases more than one hundred years, alongside a series of modern and exclusive creations. Furthermore, the designer, Adolfo Domínguez, attended this edition in order to launch his first line of jewellery made of gold and silver, semi-precious stones, leather and pearls. This collection was inspired by the themes of nature and life. 

For its part, the Ayserco Group organised two exclusive fashion parades at Iberjoya, featuring the participation of eight of the most outstanding contestants in the Miss Spain 2008 competition. These beautiful models presented the sixty pieces that form part of the Group's new collection of gold jewellery known as the "Seven Cardinal Sins", alongside the fashion creations of Pedro del Hierro.

On the day before the inauguration of the fair, Iberjoya hosted the staging of the tenth edition of PRODIAM '08, the Diamond and Precious Stone Professionals Meeting in Spain. An activity staged by Gold & Time magazine and Gemacyt-Laboratorio Gemológico, organised by Grupo Nexo, with the collaboration of the Diamond High Council in Antwerp and Iberjoya. On this occasion, Prodiam 2008 staged a grand debate on the current situation with regard to Gemmology and the trade in diamonds, precious stones and pearls within the context of the jewellery industry, placing special emphasis on the need to unify and standardise nomenclatures and certification criteria.

In this respect, the event featured a large panel of experts within the field of gemmology, including participants ranging from representatives from institutions to those from teaching centres and certification laboratories.