Everything’s Coming Up Roses at BaselWorld

It is too early to say how this year’s BaselWorld show is going to shape up for the diamond and jewelry industries. On the first day of the exhibition, everyone’s eyes were focused firmly on the watch pavilion, which were packed with visitors. There was also some movement in the diamond pavilion but the jewelry halls were quiet and fairly empty.

However, the lack of visitors did not seem to affect the mood of jewelry exhibitors. They know that business will filter down once buyers have taken care of their watch needs.

Such is the expectation that there would be few transactions conducted outside of the timepiece arena that one exhibitor was moved to voice his surprise that any activity was happening at all. “It’s only day one, said Daniel Bogue of Mattioli, “and we’re already doing business.”

Possibly the Italian jewelry company were attracting visitors because they are offering something other than the ubiquitous pink gold that is already becoming a fashion mainstay. Hedging their bets on the next new trend, Mattioli are moving away from the current fashion for rose or pink gold and adding a new hue to the metal spectrum – chocolate.

Long a shade found in the watch industry, chocolate gold originated in the aerospace industry as a coating method to prevent engine parts wearing out. In the watch trade, the coating is utilized as a means of coloring stainless steel. Now brown-hued is catching on in the jewelry industry.

According to Bogue, in the coming seasons, the new color will be ‘The Thing’. Jewelry fashions, he says, echo haute couture, which is currently going through a “brown is the new black” phase.

Although Mattioli may be pioneering the push towards brown gold, brown, in the guise of pearls and cognac diamonds, could already be seen in many display windows in the jewelry pavilion.

Even so, there seems to be no stopping the power of pink. Red, rose, and pink gold could be found everywhere, including the new collection from the New York-based Aaron Basha.

The company, which is well known for its whimsical charms and collectables, is introducing a line of rose gold ornaments at the show. The charms, which include a cow, crab, pig, and fish, are accentuated with fancy pink diamonds, rubies, and black diamonds. 

Only time will tell if business will be as rosy as the goods on offer.