Inhorgenta Munich 2024: A captivating 50th anniversary program

Since 1974, INHORGENTA has been one of the leading exhibitions for jewelry, watches and gemstones and a pivotal force in unlocking new markets. The 50th-anniversary edition of Inhorgenta will take place from February 16 to 19, 2024, featuring an extensive supporting program. A Time of change

INHORGENTA started in 1974 as the “1st International Trade Fair for Watches, Jewelry, Gemstones, and Silverware,” achieving immediate success. The industry’s need for a dedicated trade fair in Germany and Europe was a great opportunity for Messe München. Dr Gabriele Weishäupl, the press spokeswoman, gave the trade fair its name, drawing inspiration from the Latin terms ‘gemma’ for gemstone, ‘aurum’ for gold, ‘Argentum’ for silver, ‘hora’ for an hour and ‘in’ for international. Inhorgenta soon became the gateway to new markets thanks to its approximately 1,000 employees spanning over 130 countries worldwide. The international character of INHORGENTA attracts exhibitors from all parts of the world. “As the leading business platform in Europe, INHORGENTA brings together the right people. The desire for meaningful encounters, trade opportunities, and authentic luxury from independent brands opens up many new possibilities,” says Stefanie Mändlein, Exhibition Director.

50 YEARS OF SUCCESS – Founded in 1974 during Munich’s emergence as an ultra-modern international lifestyle metropolis, INHORGENTA witnessed the opening of the Olympic Park, hosting World Cup soccer games, boasting the most advanced public transport network in Europe and becoming the epicentre of the disco-pop era. Since its foundation, international stars like singer Udo Jürgens, Oscar winner Sir Peter Ustinov, Eurovision winner Lena Meyer-Landruth, and German talents like Vincent Weiss or Leony, as well as model icon Nadja Auermann, have attended INHORGENTA events. The 2024 anniversary year will also feature renowned names and stars. For its 50th anniversary, INHORGENTA promises to be more modern and forward-looking than ever. It will showcase an ultra-modern new look and feel designed by international star designer Mirko Borsche, a spectacular new location and program for the INHORGENTA AWARD, three special anniversary exhibitions and many other highlights in the supporting program. “50 years young and better than ever” is the central theme of the upcoming anniversary edition of INHORGENTA.

– Interview with Stefanie Mändlein –

To mark its 50^th anniversary in 2024, INHORGENTA will showcase a heightened sense of modernity and innovation. What in particular will be new in this spectacular edition?
“At INHORGENTA 2024 it will be one highlight after another. I’ll put the spotlight on just three. One will be its 50th-anniversary celebration with many activities, including cutting the anniversary cake and honouring exhibitors who have been present for 50 years. Three exhibitions will showcase the world of jewelry today, its 5,000-year history, and highlights from 50 years of INHORGENTA. We have also completely redesigned INHORGENTA, which is now being gradually unveiled, such as with the new corporate design by Mirko Borsche, the new website, a new visual language, until INHORGENTA starts on February 16 with a new spirit, new look and trading-up. Many well-known international brands are celebrating their premiere or are returning, confirming our new concept. Regarding exhibitors and exhibition space, we are currently experiencing significant growth of 15 per cent. And thirdly: our INHORGENTA AWARD will be presented for the seventh time. It will take place on Saturday evening, February 17, in a brand-new location with visionary architecture, the Showpalast Munich. And I can promise you: It will be quite a show. We also have a new category, “Luxury Watch of the Year”, along with eight other categories.”

What do you expect from the three-anniversary exhibitions?
“The exhibition “Infinite Reflections” will take a look into the past and celebrate a 5,000-year journey of jewelry and humanity. Every 15 minutes, a show uses music and projections to present the history of the development of jewellery and mankind over the last 5,000 years. The interactive and immersive installation will combine light art, projections and artificial intelligence. The archive is being prepared in a tunnel for the anniversary exhibition “50 Years of INHORGENTA”. What did the old exhibition grounds look like before 1998? How did the exhibitors present themselves? What stars and events were featured? The organizers will show a film explaining how INHORGENTA came about. The exhibition “Adorning the Self” will show how jewelry is worn on the street today. These are snapshots that present the diversity and creativity of individual people – whether it’s bijoux, precious genuine jewelry or watches, whether it’s discreet, opulent or sophisticated. Therefore, the exhibitions offer many ideas on redefining one’s own understanding of jewelry.”

You are the first international trade fair to introduce a Wedding World. How will the wedding and design area be organized at the trade fair? Which aspects will you place emphasis on? Will you offer personalized experiences to the attendees?

“Fortunately, the response to our new “Wedding World” has already been very good. More than 30 exhibitors, such as August Gerstner, Max Kemper, Meister, Niessing and Rauschmayer, will present themselves to buyers in the new “Wedding World”, which spans 4,000 square meters. There, they will show the wide variety of the market. Engagement and wedding rings are not only one of the most important sales drivers. They are also often the first contact with a jeweler, which can lead to a lifelong customer relationship. A stylized chapel will be at the centre of the “Wedding World”. Here, buyers will get ideas for their own promotions at the point of sale – after all, customers today don’t just want a ring, they also want an experience. Among other things, a multi-tiered cake will be created live, a Ladurée cart will offer French patisserie classics, and you can find a good background for social media photos celebrations and dances. Many couples are looking for contemporary inspiration and new models for their wedding attire, particularly when it’s an older couple, two women or two men getting married. In cooperation with the European Fashion Award FASH, the young fashion designers Arjos Anton, Christian Hannken, Lea Lahr-Thiele and Danny Reinke will reveal their alternatives to the traditional wedding dress, the archetype of which has hardly changed since Queen Victoria’s wedding.”

How do you play a pioneering role in the industry? What’s the key to your success?
“The recipe for success at INHORGENTA is the personal touch. We want to talk to people. The decisive factor is that we have continued to develop in close cooperation with the industry. One example is the INHORGENTA AWARD, which has established itself as a leading and glamorous international industry event. Moreover, as the industry’s first independent trade fair in Germany, we were broadly positioned right from the start and covered the entire value chain. This is reflected in the name of the 1974 and 1975 events, which translates to: “International Trade Fair for Watches, Jewelry, Gemstones and Silverware (with associated production and operating equipment)”. This is where independent brands and jewellers meet. It’s a place where you can experience individual, high-quality and often handcrafted watches and jewelry. Equally important are Messe Muenchen’s international service with around 1,000 employees in over 130 countries, the first-class infrastructure in the heart of Europe and the passion with which the team works.”

Tell me something about your supporting programs regarding young talents and students.

“Since the beginning of INHORGENTA in 1974, promoting young talent has been an important pillar of INHORGENTA. Werner Fischer largely shaped this. He was a co-founder of INHORGENTA and later Chairman of the Advisory Board. As President of the Central Association of Jewelers, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, for example, founded the training centre for German goldsmiths and silversmiths in Ahlen. We continue to work with the central association to this day, including on its large-scale training campaign. As part of our established Young Professional Program, around 1,500 trainees and students visit INHORGENTA annually to participate in training courses and networking events. This also includes the Brand New Area, where we support entry into the industry with a low-cost starter package. We have a new recruiting area and our campus area, where eight universities and educational institutions will be presenting themselves.”

– Laura Astrologo Porché and Stefanie Mändlein –

Would you describe Inhorgenta as a sustainable trade fair?
“Messe Muenchen is working to become carbon neutral by 2030 at the latest. The new Munich Trade Fair Center not only created the outstanding infrastructure I mentioned earlier, which makes travelling to us from all over the world very easy but also focused on environmental protection right from the start. However, these are measures that visitors will hardly notice. In 1998, we built one of the largest photovoltaic systems in the world. It has since been enlarged with every hall extension. It also has its own power plant, which generates energy exactly when it is needed without transportation losses. All the rainwater is collected, stored in underground tanks and used internally. We have 125,000 square meters of green space, over 2,000 trees, and 70,000 shrubs. Not only do we recycle all types of materials, but we also use recycled materials wherever possible. For example, carpets are turned back into carpets. We are taking numerous measures to try to keep the emissions from our customers’ trade fair visits as low as possible. One of the most important measures is the two subway stations, which over 50 per cent of all visitors use to travel to the city in an environmentally friendly way. In addition, we offer exhibitors, visitors and partners the opportunity to become active themselves by purchasing a GoGreen ticket and reducing their carbon footprint. This climate protection contribution is invested in climate protection projects that meet the highest standards (Gold Standard, Plan Vivo). And of course, we have been dealing with this topic for many years. It is, therefore, an important topic for us and something we are putting great effort into; it is by no means a marketing tool. Sustainability is also a key topic of the Trendfactory supporting program at INHORGENTA linked with Future retail issues.”