Amberif

Last Mid-March, the International Fair of Amber, Jewellery and Gemstones, Amberif celebrated its 23rd birthday. It is the worldwide exhibition dedicated to amber professionals. It gathered 480 companies of 14 different nationalities and about 7700 visitors from 55 countries, mainly from Poland, Russia, Lithuania, but also from Germany, China and England.

In a divided space of 12,000 m², 3 halls present in equal parts : the resellers of raw or worked gems, the silver jewellery associated to amber, and eventually gold jewellery and new creators. Other spaces are used to present jewellery production technologies, Medias, 2016 trends, the next events, jewellery schools… Conferences and workshops complete the event.

We will underline the following strengths. One of them is the development of associations sponsored by the Polish government to help those resellers and creators, as well as the high quality control of this precious gem. Then, we can find various jewel professionals in the same space, which facilitates the exchanges and its powerful position within amber trade. Eventually, this exhibition knows how to value and promote its golden brown treasure.

Amberif gives the tone: amber, in its jewellery metal case (or not, actually), remains a trend. Very popular, back then, since less expensive when associated to silver, today amber adorns other accessories and offers a new point of view. It has been modernized thanks to the use of 3D modelling, to its association with original, natural or synthetic materials or colours, to the work of its more geometric form. And its inherent value is also multiplied by the addition of gold and precious stones.

Its ambition is above all translated to a beautiful demonstration on the catwalk, The Amber Look Trends & Styles 2016, and the numerous rewards: The Amberif Design Award rewarding the original work on amber jewellery (75 artists of 17 nationalities), the Amber Look Project for the best show of the Gala, the Mercurius Gedanensis for the best jewellery work presented in the exhibition, and a reward for the most engaged people to promote Gdansk as the Worldwide Capital of Amber.

Transition was the topic of the Amberif Design Award Competition. Successful gamble for the creators thanks to their enhanced work. To me, nothing has been such a source of amazement and surprises. Between the image I made of it since my childhood and my renewed and enthusiast vision of amber post-exhibition, there was a source of upheaval named Amberif. Thank you to the Directors Ewa Rachon and Ewa Szpiek for the warm welcome.