The Istanbul Jewelry Show (IJS) has once again proven its international significance by attracting more foreign visitors at its 49th edition. 

According to organiser Informa Markets, this year’s show saw a 12 percent jump in global buyer participation compared to October 2018. 

More than 800 companies and brands from 20 countries exhibited at the four-day fair, which concluded on October 15. A total of 20,172 professional buyers from 127 countries took part in the event. 

Data from the organiser showed that the highest visitor increase was recorded from African countries, which rose 164 percent from last year, followed by North America (41 percent), Asia (11 percent), Middle East (10 percent) and Europe (8 percent). 

The show’s October edition also featured an “International Buyer Delegation Program” aimed at boosting Turkey’s jewellery exports and finding new markets. The programme included buyer delegations from Europe, Middle East, the US, North Africa and the Far East.

One of the fair’s most visited pavilions is the Designer Market, which cast the spotlight on professional and budding jewellery designers.

The fair also was also graced by leaders of gem and jewellery associations from around 50 countries, who were also in Istanbul to attend the ASEAN Gems & Jewellery Association Conference. 

UBM Rotaforte Founding Partner Şermin Cengiz cited the show’s broad selection of exhibitors who offered on-trend collections using technology and design expertise as the core of the IJS.

IJS is held twice a year in March and October.

“IJS now attracts greater attention from global jewellery buyers. The number of foreign visitors at our March exhibition was up 9 percent while the October edition, where 51 percent of visitors were from abroad, saw a 12 percent increase in international visitors,” noted Cengiz. “We are proud to have hosted over 50,000 jewellery professionals at our 2019 shows.”

The organiser is holding the 50th IJS in March 2020.