Held from September 2 to 4, the first edition of The Vicenza Symposium turned the Italian city of Vicenza into the global capital of hi-tech innovation for the jewelry and fashion accessory industries.
With over 170 participants from 15 countries — including France, Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Germany, Thailand, Spain, Brazil, Egypt, Hong Kong, Poland, China, and Argentina, alongside Italy- the event gathered more than 80 companies, brands, academic institutions, and research centers that all aimed to discuss key topics shaping the use of advanced manufacturing in the jewellery and fashion sectors.
“An extraordinary achievement,” said organizers Italian Exhibition Group S.p.A., Progold S.p.A., and Legor Group S.p.A., with the support of IEG’s leading international shows, Vicenzaoro – a 70+ year-old institution and global leader in goldsmithing, jewelry, and watchmaking (opening tomorrow, through September 9, at the Vicenza Expo Center) – and T.Gold, the world’s premier show for goldsmithing machinery and technologies ̶ , This consolidates Vicenza’s position as a universally recognized hub for goldsmithing culture and innovation applied to the jewelry and fashion supply chains”.
The core of the Symposium was its scientific program, curated by 11 experts from academia and industry. They put together three days of high-level panels on digital transformation, environmental sustainability, new materials, and production quality.
Day 1 focused on advanced processed such as AI, additive manufacturing, and powder metallurgy, whereas Day 2 focused on quality and finishing processes. Sessions on day 3 shed light on the impact of these technologies on sustainability and regulations.
Key highlights
Sessions and discussions of the event revealed the most widely used technologies and materials used across jewellery and fashion. It is no secret that precious metals are the material of choice to achieve jelwery applications with additive manufacturing. Academia and industry are currently exploring the sue of alternative alloys that could delivered improved mechanical properties when processed by AM. Currently, the most used processed in the sector include Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and binder jetting for precious metals and hybrid solutions (e.g., SLM + CNC) for sustainable, customized, and highly precise designs.
On the surface treatment front, experts shared innovations in electropolishing and micro-finishing technologies for complex jewelry, enhancing performance and gold recovery.
Research into cyanide-free electroplating marked a crucial step toward safer, more sustainable production—also relevant for the fashion sector.
Sessions on AI and quality control showcased how artificial intelligence can reduce waste and improve communication between brands and suppliers.
Other contributions explored metal traceability systems — from DNA tagging to blockchain — ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance across the entire supply chain.
Looking ahead, contributors examined smart automation as a way to enhance — not replace —craftsmanship: from digital twins for stone-setting, to generative algorithms for predictive alloy development, to AI-powered production flow management.
A recurring theme was the lack of international standards specific to the jewelry industry.
As explained in the July/August edition of 3D ADEPT Mag that was distributed onsite during the event, across jewelry, fashion, architecture, and sculpture, Additive Manufacturing is reshaping centuries of craft traditions — not to erase them, but to redefine what’s possible. Ultimately, what we learned from this edition was that aesthetics meet technology, the result is new levels of luxury, artistry, and craftsmanship with materials once deemed unworkable.
“When global innovation chooses a city as a point of reference, it’s never by chance. It’s the result of a strong identity, a shared vision, and a productive fabric capable of looking ahead,” stated Giacomo Possamai, Mayor of Vicenza. “The first edition of The Vicenza Symposium marks an important milestone—not only for the goldsmith and fashion-tech sectors, but also for the future of our city itself. Vicenza confirms its role as an international crossroads for research, experimentation, and dialogue, reinforcing a position that grows stronger year after year. This event sets in motion a path that continues with Vicenzaoro and VIOFF, within a strategic vision that places Vicenza at the center of the technological and cultural transformations shaping the creative industries. Today more than ever, Vicenza is a global reference point for those working on innovation in jewelry, precious materials, and sustainability. On behalf of the city, thank you to everyone who believed in this project. The value created here does not end—it will continue to build the future of a Vicenza increasingly at center stage.”
The Vicenza Symposium will return in September 2027, for what is already shaping up to be a must-attend event for the international jewelry and fashion accessory community.
