In just a few days the doors will open on Inhorgenta Europe 2003, the biggest trade fair for watches, clocks, jewellery, precious stones, pearls and technology in the EU. This year, too, the fair will be demonstrating its competence as a highly effective platform for the sector. Gathered together at this forum, on 70,000 square metres of exhibition space in seven halls, will be 1,200 exhibitors from over 40 countries. The market and innovation leaders from virtually all segments of the sector will be here ready to welcome trade visitors from all over the world.

If you haven´t yet made your mind up to visit Inhorgenta Europe 2003 (21 – 24 February) in Munich, here´s some information that will help you decide. Hiroshi Nakamura, Managing Director of Casio Europe GmbH, has cancelled all other trade-fair appearances in Europe for his company, and is concentrating solely on exhibiting at this international forum in Germany. Why? According to Nakamura: “Germany is the most important European market for Casio. And, on an international comparison, Inhorgenta Europe is particularly important because of its appeal to visitors that come here from Central and Eastern Europe.” The same view is shared by other brands such as Christian Dior (watches), Emporio Armani (jewellery), Nina Ricci (jewellery), Versace (watches) or Zodiac (watches): All have been tempted by the attractions of Inhorgenta Europe, and are now expanding their presentations here.

Talking to exhibitors or trade visitors, it´s easy to find more reasons why this trade fair in Munich has developed so well at European level. One key factor is the fair´s unique status as a jewellery forum. In virtually no other place is there such a tremendous range of outstanding jewellery on show. From diamond chokers to platinum jewellery, pearls, gold and silver jewellery, and the exclusive creations of Werner Fochtmann and global brands such as Niessing and Chopard: this trade fair covers just about everything in the sector. Hall C2 is of course another main attraction; this is the world´s biggest forum for designer jewellery. Sandro Erl, Marketing Director of Furrer Jacot, admits with a wry smile: “Although I am from Switzerland, I must say that anyone who has anything to do with jewellery just can´t afford to miss Inhorgenta Europe.” The same is doubtless true of the premium and mid-price brands in the watch segment.

The fact that Inhorgenta Europe is one of the first major international fairs on the calendar is another point that more and more businesses and trade visitors find increasingly attractive. Hiroshi Nakamura, for example, says that the comparatively early dates for the fair offer a global concern like Casio the best opportunity for the European launch of new collections. Also these early dates are a considerable advantage to distributors and retailers when planning their year´s business.

The list of new products, new developments and innovations at Inhorgenta Europe 2003 is once again a long one. And the fair is doing

its bit to promote this by launching the Inhorgenta Gold Card, an exclusive customer card which admits trade visitors from all over the world to a unique community. In the first few weeks after the card was introduced, over 1,300 trade professionals from around the world had ordered this exclusive chipcard online at www.inhorgenta.com. And the applications keep coming. “This new Gold Card is another example of how this fair is still keeping up-to-date with its customers´ needs, even though the fair is now celebrating its 30th birthday this year,” said Dieter Dohr, the Exhibition Director of Inhorgenta Europe. The China Forum, taking place this year for the second time, is another example of this vigour. At this forum high-ranking representatives of the Chinese jewellery, watch and clock sector will be talking about the growing market in this most populous country in the world, with its 1.3 billion inhabitants.

The manufacturers will again be doing their bit at Inhorgenta Europe, by launching new products here: Major players such as the Swatchgroup, Egana, Fossil and Citizen (watches) Niessing, Bunz, Schöffel, Diamond Trading Center (DTC), the Platinum Forum (jewellery) and many small and medium-sized companies will be featuring new products at their stands. One example of the numerous marketing initiatives coordinated with the fair in Munich is the announcement by the leading German watch manufacturer, Junghans, that they will be holding the world premiere of their new, lavish cinema advertising in Munich. Whatever you are interested in – whether it´s flawless diamonds, fine watches, gold and platinum jewellery, precious stones, perfect pearls, new marketing ideas, or just good international business contacts – in 2003 Inhorgenta will again be the place to be.

Stefan Hafner, one of the leading jewellery producers in Italy, put it this way: “In terms of quality and creativity, Inhorgenta Europe is one of the best trade fairs in the world. You go home from this event with lots of inspiration and full of new ideas.”