GemGenève draws record crowd, spotlights jade, color and craftsmanship

GemGenève’s 10th edition drew a record crowd to Palexpo in Geneva, a sign that the fair’s mix of trade access, public entry and serious gem education is resonating far beyond the dealer floor. Founded in 2018 by Ronny Totah and Thomas Faerber, the show has grown from a new Swiss fair into a place where heritage gemstone sellers, design-led jewelers and collectors meet around one question: what is the story behind the stone?

That story was especially visible in the show’s emphasis on jade and colored gemstones, two categories that have been gaining attention as buyers look for material with identity, not just sparkle. GemGenève’s programming archive has increasingly leaned into color, including a 2025 feature on the rise of color and a 2026 talk titled “Jade - A Bridge Between Cultures, Across Time,” underscoring how provenance, symbolism and cultural context now travel with the jewel. For readers weighing an heirloom purchase, that matters as much as carat weight.

The fair itself is still built around access and rigor. GemGenève is open to professionals, connoisseurs and private buyers, but visitors must register and show a passport or identity card for security. Its own materials describe it as a trade show organized by industry insiders and a hub of creativity and innovation, with lectures, seminars, round table discussions and touch-and-feel workshops designed to bring newer audiences into the conversation. The show has previously said its strongest attendance topped 3,500 visitors, or more than 5,000 visits when repeat entries were counted, which helps explain why the 10th edition landed as a record.

Craftsmanship was equally central. The temporary exhibition “Shaping matter, enhancing beauty” spotlighted lapidary sculptor and master craftsman Hervé Obligi, while The Gem Museum from Singapore created an interactive space for children and adults. A workshop called “Rooted in Style” tied jewelry making to educational projects for underprivileged children, and four craftsmen collaborated on five brooches for a Métiers d’Art presentation. In an industry often reduced to pricing and polish, GemGenève made a clearer argument: the next generation of jewelry buyers wants beauty, but it also wants proof of making, meaning and material integrity.