The Story
From 7 to 10 May 2026, GemGenève returned to Palexpo in Geneva for its tenth edition, bringing together the international worlds of gemstones, jewellery, craftsmanship and design.
Created in 2018, the event has developed into an important meeting place for dealers, collectors, designers, artisans, institutions and jewellery enthusiasts. The 2026 edition brought together 249 exhibitors, including 202 dealers, and welcomed 5,365 unique visitors from 109 countries. With 8,009 visits recorded during the event, it achieved the highest attendance in GemGenève’s history.
Yet GemGenève extends well beyond the commercial side of jewellery.
Education, craftsmanship and the transmission of knowledge form an important part of its identity. The programme combined talks and discussions with workshops, live demonstrations and exhibitions exploring gemstones, jewellery history and traditional techniques.
The tenth edition also placed particular attention on contemporary creation. The Designers’ Village brought together New Designers and Emerging Talents, giving younger creators the opportunity to present their work alongside established professionals.
Craftsmanship was equally visible. Visitors could discover techniques through demonstrations and workshops, including opal cutting, mineral identification and engraving. The temporary exhibition Shaping Matter, Enhancing Beauty explored the transformation of materials through human skill, with objects from the Baur Collection and Geneva’s Museum of Art and History alongside pieces from private collections.
GemGenève also maintains close relationships with educational and cultural institutions. Collaborations include HEAD – Genève, CFP Arts Genève, the Grand Théâtre de Genève and other schools and institutions, while competitions and awards provide students and emerging designers with a direct connection to the professional jewellery world.
This combination of commerce, culture, education and craftsmanship gives GemGenève a character that goes beyond the conventional format of an international trade show.
Official Gallery
Photography © András Barta / © David Fraga
My Editorial Experience
Arriving at GemGenève immediately reveals that this is not an ordinary exhibition.
Security is part of the experience from the beginning. Access involves identity checks and security controls, with particular attention paid to what visitors bring inside. In a place where precious stones and jewellery of considerable value are being handled throughout the day, knowing who enters and leaves the exhibition is understandably important.
For members of the press, accreditation provides access to the event, but it does not mean unrestricted access to everything on display.
Photography of gemstones and jewellery cannot simply be taken for granted. Many exhibitors are presenting valuable pieces, original designs or creations that have not been widely shown. Photographing them therefore requires permission, and appointments with individual dealers or brands are often necessary before pieces can be presented or photographed.
This changes the way a journalist experiences GemGenève.
Instead of walking through the halls collecting images, the event encourages conversation. You introduce yourself, explain your work, make appointments and gradually discover the people behind the stones and jewellery.
The press area provides a useful base during the day. It is possible to leave personal belongings there, work between appointments and attend the programme of conferences and discussions.
These talks became one of the most interesting parts of my visit. Specialists approached gemstones from very different perspectives: their history, origin and value, but also techniques, craftsmanship and the way knowledge is transmitted from one generation to another.
Elsewhere in the exhibition, more informal spaces offered another side of GemGenève. A glass of champagne, a small reception or simply a quiet place to sit could easily become an opportunity for conversation.
And those conversations matter.
GemGenève attracts people from many parts of the world, and the opportunity to exchange ideas and contacts is perhaps as important as seeing the objects themselves. During my visit, I made many new contacts and began relationships that may lead to future stories and events.
When the exhibition halls close, that network continues through receptions and private evenings. Some are part of the official GemGenève programme, while others are invitation-only gatherings organised around exhibitors, partners and their guests.
The photographs from those moments show a different side of the event: less about showcases and precious stones, and more about the people who work around them.
That may ultimately be what stayed with me most.
GemGenève is certainly about remarkable gemstones and jewellery. But experiencing it from inside also reveals an international community built around expertise, craftsmanship, curiosity and personal relationships.
The objects bring people to Geneva.
The conversations are what make them stay.
Palomino Gallery
