Inhorgenta Europe: A Breath of Fresh Air

Inhorgenta Europe (February 15 to 18, 2008), held in Munich, has become one of the most important springboards for young up-and-coming designers. Here manufacturers and buyers from all over the world come together to put the marketability of their ideas to the test. There is also a real sense of creative exchange here, giving the sector a new artistic drive.

Hagen Gamisch, ring 'Aedes Consiliarius'. Silver sandcasted, fine gold plated, synthetic spinel, © Mohrloft.de

Michael Berger, kinetic ring. 18 karat yellow gold, plated stainless steel, freshwater pearl, Tahiti pearl

Stones in Style, bracelet. Sterling silver, rhodium plated, freshwater pearls

The main focal point of the event is the C2 hall of designers: there are few places where so many young jewelry designers - more than 300 at the last Inhorgenta - come together to present their revolutionary new collections. With elaborate felt creations, earrings in 'green gold' or pendants in the form of truffle pralines - these young designers certainly have something refreshingly different and striking to show. It is little wonder then that the former insiders' secret - the C2 hall - has long been a must for gallery owners, distributors and journalists. It is here that the foundations are often laid for future careers in the jewelry industry.

Eva Sorensen, 'Peppermint Daughter' necklace. Silver, enamel, technique: window enameling

Dominique Labordery, handmade bracelet 'Focus'. Silver

Marcio Nonato, 'Geometric' collection. Romboedric stones. Bottom row (from left to right): Onyx, tourmaline quartz, rose quartz. Second row: Lemon quartz, amethyst. Top: Quartz

Berckwerk, tourmaline quartz 'Wave'. Adapted to the curves of the arm for bracelets

Heike Schirmer, 'Shopping Basket'. White gold, tourmaline quartz

The highlights of the C2 jewelry design hall include the Design Podium with its Silver Summer Gallery and Silversmithing Forum as well as the Brand New - New Brand Forum for up-and-coming designers, where talented young designers set the trends for the next season. New to the lnhorgenta program is the presentation of the winning German entries in the Tahitian Pearl Trophy 2007/2008: a high caliber jury, including Nina Ruge, was assigned the difficult task of selecting the best jewelry design using Tahiti pearls. The winning pieces in each category ranging from necklaces to men's jewelry will be presented and honored at the trade fair in Munich. The competition is organized together with Inhorgenta Europe, the GZ and the Perles de Tahiti Association.

Ayojacni, bracelet and pendant. Sterling silver, natural

Goldschmiede Simons, chains. 18 karat yellow gold

Anja Geilijng, brooch. Textile, yarn, silver

Ariane Hartmann, ring 'Change'. Sterling silver. Interchangeable ring head system. Beveled smoky quartz and moonstone, elasticated rubber straps

Jurgen Glaser, ring 'Earl'. Etched steel, 18 karat white gold, tourmaline, diamond

An additional attraction at the trade fair will be the gemstones area in hall C1. This special area will be presenting beautiful and innovative gemstone designs under the motto 'Stone matters design in precious'. Top gemstone designers such as Tom Munsteiner will be flying the flag here. The winning entries in the Mineral Art gemstone competition will also be presented here, amongst other things. At the 'Zeitzeichen' (time signals) forum, ten specially selected young gemstone designers from the Idar-Oberstein region will be presenting their latest pieces. The University of Trier and Craft College in Lappeenranta will also be demonstrating how to train to become a gemstone designer.

Sabine Relchert, Brooches. Acrylic glass, silver, gold, gemstones, pearls

G de Joyas, pendant 'Loops', collection 'Espiral'. Silver, 18 karat yellow gold

Step by Step, ring. Rhodinated tubes with balls of anodized aluminum

Brune Wohlke, ring game 'Floral'. Sterling silver with glass balls in ruby red, padparadschah orange, peridot green, aquamarine blue, sapphire blue and stainless steel

Monika Jacubek, pendant 'Cocoon'. Yarn, 18 karat yellow gold, brilliants

The annual Inhorgenta Europe Innovaton Prize for forward-thinking jewelry design is highly coveted and followed. Young and talented designers can also make a name for themselves in other areas of jewelry design. This year, a new highlight at the event will be a prize for platinum design in collaboration with the Platinum Guild. Participants will benefit enormously from the public interest in the pieces. Indeed, these young designers often return to Munich the following year as established Designers.

Sabine Conrad, 'Inside - Outside III'. Wood, silver, glass, opal, jade, cacholong

Michaela Binder, double rings. Silver with interchangeable felt inlays

Cool Design, pendant 'Snake'. Carved in green amber (the rarest amber, origin: Chiapas, Mexico)

Steffen Lang, beach ring. Steel, sterling silver, green garnets

Esther Martin, pendant 'Leave'. Gold

Isolde Oswald-Baumhackl, brooch/pendant. 24 karat gold, silver, opal boulder

Carola Schwinn, lava necklace. 35 mm ball of lemon chrysoprase

Ernstes Design, ring. Stainless steel with synthetic spinel

Baks, rings. Branch from a tree, white resin

Katja Korsawe, brooch 'At Home'. Porcelain, hair tie

Carmen Berner, ring 'BeNetted'. Plastic, synthetic ruby

Ines Arndt, Necklace 'Flow'. Silver, Mokume Gane

Katja Schlegel, brooch 'Papercross'. Silver

Franziska Rappold, 'Wave Chain'. Fine gold

Anja Schonmeyer, necklace ,Circles'. Sterling silver on steel wire

b.fine, chains. Carnelian, smoky quartz, aquamarine, freshwater pearls, Keshi pearls and silver components plated in pure gold (thickness: 10 my)

Lorenz gemstone design, engraving in layered onyx

Marjon Reinsberger, ring 'Mirrorings'. Silver, gold, aquamarine

Arigato, the innovative stainless steel jewelry system from Manuela Carl

Lilli Veers, neck jewelry 'Spaces'. Silver skeleton with paper, coated with resin

Marike Hauser, Adorno, ring 'Never ending end'. Freshwater pearls, 14 karat gold

Petra Meiren, necklace. PVC strands, pendant in silver and gold plated brass

Jorg Kaiser, smooth necklace 'Vario'. Multiple chains in stainless steel, platinum, 18 karat yellow gold, brilliants, pearls

Justus Laquay, ring. "…feisty handmade wonders, spunky-chic…" (ION-magazine, Vancouver). High quality size-adjustable silver under-ring with plastic object, also available in additional colors or as a necklace

Iris Schamberger, rings - 'The flower fairy searches for her friend at the Marienfels castle', Silver, multi-layered fired varnish

Friedrich Wilshaus, 'Symmetric Dissymmetry' ametrine, 49.5 carat

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