Vicenza, the elegant Renaissance city in north-eastern Italy, shares a common bond with Antwerp, in as much as both are lynchpins of the European and international jewellery trade. Whereas Antwerp is the world diamond business' premier business centre, Vicenza is one of the foundation stones of the legendary Italian jewellery industry, accounting for about 20 percent of Italy's annual output and providing a home to many of its most celebrated companies.

For more than sixty years already, the Vicenza trade fairs are considered the most important show places for the gold and gem-set jewellery industry in Europe. It is today home to three important shows, which each year draw in buyers from across Europe and around the world: VicenzaOro First in January, VicenzaOro Charm in May and VicenzaOro Choice in September.

VicenzaOro First, the first of the three Vicenza jewellery shows, as the name states, traditionally is the first appointment of the year, with more than 1.500 companies present in 2011. Covering 70,500 square metres the show attracts about 10.000 professional buyers.

The Antwerp diamond centre is the world's largest hub for trade in diamonds, both rough and polished. In 2010 the trade in rough and polished diamonds amounted to $40.8 billion. In 2009, Antwerp polished diamond exports to Italy equalled $213.2 million, making it the third largest European target market after Switzerland and the United Kingdom.