Trade visitors turned up in large numbers. Out of almost 6800 customers, 30% came to AMBERIF from outside Poland, mainly from China, Germany, Russia, the UK, the USA, Finland, Hungary, Denmark, France, Canada, Austria and the Czech Republic. “We have recorded an increased trade visitor turnout compared to last year, while the prices of jewellery materials, silver, gold and amber have stabilised, which is favourable to the industry,” sums up AMBERIF Project Director Ewa Rachoń. “The concerns about the geopolitical situation, however, are apparent and make long-term planning difficult. So it’s all the better that we can meet at the next trade show—AMBERMART—in half a year’s time already.”

THE MERCURIUS GEDANENSIS AWARD

With 63 submitted entries, the Mercurius Gedanensis Grand Prize in the Design Category went to Paweł Kaczyński Design for a set of amber rings. The judges appreciated the novel approach to the form of a ring and the combination of several kinds of amber. The designer of the winning piece was honoured with the AMBERIF Prize—a statuette and two kilograms of silver sponsored Poland’s Minister of Economy—presented by AMBERIF partner KGHM Polska Miedź SA. The MTG SA GOLD MEDAL was also awarded, in the Workmanship Excellence Category, to Jarosław Koźmiański for the Gentle Eye of the Blue pendant made from amber, moonstone, opal, ebony and gilded silver.

AMBERIF DESIGN AWARD

Organised this year for the 19th time, ADA is an international amber jewellery design competition addressed to award-winning artists, art college graduates and young designers alike. The AMBERIF DESIGN AWARD 2015 Grand Prize—PLN 10,000, sponsored by the Mayor of Gdańsk—went to Marta Rżanek for her leather and amber ring. The winning piece outdid 112 artists from 18 countries.

THE AMBER LOOK TRENDS & STYLES GALA

The AMBER LOOK TRENDS & STYLES Amber and Fashion Gala was unquestionably the event of Amberif. More than twenty fashion and jewellery designers presented their collections at the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre. Mariusz Przybylski, who belongs to the crème de la crème of Polish designers, was the star of the show. The event’s special guest was singer-songwriter Kayah, the Amber Ambassador, with the invitees also including Elżbieta Dzikowska, Dorota Wróblewska and Rafał Brzozowski. The stage set was designed by Maciej Chojnacki. The Gala was hosted by Karolina Piechota and Conrado Moreno.

TREND BOOK 2015+

Amberif saw the launch of Trend Book 2015+, the fifth edition of the review by Prof. Sławomir Fijałkowski, presenting the trends anticipated in design and jewellery art in the amber jewellery industry. The Book was published owing to the partnership between the KIGB National Chamber of Amber Commerce, the Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts and the Gdańsk Mayor’s Bureau for City Promotion at the Gdańsk City Office.

SEMINARS

Amberif featured a series of popular science seminars and workshops dedicated to subjects that are important to jewellery and amber experts and enthusiasts alike. Regular collaborators in this area include: the International Amber Association, the PAS Museum of the Earth, the Gdańsk University of Technology and the SRJ Association of Jewellery Experts. Archaeologists from Italy and Poland, researchers from Austria and the UK shared their knowledge and latest research which allows to formulate definitions and recognise Baltic amber’s characteristic features. Dr Ewa Wagner-Wysiecka from the Gdańsk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, from this year the science supervisor of the Amber Seminar, expressed a high opinion of the seminar papers and the continued research at the GUT Faculty of Chemistry. “It is a remarkable opportunity to meet in Gdańsk, the World Capital of Amber, and have an interdisciplinary look at not only Baltic amber but also at other fossil resins,” she emphasised.

AMBERIF SIDE EXHIBITIONS

Amberif had an extensive side event agenda, after all the show takes place in Gdańsk—The World Capital of Amber. Two interesting exhibits were held at the Amber Museum, Gdańsk. The first one, The AMBER BIENNALE, is a project of the Gdańsk Academy of Fine Arts to present a contemporary outlook of recognised European artists who have accepted an invitation to express themselves artistically through amber. The second one is AMBER. AROUND THE WORLD—an exhibition of pieces by Poland’s leading artists and jewellery designers who combine Baltic, Dominican and Sumatran amber, organised by the collector Janusz Fudala in collaboration with the STFZ Goldsmithing Artists’ Association. Operating from its new head office at Warzywnicza Street in Gdańsk’s Old Town, the International Amber Association presented an exhibition of works by artists who are IAA members.

THE GLOBAL AMBER PROMOTION CAMPAIGN AT THE FINISH LINE

The presence of the Amber. Treasure of Poland Consortium was marked at this year’s Amberif for the last time through a jewellery and fashion show. This wide-scale promotion programme is drawing to a close, having enabled Polish companies’ participation in jewellery trade shows worldwide, missions with buyers and jewellery trade journalists from abroad coming to Poland and an advertising campaign in the German, Italian, US and Chinese consumer media. In 2012–2015, almost PLN 7 million was allocated by Poland’s Ministry of Economy for amber promotion.

AMBERIF enjoyed the honorary auspices of: Janusz Piechociński—Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy; Mieczysław Struk—the Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodship and Paweł Adamowicz—the Mayor of Gdańsk.

Next year’s AMBERIF dates are: March 16-19, 2016. And in 5 months’ time, there is the 16th AMBERMART International Amber Fair, August 27–29, 2015.