Asian Jewellery Design Improves, Challenges Italy

Emerging market jewellery makers like China, Thailand and Turkey are improving design flair and manufacturing to enter markets dominated by Italy, the world's biggest exporter.

"The Asian market is definitely getting better -- high quality jewellery may be the only market for us in the future but we are still innovating," Fabrizio Filippi, CEO of Superoro, a major Italian jewellery maker said at the Vicenza jewellery trade and gem fair.

Global jewellery fabrication, by far the biggest component of bullion use, rose by four percent in 2004, according to figures released last week by consultancy GFMS, with India, Turkey and China accounting for much of the increase.

Asian companies displaying at the fair said they could now hold their own against Italian jewellery makers, who experienced an up-and-down export year in 2004.

Feyza Celik, area manager with major Turkey-based jewellery group Goldas said the company's market share was growing in Europe, Asia and the United States.

"We have our own creative design department. We can definitely compete with the Italians on manufactured gold jewellery, it's not a problem," he said. (Reuters)