GemGenève 2026: Discover True Rarity
Leah Ermann
GemGenève’s 10th Edition: A Decade of Expertise and Rarity
From May 7 to 10 2026, GemGenève, an international exhibition dedicated to jewellery, gemstones, and gemological expertise returns for its 10th edition. The fair will take place at Palexpo, Geneva’s main exhibition venue. Pelexpo hosts major cultural and international events throughout the year. Over the past decade, GemGenève has established as a human-scale platform where knowledge, craftsmanship, and rare stones take precedence over spectacle. This milestone edition places coloured diamonds at the centre of attention. Defined by rarity, precision, and uncompromising excellence, they stand far apart from volume driven markets. But what makes coloured diamonds so different from the rest of the industry?
Beyond the Jewellery Market: A World of Specialised Niches
The jewellery and gemstone market is often spoken about as a single space. In reality, it is made up of highly specialised niches, many of which are explored and presented at GemGenève. Coloured diamonds belong to one of the most exclusive. They are extremely rare and technically complex, with value shaped by colour, cut, and precision rather than trends. As a result, they are increasingly attracting a new generation of collectors and investors. The numbers help explain this growing fascination.
Firstly auction results highlight the strength of the coloured diamond market, a segment closely followed by experts and exhibitors at GemGenève. In 2017, the Pink Star sold for $71.2 million. A year earlier, the Oppenheimer Blue reached $57.5 million. More recently, the Graff Vivid Yellow achieved CHF 14.5 million. Over more than a decade, such sales have confirmed steady demand, even during shifting economic cycles. These stones continue to perform at the highest level.
Precision Without Margin for Error
Coloured diamonds are among the most difficult stones to cut. Every decision affects colour, balance, and value. Precision matters more than speed, and there is no room for correction. For this reason, working with coloured diamonds demands deep technical knowledge and years of experience. This is where GemGenève’s role becomes essential.
GemGenève brings together both professionals and enthusiasts in an open and focused setting. The fair acts as a platform for education, expertise, and exchange. Specialised dealers and exhibitors present exceptional coloured diamonds, often accompanied by deep knowledge of their origin and craftsmanship. Unlike large trade shows, GemGenève remains carefully curated and human in scale.
GemGenève as a Human-Scale Platform for Excellence
Today, coloured diamonds stand as a chic alternative to traditional gemstones. They reflect long term value, technical mastery, and true rarity. At its tenth edition, GemGenève confirms its role as an unmissable event on the international jewellery calendar. More than a fair, it offers clarity in a complex market.
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Leah Ermann is a South African Fashion Business student whose identity and vision are deeply rooted in the landscapes, cultures, and contradictions of her home country. Growing up in South Africa meant being constantly aware of extremes. These realities shaped her sensitivity to the world around her and challenged her understanding of fashion as something far beyond surface-level beauty. In a place where many people are fortunate simply to own a pair of shoes, Leah learned early on that clothing carries meaning, privilege, and responsibility.
Alongside this awareness grew a profound connection to nature and conservation, spending a lot of time in the bush deepened her understanding of the impact humans have on endangered wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Leah sees fashion as a silent but powerful language, a way to express identity, values, and cultural stories without words.
She is driven by a desire to explore the deeper meanings behind collections, to learn from new cultures, and to use fashion as a platform to amplify South African creativity, resilience, and humanity. Ultimately, her goal is to create work that not only reflects where she comes from whilst learning about other cultures, but also contributes to change, honoring both people and the natural world that shaped her.
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