Digital Jewelry Week (DJW) returns October 18–25, bringing together emerging designers, established brands, and industry professionals from more than 25 countries. The 2026 edition combines a weeklong online exhibition with two events in Milan, at Casa Cipriani and Galleria Glauco Cavaciuti. Founded by Dario Rjeili, DJW offers an alternative exhibition format in which jewelry collections are presented through immersive 3D showrooms, detailed renderings, and animations. Visitors can explore the collections directly on the event’s website, without downloading an app or installing additional software.
The team: Carlo Carone – Dario Rjeili – Sara Cannone
For independent designers, the format offers an opportunity to reach buyers, collectors, and industry professionals beyond the traditional trade-show circuit. The two Milan gatherings will complement the online program, allowing participants to establish personal connections and experience the work in a different setting. For the third consecutive year, GemGenève returns as DJW’s main sponsor, alongside technical sponsors Tracr, EY, and Cozzari.
Elena Pari ring
Mathieu Dekeukelaire, Director of GemGenève, considers the initiative a complement to conventional jewelry exhibitions. While emphasizing the importance of in-person events, particularly in high jewelry, he also recognizes the potential of digital platforms to encourage inclusivity and support both established and emerging brands. The partnership reflects a broader shift in how the jewelry industry presents and communicates its work. Digital tools are opening new possibilities for visual storytelling, while physical encounters remain essential to appreciating craftsmanship and building professional relationships.
Lin Wang ring
Among this year’s initiatives is a collaboration with JGAA (Jewellery and Gemstone Association of Africa), whose Design Dynamic competition will see its winning designs brought to life during Digital Jewelry Week.
Longo Mulaisho-Zinsner of JGAA explains:
“We cannot wait to see the winning designs of our Design Dynamic competition brought to life during Digital Jewelry Week. We have partnered with DJW to bring African jewellery to a wider audience. This process has involved many across the supply chain. A judge from our competition, Mbako Baraedi, a Jewellery Designer from Botswana, transformed the hand rendered pieces into CAD. It is truly an industry collaboration.” The involvement of Mbako Baraedi, who translated the original hand-drawn designs into CAD files, illustrates how artistic creativity and technical expertise can come together in jewelry development. The collaboration also draws attention to contemporary African jewelry design, a field whose diversity of cultural influences and creative approaches deserves greater recognition within the international industry.
Another addition to the 2026 program is the launch of the DJW Awards, featuring three categories.
Jewel of the Year will recognize an outstanding creation, with the winner selected through a combination of professional jury evaluation (50%) and public voting (50%).
Best CAD – selected by the jury, will honor excellence in computer-aided design, acknowledging the role of digital modeling in developing complex jewelry creations.
Emerging Talent – selected by the jury, will recognize a participating designer or brand under the age of 30 in the early stages of a professional career.
The awards build on DJW’s ongoing involvement with established industry figures who serve as mentors to participating brands, encouraging exchanges between experienced professionals and the next generation of designers. Last year’s edition attracted more than 12,000 visitors and featured over 150 jewelry creations from brands representing 29 countries. More than 50 students and young designers from 24 design institutions also participated. For Dario Rjeili the initiative is about more than presenting collections. “This is more than just a show. It’s a movement. We’ve created a space where jewellery meets innovation. DJW26 is about shaping what comes next,” he says.
The 2026 program reflects that ambition, combining digital presentations, professional collaborations, and in-person encounters. Technology cannot fully convey the weight of a jewel, the subtleties of its finish, or the way a gemstone responds to changing light. But it can offer designers new ways to communicate their ideas and introduce their work to audiences they might otherwise struggle to reach.
For Digital Jewelry Week, the challenge is to turn that exposure into meaningful connections and lasting opportunities for the designers involved.
Discover more @ www.digitaljewelryweek.com
Article edited by Laura Astrologo Porché
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