Italian machinery for the jewellery sector has an undisputed leading position in the world. It developed in the period after the Second World War, in parallel with the jewellery industry as a whole. While up to the Sixties Italy used to import from Germany and other European markets, today Italy produces at least 80% of jewellery machinery sold in the world. Most of the firms in this industry, emerged together with jewellery producers in the main manufacturing districts specialised in this sector (Vicenza, Arezzo, Valenza Po), are represented in Afemo , the Italian Association Of Manufacturers And Exporters For Jewellery

Italian firms offer a complete range of equipment: cleaning machines for chains, induction ovens, hot presses, laminating machines, automatic welding machines, cleaning systems. There are chain machines that can produce 600 chain mails a minute, weld chains in parallel with 6,000 beats every hour, that can measure, cut, weld the finishing rings and at the same time it can brand them, shear them and bend them at high speed. These machines – thanks to numerical control systems – take only ten minutes for a complete diamond cut of a chain. Induction ovens can complete melting and moulding cycle for metals in natural conditions, under a vacuum or even in a gas neutral environment. High speed engines, together with micro-engines and diamond cut milling machines can offer exceptional level of finish. Costume jewellery machines can deliver 1,000 pressings a day, containing 50 pieces each, using cheap rubber matrixes.

The extremely wide range of machinery, that are a cut above the rest in terms of quality, variety and refinement and allow to produce technologically advanced jewels, distinguish Italian firms on the international markets. In this niche, Made in Italy machinery is indisputably recognised as number one in the world. In recent years it has developed according to the evolution in terms of quality and quantity of the Italian gold, silver and costume jewellery industries, which has been made possible by jewellery machinery producers.

Italian Style is also a defining characteristic of top-end jewellery products. Italian firms have acquired a commanding position also in this niche both as a result and as a condition of their leadership in the finished product sector: by constantly updating the technological content of their offerings, producers of jewellery machinery have responded effectively to the progresses in every aspect of the jewellery industry, from those in large firms to those in small craft goldsmith shops.

Producers and exporters of jewellery machinery should also be given credit for the continuing international successes of Made in Italy products. Despite the difficult period of the past few years, Italy is still the first exporter of jewellery in the world. According to the latest figures, published in January 2008, Italian exports between January and September 2007 in this sector have grown by 19% in terms of value, while remaining unchanged in volume. There has been a general upswing of the industry compared to recent years, which were particularly difficult, but the markets’ extreme volatility leaves the outlook still uncertain. Yet exports remain the true driving engine: in 2007 Italy’s share on the world market has stayed practically unchanged, ad 5.4%.