Energy, Enthusiasm and Positivity at JCK and Luxury

Energy, Enthusiasm and Positivity at JCK and Luxury

by Julius Zheng

“It was another incredibly energetic and successful year for JCK.” - Sarin Bachmann, Group Vice President of the RX jewellery portfolio

For most people, Las Vegas is an icon of gaming and tourism. While the hotels and convention centres on the Strip are able to accommodate tens of thousands of visitors at the same time, the city hosts various exhibitions and conventions for different industries throughout the year.

From the end of May to early June each year, Las Vegas hosts a jewellery trade fair season with a variety of shows by different organisers, ranging from Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show, Couture to JOGS, etc. However, the largest series is the comprehensive cluster of shows held at The Venetian Expo and The Venetian: JCK, Luxury, GEMS and AGTA Las Vegas.

JCK has been considered one of the world's most important jewellery shows and the largest one in North America for over 30 years, for discovering trends and meeting all sourcing needs under one roof. The buyers can find everything from settings and findings, to loose stones, to equipment and technology, from high end to fashion, and everything in between.

Meanwhile, Luxury caters to the niche, high-end jewelry market. A number of prestigious and affluent jewelers are invited to a two-day program of appointments, relaxed networking and amenity-packed sourcing experience before the show opens to more buyers.

More than 30,000 industry professionals from all sections of the jewellery industry attended JCK and Luxury for a week of product sourcing, education, and networking. 18,000 buyers came from more than 100 countries and territories, an 8% increase in numbers compared to 2022. Over 1,900 exhibiting companies were spread over nearly 40,000 square metres of net floor space in more than 20 exhibition areas.

Sarin Bachmann, Group Vice President of the RX jewellery portfolio, expressed her excitement about the outstanding show, stating, "It was another incredibly energetic and successful year for JCK. The increased attendance coupled with new show branding, engaging activations, innovative experiences, and enhanced education and networking received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both attendees and exhibitors. Our goal was to create an event that everyone looks forward to, in addition to needing to attend for your business, and we accomplished that and more."

Guy Borenstein, JCK exhibitor, Director of Gemstone Procurement and Senior Gemologist at Stuller commented, “The JCK show in Las Vegas is considered the main event of the jewelry industry in the United States. Being the biggest consumer market, the US is a gateway for all local and international traders who are looking the expand their jewellery business. It is also the place where jewelers can restock their inventory before the Christmas rush begins, the source for new vendors, and educate themselves about new products, hot trends, and the overall market state. This year, as far as I've seen and heard from colleagues, the sales of jewellery and gems were some-some, while other products, such as screening machines and bench tools, got more attention and sales.”

Prida Tiasuwan, JCK exhibitor and Chairman of Pranda Group, Thailand said, “The show was cancelled in 2020, and there was a partial comeback in 2021. Many exhibitors and buyers didn’t attend in 2022 due to the recurrence of the pandemic. The 2023 edition of JCK is the first mask-free version and a full return post-Covid.”

Exhibitors and buyers from China accounted for a small percentage of the show, but exhibitors reported that it was beneficial for developing the U.S. market. For buyers, it was a good time to source high-end diamonds and coloured gemstones, and learn about international trends. It is the 9th time since 2009 that the author have organized buyer delegations from China to attend JCK and Luxury.

The JCK Talks education programme returned with the most comprehensive line-up of more than 60 sessions on hot topics, trends, marketing, diversity, equity and inclusion, sustainability, retail experience and innovation.

The show has also become more of an advocate for diversity, equality and inclusion. The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC), the Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) hosted key events. The 6 participants of Natural Diamond Council's 2023 Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI) represented a group of talented individuals poised to make a name for themselves in the world of fine jewellery. With its focus on innovation, JCK is the premier platform for showcasing cutting-edge technology and the future of jewellery and retail.

JCK provides the global jewellery trade community the optimal stage for business growth by uniting the industry to buy, sell, network, learn and discover. The majority of exhibitors and buyers interviewed felt that while business has yet to improve, the show provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect in person.

“JCK and Luxury are a must-see event because I love to touch base with the designers and vendors that I have been buying from throughout the year. It's great face-time, it's a time to actually sit down with them, see what they have available, browse the show floor, and there's nothing more that I love than just to aimlessly walk and see what's new, what catches my eye, what's innovative, what are people gravitating towards, and most importantly, see the vendors that I love and want to support,” adds Lauren Kaminsky Goldman of ByGOLDGIRL.

The next year’s edition of JCK is scheduled May 31 - June 3 2024, and Luxury from May 29 thru June 3 (by invitation only on May 29 and 30.) 

About the author

Julius Zheng is a jewellery industry analyst and senior consultant to various important firms and institutes. He has developed various projects that connect China’s diamond, coloured gemstones and jewellery sectors with international markets, including organising over 40 China Jewellery Delegations. As a gemologist and educator, he has developed international gemological educational programs. 

Formerly General Manager of Rapaport China, he has over 20 years’ international working experience in Asia and North America. He is also a member of the Executive Board of Bangkok Diamonds and Precious Stones Exchange (WFDB affiliated).