New York City’s market week offers plenty of chances to schmooze
For those who don’t head west in June for the annual showdown in the Nevada desert, New York City’s unofficial “East Coast Market Week,” held at the end of July, may be worth a visit for the convenience and networking opportunities alone.
Comprising the Jewelers of America Summer Show at the Javits Convention Center and the all-new, invitation-only LUXURY Privé show at the Pierre Hotel, New York City’s market week boasts Central Park views, better bagels, and the sophistication that only Manhattan can provide.
The dates—July 24–26 for the JA show and July 25–27 for LUXURY Privé—dovetail nicely with the Women’s Jewelry Association’s Annual Awards for Excellence Gala at Chelsea Piers’ Pier Sixty on Monday, July 25, and the American Gem Society’s Circle of Distinction Dinner at the Plaza Hotel on Tuesday, July 26. There’s also a bonus cocktail party Sunday, July 24, on the eve of Privé’s opening day.
Gemstone and Stingray leather bracelets; $250 each; Zina Sterling, Beverly Hills, Calif.; 800-336-3822; zinasterling.com
Both events have their fans. Longtime JA exhibitors Grace Terezian, director of sales and marketing for Kirk Kara in Los Angeles, and Zina Sherman, president of Zina Sterling in Beverly Hills, Calif., are loyal to the show for its location—“great for all the East Coast store owners who can’t make it to Vegas,” Sherman says—and for its timing. “It’s perfect for thinking about holiday sales,” Sherman adds. At her booth this summer, expect to see all the new styles she unveiled in Las Vegas, including the new Mosaic collection, and additions to her Stingray and Sahara lines.
Meanwhile, Sweta Jain, owner of Lush by Goshwara in New York City, is looking forward to Privé for similar reasons. “I wanted to do a tri-state show, and the location and number of exhibitors—only 42—gives us a good chance to stand out.”
Newcomer Katherine Semyonov of Katerina Maxine in New York City, who will debut her fine jewelry line at Privé this month, was also won over by the event’s “intimate” setting. So much for the Big Apple’s big and impersonal reputation!