The numbers are in.

JCK’s annual JCK Las Vegas and LUXURY shows, which took place June 2 to June 8 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, welcomed a combined 21,800 retailer attendees who visited—between both shows—2,426 jewelry, gemstone, equipment, and retail security vendors.

LUXURY, which boasted 248 exhibiting brands, saw an increase in retailer attendance, with 2,600 retailers attending its invitation-only days. JCK’s attendance numbers were slightly down from the previous year, but vendors reported that the majority of retailers were there to write orders, not just browse.

“Buyers came to do business!” says Yancy Weinrich, senior vice president of Reed Jewelry Group. “We have seen and heard positive remarks on the increase in the amount of transactions that took place this year compared to previous. The first day of JCK was just as strong as previous opening days, matching the same attendance figures we are used to seeing.”

Among the thousands of retailers at the show, 1,200 were newbies to JCK Las Vegas. “In a world where we are seeing retail stores closing at an alarming rate,” says Weinrich, “it’s refreshing to see over 1,200 stores attend JCK for the very first time.”

Standout offerings at the week-long event included the annual AGTA GemFair; the Security Neighborhood—created in partnership with the Jewelers Security Alliance—that featured a range of protection-based vendors, such as anti-fraud software and the most-up-to-date camera technologies; the new Retail Experience neighborhood, which featured next-generation retail-focused companies including Yelp; and LUXURY’s new design-centric showcase, Design@LUXURY.

The Design Center Editor’s Choice Awards honored designers who push the envelope of innovation while combining new trends with classic concepts.

The panel of judges included: Paula Lee, accessories editor at Oprah magazine; Catherine Davis, senior jewelry market editor at Hearst Design Group; Grace Fuller, jewelry editor for W magazine; Sam Brokema, accessories director at Instyle; Rachel Garrahan, jewelry writer for The Jewellery Editor, The Financial Times, and The International New York Times. Winners Included Lillian Ismail (Kickstarter),  Spencer Fine Jewelry (Rising Star), and Tresor (Resident).

A winning design from Lillian Ismail from the Design Center Editor’s Choice Awards

Retailers honored for their all-around excellence in the annual Design Center Top 50 Retailer Awards included: Jewels That Dance in Asheville, N.C.; Greenwich Jewelers in New York City; ZFolio Gallery in Solvang, Calif.; Aaron Faber in New York City; Alara Jewelry in Bozeman, Mont.; Squash Blossom in Vail, Colo.; Higashi Pearls and Fine Jewelry in Lemoyne, Pa.; The Wooden Jewel in Sunriver, Ore.; Dandelion Jewelry in Philadelphia; and the Polished Edge in Kansas City, Mo.

JCK’s Vegas week ended with a bang—or a bowl, really.

The JCK Rocks the Bowl event, which replaced JCK Rocks the Beach as the industry’s Jewelry Week send-off party, took place at new Vegas venue Brooklyn Bowl. There JCKers rolled in the venue’s 30-plus lanes, noshed on upscale comfort food by Blue Ribbon NYC and boogied the night away to spins from DJ Cory and live jams from cover band Grooveline.

Ready to plan for next year? JCK Las Vegas 2018 is scheduled for June 1 to June 4 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, and the AGTA GemFair, also at Mandalay Bay, will take place May 31 to June 4.

As previously announced, JCK will join forces in 2018 with the Palm Beach Show Group to debut the Las Vegas Estate Jewelry & Watch Pavilion, which will be located on the JCK Las Vegas show floor.

See you next year!

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