Over 17,300 attendees gave JCK another successful Las Vegas Jewelry Week, as they came together with over 1,900 exhibitors at the Venetian for the Luxury show—celebrating 25 years!—from May 29 to June 3 and the JCK show May 31–June 3.
JCK kept retailers busy with over 20 different exhibitor neighborhoods, the AGTA/Gems and Hong Kong pavilions, and the popular JCK Talks educational series. (JCK has announced that one of the show’s iconic neighborhoods, the Plumb Club, will endure for another seven years, per a renewed partnership.)
“This year’s JCK surpassed all expectations,” said Sarin Bachmann, jewelry group vice president of RX, the show’s organizer, in a statement. “Even in times when there is uncertainty in the jewelry industry, JCK proves once again to be the place the entire industry gathers to source products, unveil new technologies and strategies, learn, discuss, network, and place orders for the rest of the selling season.
“There was a noticeable shift in the energy of the industry once they arrived at JCK and Luxury, and the enthusiasm on the show floor prevailed and left the industry on a very positive note,” Bachmann added.
Improved security was a key feature at this year’s event, with additional preshow qualification measures for every attendee, along with badge validation and weapons detection scanning on the show floor. “Enhancing the security measures at JCK is what is best for our entire industry. We featured state-of-the-art technology that truly raised the bar in creating a safe space for our attendees and exhibitors to conduct business,” said Bachmann. “JCK did this in a way that did not slow down entry, and the feedback from attendees and exhibitors was extremely appreciative.”
Alexis Padis, president of Padis Jewelers in San Francisco, who attended the show, said, “It was very reassuring to sense an increased security effort throughout Luxury and JCK. From focused registration requirements to bag checks, weapons detection, and an obvious police presence throughout, I’ve never felt safer at a show. Thank you to the JCK team for making our safety a clear priority.”
For 2024, the JCK Talks program added such topics as Your Development, Business Management, and Sales. Following its debut at the 2023 show, the Social Stage returned this year, with content creators and influencers sharing their experiences and lessons throughout multiple sessions.
JCK’s Sustainability Summit, held for the first time this year, featured business leaders and environmental advocates discussing how the jewelry industry can make positive change toward a more sustainable future. Speaking at a panel moderated by Dennis Campbell, professor of business administration at Harvard, were Marie-Claire Daveu, chief sustainability and international affairs officer at Kering; Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International; Iris Van Der Veken, executive director and secretary general of the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030; Melanie Grant, executive director for Responsible Jewelry Council; Glenn J. Hansen, founder and CEO of Reduce 2; Tiffany Stevens, president, CEO, and general counsel for Jewelers Vigilance Committee; and Ann Grimmett, vice president of merchandising for Jared.
Botswana president Mokgweetsi Masisi attended JCK and emphasized the importance of natural diamonds for his country’s economy during a one-on-one fireside chat with JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky. In breaking news from the show, De Beers announced it will suspend production of lab-grown diamonds for jewelry purposes and will introduce Diamond Proof, a synthetic-diamond detector made for retailer countertops.
Also notable at JCK 2024 were the showcasing of emerging designers by the Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) in the Design Collective neighborhood, funded in part by a grant from the JCK Industry Fund, and the Women’s Jewelry Association’s annual “Generating Community Impact” breakfast, which focused on disability inclusion in the jewelry and watch industries.
It was hard to deny the feeling on the show floor—love was most definitely in the air. Memorable moments at a JCK chapel, complete with Elvis impersonator, and the “puppy love” lounge with cuddly dogs reinforced that the show’s theme of love. Also spreading the love was a love lock fence sponsored by Stuller, as well as an airbrush tattoo artist in the Love Is Love lounge, an area on the show floor celebrating LGBTQ pride (for every tattoo, a donation was made to the Kids in Crisis organization).
On Sunday night, showgoers grabbed their boots with fur for the JCK Rocks Tao Beach event, featuring Grammy-nominated singer Flo Rida. The evening’s festivities began at the Facets benefit, which raised over $2 million for causes supported by Jewelers for Children (JFC). Attendees of the JFC gala were led by band through the Venetian and Canal Shoppes in an energetic parade to Tao Nightclub for the JCK Rocks concert.
Next year, the Vegas shows will shift one week later: Mark your calendars for June 6–9, 2025, for JCK and June 4–9, 2025 for Luxury (June 4–5 is by invitation-only). The Hong Kong pavilion, the Gems pavilion featuring AGTA, and JCK Talks will open one day before the rest of the JCK show, on June 5.
For more information, visit lasvegas.jckonline.com.
Top: Opening day 2024 (photo by Camilla Sjodin)
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