My Hit List for the 2023 JCK Las Vegas and Luxury Shows

By Victoria Gomelsky | May 15, 2023

It’s 16 days and counting until the jewelry industry begins arriving en masse in Las Vegas for the start of Jewelry Week. Are you ready?

If you still have room in your schedule, I’ve shared my hit list for the show below—designed to help you make the most of your days at the Venetian expo and your nights out on the town. See you there!

Trendspotting at Luxury

My first stop is always the Luxury show, which opens May 31. Per the advice of tastemaker Randi Molofsky, I’ll be on the lookout for new enamel styles at Yael Designs (check out the brand’s new Regalia collection), singular colored stones (especially in minty green hues) at Omi Privé, and beads, opals, and other juicy gems at Lauren K.

Yael Designs enamel pendant — *Marquise necklace in 14k white gold with teal enamel, aquamarine, and diamonds, $2,282; Yael Designs*

For diamonds, I will make a beeline to returning exhibitor Hearts on Fire, which is planning to debut a bridal collection at the show. And I can’t wait to see the work of the 2023 class of the Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative spearheaded by the Natural Diamond Council and red-carpet jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. The six designers in this year’s cohort are Gwen Beloti, Symoné Currie, Bernard James, Jessenia Landrum, Rosario Navia, and Amina Sorel.

Business recon at JCK

When the JCK show opens on Friday, June 2, I’ll cruise the plush aisles of the Plumb Club pavilion, where the industry’s heavy hitters are unveiling collections. I’m especially keen to get a read on the lab-grown diamond market. My biggest question, not surprisingly, centers on pricing. How are lab-grown manufacturers positioning their products?

I’m also looking forward to better understanding the fine jewelry business during this confusing year of bank failures and recession brinksmanship. Have the easy-selling days of 2021 and 2022 come to an end?

Most of all, however, I’m excited to see all that’s new—like IDD Luxe’s SkySet collection of lab-grown diamond styles featuring shooting star designs. “They will be hot off the press,” Kendra Bridelle, the brand’s president, tells JCK.

IDD Luxe SkySet ring — *SkySet ring in 14k gold with 1 ct. oval lab-grown diamond and diamond pavé, $2,945; IDD Luxe*

For one giant and not-to-be-missed dose of newness, look no further than the BIJC Collective at booth 10042. Organized by the Black in Jewelry Coalition, the space will feature six Black-owned brands exhibiting jewelry and loose gemstones: Dorian Webb, Deinté Fine Jewelry, James Mack Fine Jewelry, KuQala Diamonds, Nungu Diamonds, and Simone I. Smith.

Dorian Webb Trellis Necklace — *Trellis necklace in 18k yellow gold with 3.03 cts. t.w. diamonds, $22,950; Dorian Webb*

James Mack Fine Jewelry pendant — *Elements pendant in silver with diamonds and lab-grown blue spinel, $2,596; James Mack Fine Jewelry*

A jewelry education

Between the hourly JCK Talks tracks that kick off Friday on the Showcase Stage on level 2, the Saturday-morning keynote address by retail visionary “Johnny Cupcakes” (aka Johnny Earle), and the timely social media content available daily on the Social Stage (such as Manon Crespi’s Saturday session on “Deconstructing a Viral Video”), there is no shortage of essential education at this year’s event.

But don’t take it from me. Here are the sessions Yael Designs founder and CEO Yehouda Saketkhou is looking forward to: “Some educational panels that I am excited to attend are Social Media 101, ChatGPT 101, Recruiting and Hiring 101, and Branding 101,” he tells JCK.

Downtown dining

It’s not a week in Vegas without a celebratory kickoff meal at Barry’s Downtown Prime, a swanky steakhouse at Circa with groovy Rat Pack vibes. For other dining and entertainment ideas, don’t miss JCK contributor Matt Villano’s suggestions for “3 Perfect Nights in Las Vegas.” Late-night drinks at Rouge Room, anyone?