I’m writing this month’s letter from my New York City office, having just hit the point of feeling fully recovered from the amazing eight-day marathon that is the annual LUXURY and JCK Las Vegas shows! As always, it was a week of meetings, parties, dinners, chance run-ins, and all-around celebration of the jewelry industry.

This year’s edition kicked off with the exhibitors’ cocktail party on Memorial Day, a mere warm-up session for the events to come. Tuesday saw the opening of another great LUXURY show, and Tuesday evening’s networking event was a splash—literally. Guests were surprised and entertained by a flash mob–style dance by 20 dancers who jumped into the pool and let it rip!

Thursday evening featured the first-ever U.S. Diamonds in the Sky black-tie gala dinner celebrating the good works of the Diamond Empowerment Fund and featuring the one and only Chaka Khan! JCK was proud to be one of the key ­sponsors of the evening, which pulled in an amazing list of attendees: It was as if JCK’s annual power list walked off the pages and into a ballroom. Big congrats to DEF’s Nancy Orem Lyman and the indefatigable board president and event organizer, Mercury Ring’s Phyllis Bergman.

Friday saw the opening of the JCK show, with more than 2,000 exhibitors and 23,000 attendees (numbers that, according to JCK Events group vice president Yancy Weinrich, represent a lift in total store attendance). That evening was our annual JCK “family” dinner, where the entire magazine staff gathers for a toast, a festive meal, and a ton of laughs. After days of hearing so many kind compliments that JCK is “at the top of its game,” it was wonderful to pass the good word along to the team that makes it all happen.

The highlight of Saturday was the annual Plumb Club dinner, this year ­featuring the truly hysterical Jerry Seinfeld. Each year, I join the magazines and associations table at this event, which includes good friends such as Jewelers for Children’s David Rocha, Jewelers Vigilance Committee’s Cecilia Gardner, ­Jewelers’ Security Alliance’s John J. Kennedy, and SmartWork Media’s Dan Kisch. It’s a really fun tradition.

Left: With David Rocha, Dan Kisch, and Cecilia Gardner enjoying the Plumb Club festivities, which included a set from master of the standup domain Jerry Seinfeld (right)

Sunday’s agenda included Le Vian’s Red Carpet Revue, this year hosted by Cheryl Tiegs. Thanks and congrats again to Eddie LeVian for always bringing some true Hollywood glamour to the JCK show! Post red carpet, we all changed into shorts and hit the Mandalay Bay Beach for JCK Rocks the Beach, this year featuring Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty. I knew I was in old-friend heaven when I was so busy catching up that I barely noticed the concert had begun!

We all wound down on Monday, and a small group of friends smiled and yawned our way through a final dinner. Everyone agreed it was a particularly good year full of great business and great friendship. Our amazing editorial team highlights the “Best in Show” picks in this issue. Enjoy!