JA New York Returns With a Buzz
The jewelry trade show took place at the Javits Center from Aug. 8-10.
JA New York Summer took place Aug. 8-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, with organizers reporting in a post-show release—and attendees confirming—that the show was busy.
Buyers filled the show floor and were placing orders with exhibiting brands, designers, and manufacturers. According to JA NY, some at the show said business, “felt like the 1990s.”
Attendees and organizers also remarked on how happy they were to reconnect with friends and colleagues, some of whom they hadn’t seen in person in 18 months or more.
Paul Schneider, owner of jewelry store Twist in Portland, Oregon, was among those saying it felt good to attend a trade show again.
“While we’ve continued to do robust business throughout the pandemic, having the opportunity to meet with people in person is so important to maintaining our most critical relationships, and walking shows is paramount to discovering new collections and brands,” the jeweler told JA NY organizers.
Former JCK magazine publisher Mark Smelzer, who is now chief content executive at Jewelers Mutual and publisher of The Zing Report, also remarked on the necessity of trade shows and connecting in person.
“Despite all of the challenges of the last year and a half, it was great to see the show floor filled with buyers, to see people buying and selling, and to see friends in person after far too long,” he said.
“Being at JA New York for two full days was simply proof that the need for face-to-face encounters endures.”
A number of other industry events are slated to take place in person later this month.
The Independent Jewelers Organization said in June that it plans to hold its conference Aug. 13-17 in Kansas City, Mo.
And the major trade shows that normally take place in Las Vegas in early June—Couture and JCK Las Vegas—were postponed to the end of August.
Couture and the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show are scheduled for Aug. 24-26 at the Wynn Las Vegas, while AGTA GemFair Las Vegas will take place at the neighboring Encore hotel on the same dates.
The dates for JCK Las Vegas, which takes place at the Venetian and Sands Expo Center, are Aug. 27-30.
JA New York is slated to return again this fall, Oct. 24 to 26 at the Javits Center.
The Latest
Plus, how to apply for emergency funds and donate to recovery efforts.
A strong economy, a growing middle class with an affinity for brands, and rapid expansion of organized retail have fueled the market’s rise.
Ladell Tharpe, 39, took part in a 2022 jewelry store robbery and then posted pictures of cash on Instagram with the text “Robbery Gang.”
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
The trade organization welcomed Sheryl Jones to its board of directors for a three-year term.
New Chief Marketing Officer Berta de Pablos-Barbier has worked for LVMH’s champagne brands and Kering-owned Boucheron.
Transition to fall with this month’s birthstones of opal and tourmaline.
Don't miss this one-stop-shop in October, curated with buyers’ needs in mind.
Sotheby’s will auction jewelry belonging to the “Diamonds Are Forever” singer Oct. 10 in Paris.
The De Beers-owned lab-grown diamond company is rebranding and creating new collections, though its long-term future remains unclear.
The collection is part of the retailer’s new “Rethink Everything You Know About Diamonds” campaign.
The sale includes the custom-made, diamond-set Audemars Piguet watch the QB wore for Netflix’s “The Roast of Tom Brady.”
The jewelry retailer has named her successor and also will expand the role of Chief Financial Officer Joan Hilson.
The Signet Jewelers-owned banner has a new campaign and plans for store redesigns.
Creative Director Jen Insardi brings a new take on classic gold bead designs to her “Solar” collection.
The recipient, Glenn Douglass, also was inducted into the OJA Hall of Fame.
The manufacturer recognized several team members at its 2024 Milestone Anniversary Banquet.
The single-owner collection sale, which took place in New York last week, achieved $4.8 million, with almost every lot finding a buyer.
While statement pieces always shine, it’s time for everyday staples to be the star of the show.
Jewelers of America leadership and members recently headed to D.C. to share the industry’s top concerns with lawmakers.
Three members of JA's 2024 "20 Under 40" class join Amanda Gizzi and Lauren McLemore to share their tips for seasonal retail success.
The necklace, inspired by ancient artifacts, celebrates strength, endurance, and the natural world.
Rocksbox is the first banner owned by Signet to sell its jewelry through the retail giant.
“America Telling Time: 150 Years of Bulova” dives into the watchmaker’s storied past, from its ad campaigns to the first women’s wristwatch.
The new additions include flat coil rings, bracelets, and necklaces designed to layer elegantly.
65 Equity Partners has made a “significant” minority investment in the company, though founder Kendra Scott retains a majority stake.
The miner will be raffling off jewelry, donating all proceeds to reforestation efforts for some regions of America’s national forests.