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

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.


The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

The free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.

The feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.

The online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.

The opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.

The “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.

Robert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.

The announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.

Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.