Events & AwardsJul 08, 2021
The Industry’s About 50/50 on Vegas This Year, Survey ShowsEvents & AwardsAug 12, 2021
JA New York Returns With a Buzz
The jewelry trade show took place at the Javits Center from Aug. 8-10.
The JA New York Summer show took place Aug. 8-10 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. It was the first JA New York show held since the start of the pandemic.
New York—For the first time since fall 2019, the JA New York show happened, in a city silenced in the early days of the pandemic and in a space that, up until a month ago, was being used as a mass vaccination site.
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.”
Related stories will be right here …
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.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
Diamond Dealer Jeff Pancis Pens MemoirThe founder of natural colored diamond wholesaler Pancis Gems shares stories from his five decades in the industry.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
EditorsJul 16, 2026
Q&A: Guzema’s Co-Owners On Its US Expansion, 10-Year AnniversaryValeriya Guzema and Mariana Lenha look back on the last decade and discuss the Ukrainian brand’s first U.S. store.
Weekly QuizJul 17, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 16, 2026
Ekati to Close, Leaving Canada With One Diamond Mine The diamond mine, which opened nearly 30 years ago in Canada’s Northwest Territories, is expected to shut down by mid-August.
FinancialsJul 16, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Sales Soar for the Seventh Quarter in a RowJewelry sales for the company, which owns Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Vhernier, and Buccellati, rose 21 percent in the first quarter.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
Events & AwardsJul 16, 2026
Jewelers of Louisiana to Host 80th ConventionThe event, scheduled for next month in New Orleans, will include dinner, a custom jewelry design contest, and education sessions.
SourcingJul 15, 2026
1,305-Carat Diamond Recovered from Mine in BotswanaThe yet-to-be named stone is the 10th diamond weighing more than 1,000 carats to come out of Lucara’s Karowe mine.
IndependentsJul 15, 2026
New Jersey Jeweler Barry Berman Dies at 81The founder of Fords Jewelers, Berman is remembered for his love of connecting with his community.
FinancialsJul 15, 2026
Watches of Switzerland’s US Sales Jump 18%, Declines to Comment on Sale Report The watch and jewelry retailer had a strong fiscal year despite what its CEO described as a “complex operating backdrop.”
Events & AwardsJul 15, 2026
Hamptons Jewelry Show to Return in JulyThe open-to-the-public luxury jewelry and timepiece show, in its second year, is slated for July 23-26.
CollectionsJul 15, 2026
Pomellato’s New High Jewelry Is LiberatingBold color, expressive gem-setting, and sculptural form define the three chapters that make up “Stile Libero.”
IndependentsJul 14, 2026
Foundrae Opens First Standalone Store Outside USThe New York-based jewelry brand has expanded overseas, opening a store in London’s Mayfair district.
ColumnistsJul 14, 2026
Sherry Smith: What Today’s Jewelry Consumer Is Telling Us Rising revenue does not automatically mean a healthy business, particularly in the current economic landscape, Smith writes.
TrendsJul 14, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Shoulder Dusters These long, fluid drop earrings are sure to catch the eye.
CrimeJul 14, 2026
Man Charged in $1M Jewelry Store Heist Lands on FBI Most Wanted ListAlberto Perez-Elias is one of four men charged with robbing a Cape Coral, Florida, jewelry store and is the only one still at large.
Events & AwardsJul 14, 2026
Conference on Mining, Sustainability Kicks Off in NYCInitiatives in Art and Culture is hosting its 16th annual Gold and Diamond Conference, with the theme of “Resilience.”
Lab-GrownJul 13, 2026
Stephanie Gottlieb Changes Her Mind on Lab-Grown DiamondsThe designer, who once said she’d never sell lab-grown diamonds, debuted two capsule collections designed to be fun and easy to wear.
SourcingJul 13, 2026
De Beers Announces Potential Layoffs, 2-Year Production Pause at VenetiaThe diamond miner and marketer is undergoing another round of cost-cutting measures ahead of its sale by Anglo American.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
Registration Opens for JIS Fall 2026 ShowThe annual trade-only buying event is slated for Oct. 16-19 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Events & AwardsJul 13, 2026
AGTA Accepting Entries for Spectrum 2026AGTA also has announced the lineup of judges for the colored gemstone cutting and jewelry design contest’s various categories.
TechnologyJul 10, 2026
There’s a New Blind Box for Luxury Watches Collectibles platform Arena Club’s new Time Boxes could contain a Rolex or Patek Philippe watch.
TrendsJul 10, 2026
Jade Trau Creates a Constellation of DiamondsThe “Constellation Plié” collar, our Piece of the Week, features diamonds arranged in a constellation of shining stars.
SourcingJul 10, 2026
CFO of De Beers’ Consumer-Facing Division Leaves Company Shaun Wills joined the company in 2024 and was chief financial officer of the De Beers Brands and Consumer Markets division.
WatchesJul 10, 2026
Brilliant Earth Expands Into WatchesIn honor of its 20th anniversary, the jewelry brand has released a limited-edition collection of Swiss-made timepieces.
