Events & AwardsJun 07, 2022
5 Things to Know About JCK Las Vegas 2022TechnologyJun 13, 2022
JCK Keynote Guides Attendees Through the Metaverse
Speaker Swan Sit delved into several buzzworthy topics, like blockchain and NFTs.
For the JCK opening keynote, speaker Swan Sit opined on the metaverse.
Las Vegas—The metaverse is arguably the retail buzzword of the year.
JCK’s keynote Friday morning, titled “Web3 is Coming—Navigating the Past, Present, and Future of Retail,” was led by speaker Swan Sit.
Sit is the former global head of digital marketing at Nike, Estée Lauder, and Revlon.
She took a deep dive into hot topics like Web3, blockchain, and NFTs, but centered the conversation around using these tools to build a community and creating brand loyalty.
“Web1 was ‘go look at the dot-com site.’ Web2 was social, where you can look and comment back. But Web3 is a collaborative conversation we’re moving into,” she said.
Looking to explain a complex topic in a more accessible way, Sit shared several anecdotes throughout this session, but one about her work with beauty brand Elizabeth Arden was a standout.
Unlike on-trend beauty brands—think Glossier and Charlotte Tilbury—Elizabeth Arden was a brand one could find on their grandmother’s vanity.
Turning it cool and Insta-worthy was a tall order and Sit said she put her career on the line by taking some risks to make the brand more relevant.
As it turns out, Elizabeth Arden’s founder and namesake was ahead of her time in some respects. She was a women’s right activist and marched with the suffragettes. She created a “Victory Red” lipstick in the 1940s for women in the military. She was also the first woman to be featured on the cover of Time magazine.
Arden died in 1966 but Sit brought her back to life in a digital form, revamping the brand’s Instagram to show posts from Arden’s first-person perspective, as if she were alive today.
She recruited “friends” for Elizabeth Arden, like comedian Chelsea Handler and fashion icon Iris Apfel.
Sit’s risk paid off, with Elizabeth Arden posting growth for ten consecutive quarters following the campaign. The brand was later bought by Revlon.
Elizabeth Arden’s products were always present in the campaign’s photos and videos, but they were secondary to the conversations between “Liz” and her friends.
“If we’re lucky enough to build a community that grows, treating them like a community and not followers is a really massive difference,” said Sit. “It’s becoming a two-way street.”
The point of the campaign wasn’t to push product, but to connect to the audience using a digital medium. The opportunities to do that will likely only increase as metaverse technology continues to flourish.
Sit reminded the audience that while the term “metaverse” is new, the idea of a digital world a user can walk around in is as old as video games.
She recalled explaining the metaverse and what an avatar is to an older man at a social event. The conversation ended in embarrassment when he cut her off to say he knew exactly what an avatar was, because he was the creator of the popular game “Second Life,” which uses avatars to take players through a digital world.
Tech terms can throw non-tech-savvy people for a loop, however.
While the jewelry world may have a knack for marketing, said Sit, the tech industry isn’t as good at coming up with catchy terms to describe concepts like non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
She explained NFTs as “a unique record on blockchain.”
Even those who understand what an NFT is can have trouble wrapping their heads around the value prospect, though. An example is the Bored Ape Yacht Club, an NFT collection built on the Ethereum blockchain. It features pictures of cartoon apes, and they sell for millions of dollars.
“How could a jpeg be worth millions of dollars?” she posed to the audience.
Then she asked those in attendance to open the camera roll on their phones and hold up a favorite photo.
Now, she said, imagine all of those photos, images of friends, family, pets, vacations, etc., just disappeared, and how upsetting that would be.
Non-tangible, digital-only images can hold enormous value, she concluded.
Sit also discussed the opportunities available to the jewelry industry through these tech innovations, especially blockchain.
Authenticating luxury goods and following antique and estate jewelry from owner to owner were two interesting possibilities mentioned.
JCK offered another metaverse-focused session later that afternoon.
Oliver Maroney, general manager of Web3 and NFTs at Cameo, led a session titled “Relevance—NFTs & Web3.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Technology
The Latest
ColumnistsMay 12, 2026
It’s Official: We’re Getting ‘Brain Rot’ From Watching Short-Form Videos Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
CollectionsMay 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Debuts Antique Coin-Inspired Medallions for SummerThe 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.
IndependentsMay 12, 2026
State of Retail: 6 Things Retailers Should Know About Consumers TodayFrom Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2026
The Tiffany & Co. x CFDA Jewelry Designer Award Is BackThe partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.
Weekly QuizMay 07, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsMay 11, 2026
Kansas Jeweler Closing After 70 YearsThe owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.
TrendsMay 11, 2026
Former Macy’s CEO Joins Signet Jewelers BoardJeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.
Brought to you by
Discover Timeless Treasures: A Showcase of Antique Jewelry & Timepieces in Las VegasGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
TrendsMay 11, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: Lucky May May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.
Lab-GrownMay 08, 2026
NDC Publicly Criticizes Pandora Over ‘Misleading’ Natural Diamond ClaimsNDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.
SourcingMay 08, 2026
Ronnie VanderLinden Takes Over as WDC President The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.
TrendsMay 08, 2026
Rihanna Chooses ‘Desert Diamonds’ for 2026 Met GalaShe wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.
Events & AwardsMay 08, 2026
JA Announces 2026 CASE Award WinnersTwo pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.
FinancialsMay 07, 2026
Brilliant Earth Appeals to Higher-Income Shoppers in Q1The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.
AuctionsMay 07, 2026
‘Spectacular’ Kashmir Sapphire Headlines Heritage Spring Jewelry SaleLed by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.
MajorsMay 07, 2026
Gannon & Scott Names New Regional Account ExecutiveIn his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.
WatchesMay 07, 2026
Chrono24 Names New CEOJosé Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.
Events & AwardsMay 07, 2026
JA Accepting Applications for 2026 Scholarship ProgramIt has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.
SourcingMay 06, 2026
Canada’s Oldest Diamond Mine Faces Uncertain FutureThe owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.
FinancialsMay 06, 2026
Pandora to Add Carbon Footprint Info to Lab-Grown DiamondsThe company announced the change alongside its Q1 results, which showed that the jewelry brand’s year is off to a shaky start.
MajorsMay 06, 2026
Saks Global Begins Layoffs, Reorganization Plans Closer to ApprovalThe retailer will cut 16 percent of its corporate workforce as part of its plan to exit bankruptcy.
AuctionsMay 06, 2026
Steve McQueen’s Heuer Monaco Watch Heads to Sotheby'sOf the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.
EditorsMay 05, 2026
This Ohio Designer’s Jewelry Made It to the Met GalaMegan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.
SourcingMay 05, 2026
Doug Hucker Returns to His RootsFollowing decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.
Events & AwardsMay 05, 2026
AMNH to Showcase Famous Jewelry, Trophies in Sports HistoryThe museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 05, 2026
JIS Launches Brand Exposure ProgramThe new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.
CollectionsMay 04, 2026
Melanie Georgacopoulos Turns Pearls Into Light for ‘Eclipse’ CollectionThe “Eclipse” jewelry collection captures the fleeting moment where light and shadow align though onyx, diamonds, and freshwater pearls.
