Events & Awards

JCK Attendance Up 8% in 2023

Events & AwardsJun 16, 2023

JCK Attendance Up 8% in 2023

The crowd enjoyed a mix of annual favorite trade show features and new additions this year.

JCK jewelry trade show
The attendee count for JCK 2023, recorded at 18,000, increased by 8 percent from 2022.
Norwalk, Conn.–This year’s Las Vegas JCK show, operated by RX, reported an attendee count of 18,000, an increase of 8 percent from 2022, which had already surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 levels. 
 
The diverse group of attendees and exhibitors represented over 100 countries.
 
From all facets of the industry, a total of more than 30,000 industry professionals joined JCK and Luxury, held at The Venetian and The Venetian Expo. 
 
The 1,900 exhibiting companies sold out the show floor, occupying 430,000 net square feet in more than 20 different show floor neighborhoods.
 
Luxury was open May 31-June 5, including the invite-only retailer days May 31 and June 1.
 
JCK was held June 2-5, with the return of GEMS with AGTA Las Vegas opening June 1.
 
"It was another incredibly energetic and successful year for JCK. The increased attendance coupled with new show branding, engaging activations, innovative experiences, and enhanced education and networking received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both attendees and exhibitors,” said Sarin Bachmann, group vice president of the RX jewelry portfolio.
 
“Our goal was to create an event that everyone looks forward to, in addition to needing to attend for your business, and we accomplished that and more."
 
The JCK Talks program, the educational arm of the show, also opened June 1, holding special sessions located in the Level 1 meeting rooms. 
 
Like the year before, the program was grouped in daily general themes that included hot topics; trends; marketing; diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainability; retail experiences; and innovation. Across these categories, over 60 sessions were featured. 
 
Many sessions were recorded and are available to watch on-demand for a limited time for JCK PRO badge holders.
 
During open show dates, sessions featured expert speakers and panel discussions and were held live in the new “Innovation Hub” area, the dedicated spot for exploring the latest market technologies, hands-on demos, and engaging educational sessions.
 
Others were held on the “Social Stage,” a new addition to JCK in 2023, where digital strategists, content creators, and influencers provided 30-minute sessions with actionable tips and tricks for content creation, social media engagement, and standing out on social platforms. 
 
"These initiatives created a focused area on the show floor dedicated to showcasing what's next and what's trending for the future of innovation in the jewelry and retail industries. The response to the Social Stage was overwhelmingly positive, with a significant turnout and enthusiastic reception," said Bachmann.
 
JCK and Luxury also once again welcomed keynote speakers to open the show. The first  keynote session on May 31 featured Notre Dame icon Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger followed by retired Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes on June 1. 
 
The JCK Keynote on June 3 featured Johnny Cupcakes in a session called “Creating Customer Obsession & Memorable Experiences with Limited Resources.” It was sponsored by GCAL by Sarine.
 
First introduced last year, "Activations & Instagrammable Moments” returned to the show, with highlights including an all-new hologram that showcased 3D content and offered live interactive experiences. A popular permanent jewelry bracelet activation sponsored by Stuller was also available for retailers to experience firsthand this concept while receiving their own complimentary permanent bracelet. 
 
“The energy at JCK 2023 was the best we’ve felt in years. Outlook was positive and our customers were optimistic about the rest of the year. It was wonderful to reconnect with so many of our friends and customers in the industry,” said Morgan Waters, executive director of marketing services & events at Stuller.
 
 Related stories will be right here … 
 
This year, JCK continued to focus on the cultivation of inclusion and diversity throughout the event. Organizers said the show had “a notable presence of emerging BIPOC designers, brand features, dedicated JCK Talks tracks focused on DEI, and specialized education sessions.” 
 
The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) showcased the BIJC Collective at JCK, thanks to grant funding from the JCK Industry Fund, giving a platform to Black designers.
 
It included six Black-owned brands exhibiting jewelry and loose gemstones: Dorian Webb, Deinté Fine Jewelry, James Mack Fine Jewelry, KuQala Diamonds, Nungu Diamonds, and Simone I. Smith. 
 
"Thanks to the JCK Industry Fund, we were able to make this happen for two consecutive years, giving these designers the exposure they deserve," said BIJC President Annie Doresca.
 
Across from BIJC, The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) featured six emerging graduate designers from WJA's Jewelry Loupe Project in the first-ever JCK Design Collective booth.
 
The designers featured were Isabel Dennis, Soojin Kim, Patty Lauritzen, Rachel Weld Newton, Alexis Pavlantos and Constance Polamalu. 
 
WJA also hosted its annual "WJA Generating Community Breakfast" on Friday, June 2, with a special focus on disability inclusion in the jewelry and watch industry.
 
Also shedding light on up-and-coming individuals, The Natural Diamond Council's (NDC) 2023 Emerging Designers Diamond Initiative (EDDI) participants—Amina Sorel, Bernard James, Gwen Beloti, Jessenia Landrum, Rosario Navia, and Ymoné Currie—showcased their collections at NDC's Luxury private ballroom. 
 
The EDDI program was created in 2021 by NDC and jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz to provide Black, Indigenous, and People of Color designers unparalleled access to education, opportunities, and resources. 
 
Fan favorite show event, JCK Rocks, also returned to the show. It featured Andy Grammer this year. 
 
Grammer is a multi-platinum singer, songwriter and record producer with hits like “Honey, I’m Good,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Fine by Me”. Concertgoers also got to see electric string quartet, Phat Strand, and after the performance, the resident Hakkasan Nightclub DJ ended the night spinning tunes for the crowded dance floor. JCK Rocks Headline Sponsor was Brosway Italia. 
 
JCK 2024 will take place May 31-June 3 at The Venetian Expo & The Venetian. 
 
JCK has announced that HKJMA has signed a long-term agreement with JCK for their Hong Kong pavilion, which will move to the Level 1 Ballrooms starting in 2024 instead of the Level 1 exhibit hall where it was located in 2023. 
 
Hong Kong, along with GEMS featuring AGTA, and JCK Talks, will open a day early on May 30.
 
Luxury will run May 29-June 3, with by-invitation-only dates on May 29 and 30.

The Latest

Sriram “Ram” Natarajan
GradingAug 22, 2025
Former Head of GIA India Promoted to Oversee Global Operations

Sriram “Ram” Natarajan is now GIA’s senior vice president of laboratory operations and is based out of the lab’s headquarters in Carlsbad.

Retrouvaí Diamond Vein Bond Collar
CollectionsAug 22, 2025
Piece of the Week: Retrouvaí’s ‘Diamond Vein Bond’ Collar

The one-of-a-kind collar represents the beauty of imperfection and the strength to rebuild.

Kendra Scott
MajorsAug 22, 2025
Kendra Scott Returns as CEO of Her Jewelry Empire

Three C-suite executives, including former CEO Tom Nolan, have resigned as part of what the company describes as a “transition.”

japac-btyb.png
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key Issues

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

Claire’s storefront
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Claire’s Finds Buyer, Could Save up to 950 Stores

The retailer, which recently filed Chapter 11, inked a deal to sell its North American business and intellectual property.

Weekly QuizAug 22, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Target CEO Brian Cornell and COO Michael Fiddelke
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Target Names New CEO as Sales Continue to Lag

Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February and be replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke.

Jewelers of America in Washington DC
Policies & IssuesAug 21, 2025
JA, IDMA Talk Tariffs With Execs in DC

The group met with the president's senior trade advisor earlier this week to express the industry’s concerns about the effects of tariffs.

rio-article photo-diamond.jpg
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine Jewelry

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Tiffany & Co. Pop Up at U.S. Open
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Pops Up at 2025 US Open

The pop-up will display this year's Tiffany & Co. Singles Championship trophies along with a diamond-encrusted tennis racket and ball.

Bellman’s Jewelers The Truthful Jeweler Alex Bellman
IndependentsAug 20, 2025
Bellman’s Jewelers Opens Second Store After COO's TikTok Takes Off

The New Hampshire-based store has expanded to Boston, propelled by the success of Alex Bellman’s TikTok page, “The Truthful Jeweler.”

Stock image of police cars with lights flashing
CrimeAug 20, 2025
Another CA Jewelry Store Rammed With Car, Robbed

The latest incident happened Monday at a store in Oakland, California, continuing a pattern JSA first warned about last month.

Oris New York Harbor Limited Edition II Watch
WatchesAug 20, 2025
Oris Launches Watch Benefiting NYC Harbor Oyster Restoration

The new aqua green New York Harbor Limited Edition II is the watchmaker’s second collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project.

Lulo Rose pink diamond
SourcingAug 19, 2025
Dubai’s Jemora Group Buys Diamond Miner Lucapa

The investment company, founded by Dev Shetty, has acquired the struggling miner and its assets, including the Lulo mine in Angola.

National Jeweler columnist and jewelry sales expert Peter Smith
ColumnistsAug 19, 2025
Peter Smith: The Arrival Fallacy and Jewelry Retail

Smith shares wisdom he gleaned from a podcast he was listening to one morning while being walked by his dog, a Malshi named Sophie.

Fake Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra earrings
CrimeAug 19, 2025
Customs Seizes 7,300 Pairs of Fake ‘Alhambra’ Earrings

The counterfeit Van Cleef & Arpels jewels would have been worth more than $30 million if genuine.

MJSA Logo
MajorsAug 19, 2025
MJSA Apprenticeship Program Is Nationally Recognized

The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program received the Registered Apprenticeship Program designation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Masaki Obu
WatchesAug 19, 2025
Casio America Names New Timepiece Division Manager

Casio executive and watch enthusiast Masaki Obu is the new general manager of its U.S. timepiece division.

Michael Barabash and husband Raymond Cuadrado
MajorsAug 18, 2025
Verragio’s Michael Barabash, a ‘Kind Soul,’ Dies at 58

Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.

John Hardy Dot Coil Necklace and Dot Hoop Earrings
CollectionsAug 18, 2025
John Hardy’s New ‘Dot’ Collection Is on Point

Originally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.

Image of Winona Ryder and Iman from Pandora’s Be Love marketing campaign
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans

The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.

Taylor Swift Etho Maria ruby earrings The Life of a Showgirl TS12
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings

Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.

Audemars Piguet Starwheel Watch
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in Manufacturer

Its investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.

Nicolette Bianchi
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing Director

Nicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.

Pippa Small Myanmar Fish Cluster
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’

Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.

Casio America CEO Yusuke Suzuki
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEO

Longtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.

LA Trading Day
SourcingAug 14, 2025
West Coast Orgs to Host Trading Event, Mixer in LA

The full-day sourcing and networking event, slated for Aug. 18, will be followed by the fifth annual Mega Mixer Summer Soirée.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Stephanie Gottlieb Ring
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut Diamond

Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy