Events & AwardsSep 18, 2023
New York City Jewelry & Watch Show Announces 2023 Exhibitors Events & AwardsSep 22, 2023
HardRock Summit To Relocate In 2024
The event is moving just outside of Denver.
The HardRock Summit trade show, normally at the Colorado Convention Center, announced its 2024 show will take place Sept. 12-15 at The Westin Hotel in Westminster, Colorado.
Denver—Last week, the Colorado-based Hardrock Summit show concluded its third year and announced next year’s event will have a new location.
Next year, the trade show—designed to bring the jewelry, gemstone, mineral and fossil industries, along with enthusiasts and collectors, under one roof—will take place at The Westin Hotel in Westminster from Sept. 12-15, 2024.
“We are dedicated to evolving and enhancing the show to meet the demands of our exhibitor partners and the broader jewelry, gem and mineral industries,” said Hardrock Summit Co-Founder Christoph Keilmann.
“The Westin Westminster serves as the ideal venue for our 2024 event, elevating this show to new heights and delivering an exceptional experience in a stunning location.”
This year’s event, held recently at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 15-18, attracted over 1,000 trade visitors and nearly 6,000 total visitors.
The showcase was made up of exhibitions, activities and education highlighting fine jewelry, gemstones and mineral specimens, and included participation from members of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA GemFair Denver) and the Denver Gem & Mineral Show.
“As a smaller and more regional show, we were pleased with the quality retailers and collectors we met with for both the minerals and gem sectors of our businesses. It was a nice environment to build upon our relationships and make new connections within the industry,” said Carl Larson, director of gems at Pala International.
Displays included an array of exhibits from institutions and private collectors including the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum, Mines Museum of Earth Science, The University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Jim and Gail Spann Collection, and the Gene Meieran Tourmaline Slices.
In partnership with Hardrock Summit, the 55th Annual Denver Gem & Mineral Show (DGMS) displayed minerals from across the globe, meteorites, ancient fossils and a diverse selection of jewelry and gems.
DGMS also offered family-friendly attractions like a fluorescent room with rocks that illuminated in the dark, gold panning demonstrations, and live cutting and polishing demonstrations by lapidary artists.
In addition to the exhibits, a series of educational lectures were held throughout the weekend, providing attendees with expert insights, as well as information and updates on the latest trends in the mineral and gem industries.
Sessions included an exclusive update on data extracted by Colorado School of Mines Ph.D. Student Jenna White during field research as part of the AGTA and Mines’ Transparent & Traceable Gemstone Supply Chains Research Project.
More of White’s research will be presented at the Tucson gem shows in 2024.
Related stories will be right here …
Next year, the trade show—designed to bring the jewelry, gemstone, mineral and fossil industries, along with enthusiasts and collectors, under one roof—will take place at The Westin Hotel in Westminster from Sept. 12-15, 2024.
“We are dedicated to evolving and enhancing the show to meet the demands of our exhibitor partners and the broader jewelry, gem and mineral industries,” said Hardrock Summit Co-Founder Christoph Keilmann.
“The Westin Westminster serves as the ideal venue for our 2024 event, elevating this show to new heights and delivering an exceptional experience in a stunning location.”
This year’s event, held recently at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 15-18, attracted over 1,000 trade visitors and nearly 6,000 total visitors.
The showcase was made up of exhibitions, activities and education highlighting fine jewelry, gemstones and mineral specimens, and included participation from members of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA GemFair Denver) and the Denver Gem & Mineral Show.
“As a smaller and more regional show, we were pleased with the quality retailers and collectors we met with for both the minerals and gem sectors of our businesses. It was a nice environment to build upon our relationships and make new connections within the industry,” said Carl Larson, director of gems at Pala International.
Displays included an array of exhibits from institutions and private collectors including the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, New Mexico Bureau of Geology Mineral Museum, Mines Museum of Earth Science, The University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Jim and Gail Spann Collection, and the Gene Meieran Tourmaline Slices.
In partnership with Hardrock Summit, the 55th Annual Denver Gem & Mineral Show (DGMS) displayed minerals from across the globe, meteorites, ancient fossils and a diverse selection of jewelry and gems.
DGMS also offered family-friendly attractions like a fluorescent room with rocks that illuminated in the dark, gold panning demonstrations, and live cutting and polishing demonstrations by lapidary artists.
In addition to the exhibits, a series of educational lectures were held throughout the weekend, providing attendees with expert insights, as well as information and updates on the latest trends in the mineral and gem industries.
Sessions included an exclusive update on data extracted by Colorado School of Mines Ph.D. Student Jenna White during field research as part of the AGTA and Mines’ Transparent & Traceable Gemstone Supply Chains Research Project.
More of White’s research will be presented at the Tucson gem shows in 2024.
The HardRock Summit comes at a busy time for trade events, with The Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong show exhibitions taking place Sept. 18-24, and The Jewellery Show, which took place in London Sept. 20-21.
In 2022, the Hong Kong show was temporarily relocated to Singapore, a move made with pandemic restrictions in mind and a goal of becoming more accessible to international suppliers and buyers.
That year, feedback from exhibitors at the HardRock Summit about buying activity was mixed, but overall positive.
This year, with the Hong Kong show back in its usual location, some HardRock Summit exhibitors expressed mild concern that the overlap in events made for a slower show.
Others were happy with the timing of the show, especially given its proximity to the holidays.
“Hardrock Summit is a well-timed show for purchasing colored stones, particularly benefiting retailers ahead of the holiday season. The rising demand in the colored gem market aligns perfectly with this show's timing and it was good to be part of it,” said John Bradshaw, owner and gemstone dealer at John J. Bradshaw.
When more information for the 2024 show becomes available, it will be found on the HardRock Summit website.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
CollectionsApr 18, 2025
Piece of the Week: Dukachi’s ‘Easter Bread’ PendantThe Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.
IndependentsApr 18, 2025
Bremer Jewelry to Reveal Renovated StoreThe jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.
MajorsApr 18, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Employees Star in Mother’s Day CampaignThe “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.
CollectionsApr 17, 2025
John Hardy, Athena Calderone Partner on Art Deco Decor-Inspired CollectionInterior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.
Weekly QuizApr 18, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsApr 17, 2025
Movado Group to Increase Prices to Offset Tariffs ImpactDuring a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
Lab-GrownApr 17, 2025
NDC Launches Its Diamond Learning CenterThe free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Policies & IssuesApr 17, 2025
Jewelers of America Requests Tariffs Testimonials from MembersThe feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.
TechnologyApr 17, 2025
Technology Therapy Group Expands AI Training for Jewelry RetailersThe online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Catbird Expands to ChicagoThe opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.
CollectionsApr 16, 2025
Foundrae’s First Commitment Jewelry Collection Unites Through LoveThe “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Indiana Jeweler to Host Black Jewelry Designer Pop-UpRobert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.
MajorsApr 16, 2025
WJA Announces Board Members, New Chicago Chapter PresidentThe announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Tariffs: What We Know Right Now Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Making Deals, Marketing DiamondsKenewendo, Botswana’s minster of minerals and energy, discusses closing the deal with De Beers and the work that was missed along the way.
AuctionsApr 15, 2025
23-Carat ‘Golconda Blue’ Heads to AuctionThe historic fancy vivid blue diamond set to headline Christie’s Geneva sale next month could sell for up to $50 million.
FinancialsApr 15, 2025
LVMH’s Q1 Sales Slip 2 PercentLVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis also discussed the effects of tariffs so far.
CrimeApr 15, 2025
Jon Hamm Plays a Jewel Thief on Apple TV+The “Mad Men” and “The Morning Show” star steals jewelry, art, and handbags from his wealthy neighbors in “Your Friends & Neighbors.”
SourcingApr 15, 2025
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2025 BoardThe organization has reelected Kalpesh Jhaveri as president.
FinancialsApr 14, 2025
Movado to Restate Years of Financials Due to ‘Misconduct’ in Dubai An investigation found that the former managing director of Movado’s Dubai branch overstated and prematurely recorded sales.
CollectionsApr 14, 2025
Sauer Embraces Emptiness Through ‘Ma’ CollectionThe collection pays tribute to the Japanese philosophy of Ma, studying balance, stillness, and the interplay between presence and absence.
IndependentsApr 14, 2025
Illinois Jeweler Closing After 45 YearsMari Lou’s Fine Jewelry in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, is closing its doors.
GradingApr 14, 2025
GIA Expands Overseas Services as Tariffs Kick InGIA’s labs in Dubai and Hong Kong are now accepting larger diamonds in light of the “logistical challenges” presented by the new tariffs.
AuctionsApr 11, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Replica of Princess Grace’s Wedding EarringsThese earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring the same design as a pair worn by Princess Grace, are up for auction at Woolley & Wallis.
Recorded WebinarsApr 11, 2025
Watch: Top Tips for Saving Time With AITwo experts share how artificial intelligence tools can help retailers run a more efficient business.
SourcingApr 11, 2025
Mikimoto Names New President, CEO for U.S. DivisionKentaro Nishimura, who has been with the pearl company since 1997, has been promoted to president and CEO of Mikimoto America.
