Events & AwardsOct 04, 2023
BIJC to Honor Simone I. Smith at Upcoming ‘Rock the Jewels’Events & AwardsOct 11, 2023
Matthew Tratner Joins JA New York
The industry veteran is the organization’s new group show director.
Matthew Tratner is JA New York’s new group show director.
New York—JA New York has announced Matthew Tratner will be its new group show director, a role he will step into before the upcoming JA New York Fall Show this month.
Emerald, the company that owns JA New York as well as the Couture show, cited Tratner’s strong leadership skills, his long-standing industry relationships and his “extensive experience spearheading substantive programs and initiatives” as motivation for bringing him on to direct the century-old show.
“We are thrilled that Matthew is joining JA New York as show director,” said Emerald Executive Vice President Gannon Brousseau.
“This industry is fueled by relationships, and Matthew has meaningful connections that extend throughout all facets of the jewelry industry ecosystem. His enthusiasm, coupled with his knowledge and experience, will truly be an asset to our events and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.”
Tratner succeeds longtime JA New York Group Show Director Drew Lawsky, who retired after a 29-year tenure with the show.
Related stories will be right here …
Emerald, the company that owns JA New York as well as the Couture show, cited Tratner’s strong leadership skills, his long-standing industry relationships and his “extensive experience spearheading substantive programs and initiatives” as motivation for bringing him on to direct the century-old show.
“We are thrilled that Matthew is joining JA New York as show director,” said Emerald Executive Vice President Gannon Brousseau.
“This industry is fueled by relationships, and Matthew has meaningful connections that extend throughout all facets of the jewelry industry ecosystem. His enthusiasm, coupled with his knowledge and experience, will truly be an asset to our events and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.”
Tratner succeeds longtime JA New York Group Show Director Drew Lawsky, who retired after a 29-year tenure with the show.
Prior to joining JA New York, Tratner was vice president of business development and marketing for GCAL by Sarine, a role he assumed after being part of the team that brokered the GCAL/Sarine partnership as vice president and general manager of Sarine North America.
Before his time at Sarine, Tratner was director of global business development at the Gemological Institute of America, where he created and implemented sales and marketing strategies for new and existing services like the Diamond Origin Program and the Lab-Grown Diamond Report.
Preceding that, he served as director of membership and sales for trade association and former owner of JA New York, Jewelers of America. He oversaw operations, increased annual revenue year-over-year, and grew supplier-side membership by 15 percent.
Tratner also served as publisher of National Jeweler following its acquisition by JA in 2015.
He officially will start his role as group show director Oct. 23, a week before the JA New York Fall Show, slated for Oct. 29-31 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
JA New York’s spring show, which relaunched last year after a break since 2019, is scheduled for March 10-12, 2024.
The organization announced last year it has nixed its summer show.
“I’m very excited to join JA New York as group show director,” said Tratner.
“Based on location and longevity alone, JA New York shows are uniquely positioned to be destination events for our industry. I look forward to leveraging my relationships, strengthening existing partnerships and working closely with the shows’ dedicated team to ensure that JA New York is a relied-upon resource serving the nuanced needs of this incredible industry.”
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
Policies & IssuesApr 28, 2026
Tariff Refunds: How to File, What to Expect Importers can submit claims now to receive money back for the IEEPA tariffs they’ve paid, with refunds expected to take up to 90 days.
IndependentsApr 28, 2026
This North Carolina Jeweler Is Passing the TorchThe owners of Gregory Jewelers in Morganton, North Carolina, are heading into retirement.
SourcingApr 28, 2026
Doug Hucker Retires From ICAThe colored gemstone industry leader is heading into retirement after four years as the association’s CEO.
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.
SourcingApr 28, 2026
NDC Hires Tapestry Exec to Head Global Marketing Susie Dewey joins the Natural Diamond Council as its new chief marketing officer.
Weekly QuizApr 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsApr 27, 2026
12 Years Later, the ‘Ocean Dream’ Diamond Resurfaces at Christie’sThe largest known fancy vivid blue-green diamond could fetch more than $12 million at its second auction appearance.
ColumnistsApr 27, 2026
Stop Treating Mother’s Day Like an AfterthoughtEmmanuel Raheb says jewelers need to start marketing early and make it easy for customers to pick a gift for mom.
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
IndependentsApr 27, 2026
Longnecker Jewelry Celebrates 30 YearsIn honor of the milestone, the Nebraska jeweler has debuted Leslie & Co., its new in-house jewelry brand.
MajorsApr 27, 2026
JBT Re-Elects Jeff Corey as Board ChairThe trade organization, which held its annual elections earlier this year, also added five new board members.
SurveysApr 24, 2026
Mother’s Day 2026 Jewelry Spending to Top $7B, NRF SaysNRF’s annual survey found that 45 percent of consumers plan to purchase jewelry for a loved one this Mother’s Day.
TechnologyApr 24, 2026
TwentyFour’s Digital-Age Locket Is a Virtual VaultThe “Vault” charm, our Piece of the Week, expands on the memories that can be stored in a locket by connecting to your phone.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Meet the Real Moms of Day’s JewelersThe jeweler’s Mother’s Day campaign highlights the women who work there—mothers, grandmothers, women who want to be mothers, and dog moms.
Supplier BulletinApr 23, 2026
JM® Shipping Solution: Smarter Shipping for High-Value GoodsSponsored by Jewelers Mutual
Lab-GrownApr 23, 2026
Charles & Colvard May Sell Assets for $1.5MThe proposed agreement follows the moissanite maker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing last month.
AuctionsApr 23, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Fetches $1MThe Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece Astor brought aboard the ill-fated ship sold for double its estimate at a Freeman’s auction.
CollectionsApr 23, 2026
Adam Neeley’s High Jewelry Collection Steps Into Salvador Dalí’s GardenThe “Dalí’s Garden” collection was inspired by a surreal dream Neeley had after cooking a recipe from Salvador Dalí’s 1973 cookbook.
IndependentsApr 23, 2026
Windsor Jewelers Names New Buying DirectorNatalie Feanny has been appointed to the role.
CrimeApr 22, 2026
New Mexico Couple Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Native American JewelryThe pair falsely claimed their jewelry was made by Navajo artists, but it was imported from Vietnam.
AuctionsApr 22, 2026
Roberta Flack’s Jewelry Is Going Up for AuctionJulien’s Auctions is selling the musician’s fine and fashion jewelry alongside her clothing, gold records, and other memorabilia.
CollectionsApr 22, 2026
British Museum Curator Pens Book on ‘The Tudor Heart’Rachel King’s book dives into the history of the pendant believed to have belonged to Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.
WatchesApr 21, 2026
Coco Chanel Enters the Game with New Watch CollectionGabrielle “Coco” Chanel is a character in the “Coco Game” collection of watches and the queen in its first haute horlogerie chessboard.
IndependentsApr 21, 2026
Meet Jewelers of America’s 2026 ‘20 Under 40’ ClassThe annual list honors rising professionals on the retail and supply sides of the jewelry industry.
CrimeApr 21, 2026
Customs Nabs 1,500 Pieces of Counterfeit Jewelry Bound for NYCSeized in Kentucky, the packages include fake Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Chanel, and Fendi jewelry.
CrimeApr 20, 2026
Queens Man Convicted in Bludgeoning Death of Pawn Shop OwnerRodolfo Lopez-Portillo faces 25 years to life in prison after being found guilty in the March 2022 beating death of Arasb Shoughi.
TrendsApr 20, 2026
Beth Bernstein, Sonia Esther Soltani Pen New Jewelry Book“Jewelry Creators: Dynamic Duos and Generational Gems” highlights the relationships among 22 influential designers, brands, and gem dealers.
Events & AwardsApr 20, 2026
Atlanta Jewelry Show’s Spring Event Is Hitting the RoadThe AJS Spring 2027 show will be held in Savannah, Georgia, with future shows taking place in other Southeast cities.
