As JCK Talks Returns, Don’t Miss These 12 Sessions

Las Vegas—The JCK Las Vegas show officially opens this week with a series of events and education sessions lined up to complement the show floor experience.

JCK Las Vegas 2025 is scheduled for June 6 to 9, with select areas of the show floor opening on June 5, including the JCK Talks education sessions.

On Thursday, the 101 Sessions will kick off the education series, held in the Venetian Room 101 on Level 1.

After Thursday, the sessions will move to the Showcase Stage and Social Stage on Level 2 for the remainder of the show.

On Sunday, the highlight is sustainability. The Social Stage will turn into the Sustainability Stage, located on Level 2 next to the Showcase Stage.

It will feature discussions on ethical sourcing, eco-friendly production practices, and innovation in sustainability.

Below are a dozen can’t-miss JCK Talks sessions for attendees to add to this year’s schedule.

Thursday, June 5

The first session of the show will be “How to JCK... From the Experts!,” from 11 to 11:45 a.m. in room 101.

Monalisa DePina, retail account manager at RX, and Jennifer Hopf, event manager at RX Global/JCK, will lead a session on how attendees can make the most of their time at JCK.

Topics will include how to navigate the show floor, how to take advantage of resources, and insider tips. There will also be a live Q&A session with the JCK Team.

In the afternoon, industry experts will host “Safeguarding Your Business: Crime Prevention in 2025” from 2 to 2:45 p.m. in room 101.

Speakers include Scott Guginsky, executive vice president of the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, Howard Stone of Jewelers Mutual, and Rob Bates, news director at JCK, with Andrew Chipman, vice president of Jewelers Block, Berkley Asset Protection.

The session will dive into the latest threats facing jewelers, prevention strategies, security measures, and best practices.

Friday, June 6

On Friday morning, industry experts will host “State of the Diamond Industry,” which serves as a current overview of the diamond business.

It will be held at the Showcase Stage from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

The speakers are Richard Pesqueira, vice president of retail for Blue Nile, Eyal Axelrod, founder and CEO of Lexa International Consulting, and Edahn Golan, CEO of Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data along with Moshe Klein, CEO of Grandview Klein Diamonds.

The discussion will include opportunities, challenges, market trends, and the future of the diamond market.

Next up on the Showcase Stage will be “Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: Sanctions, Tariffs and AML Compliance in 2025” from 11 to 11:45 a.m.

Sara Yood, president, CEO, and general counsel at the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, will lead a discussion alongside Howard Mendelsohn, president of global business development and engagement at Kharon and Shane St Hill, chief legal and compliance officer at Studs.

The trio will discuss sanctions, tariffs, trade laws, and anti-money laundering compliance, as well as key regulatory updates, enforcement trends, and best practices to keep a business compliant.

The following session on the Showcase Stage will be “Fashion & Wedding Trends for Each Generation in 2025 and Beyond” from noon to 12:45 p.m.

The panelists include Natalie Francisco, associate editor, fashion, at National Jeweler, Amanda Gizzi, director of PR and events at Jewelers of America, Jessica Richards, trend forecaster and the founder of 12th house, Nikia Levesque-Meyer, vice president of marketing at Day's Jewelers, and Constance Polamalu, chief operating officer at Zachary’s Jewelers and founder and owner of Bloomstone Jewelers.

The speakers will discuss the fashion and wedding trends in jewelry that are influencing each generation.

The following Showcase Stage session is “Inclusive Selling to Different Generations,” held from 1 to 1:45 p.m.

The panelists are Amina Sorel, CEO and founder of Maison Sorel, Anna Samsonova, owner of Samsonova Consulting, Emily Phillippy, owner of Emily Chelsea Jewelry, Harris Botnick, president of Worthmore Jewelers, and Valerie Madison, owner and creative director of Valerie Madison Fine Jewelry.

The speakers will share their strategies for connecting with customers from all generations, including their sales approaches, communication styles, store environments, and digital touchpoints.

Saturday, June 7

Saturday’s first session will be the JCK Keynote featuring speaker and “Shark Tank” star Daymond John.

“Daymond John's 5 Shark Points for Success” will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the San Polo Ballroom on Level 3. The doors will open at 7:30 a.m.

John will share his top tips for success, including how to build an impactful brand, scale business growth, and develop the right mindset.

First up on the Showcase Stage that day will be “State of the Lab-Grown Diamond Market” from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

Panelists include Arly Tse, chief operating officer at Glory Jewelry Inc., Edahn Golan, and Constance Polamalu.

Discussion topics will include current market trends, price dynamics, consumer perceptions, and technological advancements.

Panelists will also cover how to sell lab-grown diamonds alongside natural stones, how to answer customer questions, and how to develop a marketing strategy that aligns with shifting consumer values and preferences.

Sunday, June 8

First up on the Showcase Stage on Sunday morning will be “State of the Colored Stone Market” from 10 to 10:45 a.m.

The session will be led by Brecken Branstrator, editor-in-chief of Gemworld International’s GemGuide publication. Panelists include Michael Richards, president of Underwood Jewelers, Shekhar Shah, chief operating officer at Real Gems Inc., Jeremy Chalchinsky, vice president of sales at Color Source Gems, and Bruce Bridges, president of the American Gem Trade Association.

The colored gemstone experts will dive into supply chain shifts, changing consumer preferences, market trends, sourcing challenges, and opportunities in the sector.

One of Sunday’s highlighted sustainability-focused sessions is “Ethical Sourcing in the Jewelry Industry: Progress, Partnership, and Purpose” on the Sustainability Stage (formerly the Social Stage) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Speakers include Katherine Weymouth, director of SCS Global Services, Allison Charalambous, vice president of responsible sourcing and sustainability at Brilliant Earth, Andrea Jose Castro, founder and CEO, Andrea Jose/Jarapay, Brandee Dallow, chief communications and sustainability officer at Grandview Klein Diamonds, sustainability leader Cristina Villegas, and Laura Galvis, head of responsible markets at the Alliance for Responsible Mining.

The panelists will discuss ethical sourcing in the jewelry supply chain from mine to market, spotlighting important partnerships, certification programs, and community-driven solutions.

In the afternoon, “Trends from the Show Floor” will take over the Showcase Stage from noon to 12:45 p.m.

The speakers are Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK magazine, and Melissa Bernardo, managing editor of JCK magazine.

The pair will discuss the top trends shaping the jewelry industry, as seen on the JCK show floor, and how these trends can influence retailers’ buying and merchandising strategies.

Next up on the Showcase stage is “Unlocking the Sales Opportunities in the New & Pre-Owned Watch Markets” from 1 to 1:45 p.m.

Panelists include Victoria Gomelsky, Elizabeth Smith, managing director at Oliver Smith Jeweler, and Max Orloff of Orloff Jewelers.

The watch-focused panel will discuss how retailers can find success in the new and pre-owned watch segments. Topics will include consumer demand, authentication best practices, and how to price high-value timepieces.

View the full JCK Talks schedule here.