Events & AwardsMay 05, 2026
JIS Launches Brand Exposure ProgramEvents & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York Show
The deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
A photo from the spring 2024 edition of the JA New York show. The jewelry trade show, now owned by Instore, is held twice a year at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. (Photo credit: Lucas Botz Photography)
Montclair, N.J.—Instore announced this week that it has acquired the JA New York show from Emerald Holding Inc., the company that owns the Couture show, among others.
The deal, which combines a well-known jewelry trade publication with a jewelry trade show that’s been around for more than a century, closed Tuesday.
The purchase price was not disclosed.
JA New York produces two shows a year at the Javits Center in New York City: a fall edition in October and a spring show in March.
In an interview with National Jeweler, SmartWork Media CEO and Instore Publisher Matthijs Braakman said Instore plans to keep both and wants to emphasize what makes each show unique.
“There’s a clear difference between the two shows,” he said.
“The spring show is focused a lot on new designs and new ideas, the early spring introduction of new lines. Fall has always been focused on special delivery, on restocking for fourth-quarter sales.”
JA New York also had a summer show that, for years, took place in July, but pulled the plug after the 2022 edition.
Braakman said there are no plans to revive JA New York summer.
“The summer show defined JA for years. That was the show but then obviously things changed ... JCK [Las Vegas] exists in the summer and the JA NY Summer show kind of lost its momentum.”
He also said that in light of the JA New York acquisition, Instore will no longer produce its own show.
Instore operated the Smart Jewelry Show until 2016, then “took a pause” from producing trade shows until the creation of The Instore Show, which launched in August 2023, Braakman said.
The last Instore Show was held in October 2025.
Braakman said plans were underway to have another show in 2026, but then the company began having more “active conversations” with Emerald about acquiring JA New York.
“When it was clear we were going to be able to come to an agreement, we decided to move away from producing an Instore show in Chicago,” he said.
As part of the acquisition, Tobi Smith, who has been with JA New York for 33 years, will join the Instore team as the show’s account executive.
“My love of the jewelry industry began on 47th Street, and it only deepened when I joined this wonderful event. Thirty-three years later, I could not be more thrilled, or more eager, to work alongside this incredible team,” Smith said in the announcement about the acquisition.
“Instore truly understands this crazy, beautiful business. They bring not only expertise, but genuine compassion for the people and businesses they serve. Our goal is success for everyone, achieved together, and we intend to have a great deal of fun getting there.”
Related stories will be right here …
The deal, which combines a well-known jewelry trade publication with a jewelry trade show that’s been around for more than a century, closed Tuesday.
The purchase price was not disclosed.
JA New York produces two shows a year at the Javits Center in New York City: a fall edition in October and a spring show in March.
In an interview with National Jeweler, SmartWork Media CEO and Instore Publisher Matthijs Braakman said Instore plans to keep both and wants to emphasize what makes each show unique.
“There’s a clear difference between the two shows,” he said.
“The spring show is focused a lot on new designs and new ideas, the early spring introduction of new lines. Fall has always been focused on special delivery, on restocking for fourth-quarter sales.”
JA New York also had a summer show that, for years, took place in July, but pulled the plug after the 2022 edition.
Braakman said there are no plans to revive JA New York summer.
“The summer show defined JA for years. That was the show but then obviously things changed ... JCK [Las Vegas] exists in the summer and the JA NY Summer show kind of lost its momentum.”
He also said that in light of the JA New York acquisition, Instore will no longer produce its own show.
Instore operated the Smart Jewelry Show until 2016, then “took a pause” from producing trade shows until the creation of The Instore Show, which launched in August 2023, Braakman said.
The last Instore Show was held in October 2025.
Braakman said plans were underway to have another show in 2026, but then the company began having more “active conversations” with Emerald about acquiring JA New York.
“When it was clear we were going to be able to come to an agreement, we decided to move away from producing an Instore show in Chicago,” he said.
As part of the acquisition, Tobi Smith, who has been with JA New York for 33 years, will join the Instore team as the show’s account executive.
“My love of the jewelry industry began on 47th Street, and it only deepened when I joined this wonderful event. Thirty-three years later, I could not be more thrilled, or more eager, to work alongside this incredible team,” Smith said in the announcement about the acquisition.
“Instore truly understands this crazy, beautiful business. They bring not only expertise, but genuine compassion for the people and businesses they serve. Our goal is success for everyone, achieved together, and we intend to have a great deal of fun getting there.”
The announcement that Emerald has offloaded JA New York comes on the heels of news that the trade show company is slated to have a new owner.
Earlier this month, private equity firm Apollo announced that Apollo Funds has agreed to acquire Emerald and another operator of business-to-business trade shows, Questex LLC.
The all-cash transaction values Emerald at approximately $1.5 billion and means the company, which is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol EEX, will go private.
Emerald’s portfolio includes Couture in Las Vegas, the new Couture show in Coconut Grove, Florida, and the antique jewelry shows that take place in Las Vegas and Miami.
The company also used to produce NY Now, the gift, home, lifestyle, and accessories show that included fine jewelry, but sold NY Now to a company called Rockview Management Group in April.
Emerald is owned by Toronto-based private equity firm Onex Corp.
Onex bought Nielsen Expositions—the trade show arm of Nielsen, the TV ratings company—in 2013 for $950 million in cash consideration and created a new company, then called Emerald Expositions.
Questex produces shows in the healthcare, entertainment, real estate, hospitality, food and beverage, and travel industries, among others.
Apollo plans to merge Emerald and Questex to create “a leading North American B2B experiential events and media platform” that produces about 160 events across a variety of markets.
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026 and is subject to regulatory approvals.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
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.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Hancocks London Acquires Historic ‘Inchiquin’ EmeraldThe jewel, circa 1890, is from the late Victorian era and was owned by descendants of the last high king of Ireland.
Events & AwardsMay 18, 2026
Here Are the 2026 JCK Industry Fund Grant Recipients This is what the nine recipients plan to do with the funds.
AuctionsMay 15, 2026
American Collector Ponies Up Almost $17K for John Wayne’s RingThe Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2026
JA, MJSA To Sponsor Roundtable at TJSThe discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.
SourcingMay 15, 2026
State of Diamonds: The Way Forward for Natural DiamondsThe jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
White Diamonds Lead Sotheby’s Auction, Blue Diamond Does Not SellA matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.
Supplier BulletinMay 14, 2026
A Diamond Is Forever Continues Desert Diamonds – Bridal ReinvigoratedSponsored by A Diamond Is Forever
SourcingMay 14, 2026
State of Colored Stones: The Spirit of Young American Gemstone CuttersThe next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.
AuctionsMay 14, 2026
‘Ocean Dream’ Makes Waves at Christie’s, Fetching $17MIt was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.
CrimeMay 14, 2026
Second Man Arrested in Florida Pawn Shop Shooting Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.
