Events & Awards

8 Things to Know About JCK Las Vegas 2018

Events & AwardsMay 22, 2018

8 Things to Know About JCK Las Vegas 2018

The jewelry trade show will include discussions on blockchain and lab-grown diamonds plus two presentations from a big industry CEO and magic in the mountains.

20180522_Las_Vegas_strip.jpg
The 2018 edition of the JCK Las Vegas jewelry trade show kicks off Friday, June 1 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Las Vegas--It always seems a bit unbelievable that it’s time for Vegas again and yet here we are, a little more than a week away from the annual slate of jewelry events in the desert.

JCK Las Vegas is slated to start Friday, June 1 and run through Monday, June 4.

Read on for a list of events scheduled to take place at and around the jewelry trade show.

1. Signet’s new CEO is set to speak.

Signet Jewelers named Gina Drosos its new CEO in July 2017. She succeeded Mark Light to become the jewelry store chain’s first female CEO.

Though she has been on the Signet board since 2012, 2018 will mark her first Las Vegas as Signet’s CEO, and she’s set to make two presentations. 

On Thursday, May 31, the day before JCK Las Vegas opens, Drosos will be one of the speakers at a panel on responsible sourcing. The talk, “Responsible Sourcing and the New Realities,” is set to begin at 4 p.m., with a Q&A session (moderated by this author) including all speakers slated to start around 5:30 p.m.

On June 1, Drosos is slated to be the keynote speaker at JCK/JCK magazine’s first Industry Trends Breakfast in the South Seas Ballroom on level 3 of Mandalay Bay.

The breakfast is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. with networking, followed by the presentation of the Jewelers’ Choice Awards and a look at the first JCK Consumer Trend Report, with Drosos’ keynote presentation following.

Those who wish to attend are asked to email Jill Giambrone at jgiambrone@reedjewelrygroup.com.


Calum Scott
2. A chart-topping singer is coming to Vegas for the JFC event.

Jewelers for Children’s annual Facets of Hope dinner is scheduled to take place Sunday, June 3 at Mandalay Bay.

At the after-party, singer Calum Scott, whose cover of Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, will perform a three-song set sponsored by Bulova.

The English-born singer, who made his breakthrough on “Britain’s Got Talent,” has a relationship with Bulova through the watch brand’s “Tune of Time” project, which shows the creative journeys of emerging artists through series of short videos.

All those attending Facets of Hope are welcome at the after-party. Those who just want to attend the after-party can buy a ticket via JFC for $150.

3. There are two panels on man-made diamonds.

Back in

February, National Jeweler reported that JCK Las Vegas was giving lab-grown diamonds their own section at the jewelry trade show this year. It is located on Bayside, level 1, neighboring bridge jewelry, the Design Center, the  JSA Security Pavilion and the new estate jewelry and watch section.

In addition, there are two seminars on man-made diamonds scheduled to take place, both of which are intended to be educational—not to sway jewelers one way or another on the stones—and are led by attorney Tiffany Stevens, who is the President and CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.

The first session, “Laboratory-Grown Diamonds: The Legal Dos and Don’ts,” is scheduled to take place Thursday, May 31 from 3 to 3:45 p.m. in Tradewinds C/D on the pool level.

Stevens will discuss jewelers’ responsibilities when it comes to advertising in print and online, how to ensure suppliers are providing proper disclosure, machine testing options and how to talk to customers about man-made diamonds.

The second session on lab-grown diamonds will cover the same ground and is scheduled for Friday, June 1 from 12:15 to 1 p.m. at The Showcase Stage, Bayside on level 1.


The icon for the “Lab-Grown” section of the JCK Las Vegas jewelry trade show, which will house about 30 exhibitors mostly selling loose man-made diamonds. The section will be located on Bayside, Level 1.

4. Rocks the Bowl is returning to Brooklyn Bowl.

Gone are the heady, wave-poolside days of Bruno Mars and Maroon 5.

For the second year in a row, there will be no rockin’ by the beach at Mandalay Bay. Instead, JCK show organizers are heading back to Brooklyn Bowl for the end-of-the-show party. Tickets are required for admission and guests must be 21 and over to enter.

JCK Rocks the Bowl is scheduled for 8 p.m. to midnight on Sunday, June 3. For more information, visit JCKOnline.com.

5. There’s also a session on blockchain.

De Beers, Gübelin Gem Lab and a group of Berkshire Hathaway-owned jewelry companies are all working to track products using blockchain.

But, what is it, how does it work, and why it important to the future of the jewelry industry?

On Friday, June 1, writer and diamond industry expert Edahn Golan will lead a panel discussion dissecting blockchain and featuring Alrosa Head of International Relations Peter Karakchiev; Venus Jewel’s Managing Director Mahair Borhanjoo; Adriaan Olivier, Signet Jewelers’ senior vice president of strategic diamond sourcing; De Beers’ Tom Montgomery, senior vice president of strategic initiatives; and Deepak Gopalakrishna, director of Global Blockchain Projects for BCG Digital Ventures.

The blockchain discussion is scheduled to take place from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. in Tradewinds C/D on the pool level.


Seven Magic Mountains, a large-scale desert art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, opened in May 2016 for a two-year run that has since been extended.

6. There’s still magic in the mountains.

For those overcome with excitement by all the talk of lab-grown diamonds, blockchain and responsible sourcing, there is still a chance to make a special desert escape.

Seven Magic Mountains is an installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone that is located in the desert just south of Las Vegas off I-15. The large-scale artwork consists of seven totems of brightly colored boulders stacked more than 30 feet high to “exhibit the presence of color and expression in the desert of the Ivanpah Valley.”

Installed two years ago, the Art Production Fund- and Nevada Art-backed project was originally supposed to be taken down this month but has been extended to run through the end of 2018.

The exhibition is free and open to the public. Learn more about it at SevenMagicMountains.com.

If you haven’t seen it yet, take advantage of the extension—it’s not to miss.

For those who prefer an experience with some air conditioning, there’s a museum dedicated to neon within Vegas city limits.

The aptly named Neon Museum is located at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. North in downtown Las Vegas and houses more than 150 classic neon signs dating from the 1930s to present day.  

Tickets start at $19 for adults and $15 for students, seniors, veterans and Nevada residents. Book in advance on NeonMuseum.org.

7. Rapaport talks buying diamonds.

Martin Rapaport’s annual breakfast monologue is scheduled to take place Sunday, June 3 from 8 to 10 a.m. in the South Seas Ballroom on level 3 of Mandalay Bay.

This year’s presentation will be “State of the Diamond Industry—The Buy Side,” focusing on sourcing diamonds and buying better.

It is free and open to all who register. For more information, visit the JCK Las Vegas show website.

To register, go to Rapaport’s website, Diamonds.net.

8. This is (presumably) the last year for Mandalay Bay.

In 2019, the JCK show will return to its long-time home at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, which was just renovated. Coming along with it will be JIS Exchange, which will be held at Mandalay Bay this year after two years at the Flamingo.

In other jewelry trade show news, the trade-only antique jewelry show organized by Emerald Expositions (the company that also owns Couture and the JA New York shows) is staying at the Las Vegas Convention Center after relocating there from the Paris Las Vegas in 2017.

The American Gem Trade Association, which currently holds its Las Vegas GemFair on the lower level of Mandalay Bay with JCK, will move to the convention center with the antique jewelry trade show in 2019.
Michelle Graffis the editor-in-chief at National Jeweler, directing the publication’s coverage both online and in print.

The Latest

GIA iD100® Technology
Supplier BulletinJul 03, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your Business

Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America

Madison Keys in Brilliant Earth campaign
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Brilliant Earth Names Tennis Star Madison Keys as Its New Ambassador

The 2025 Australian Open champion is the jewelry brand’s first athlete ambassador.

Muse Nordstrom shop-in-shop
MajorsJul 03, 2025
Muse Sets Up Shop in Nordstrom’s New Jewelry Hall

The West Village jewelry boutique’s new shop-in-shop is the cornerstone of Nordstrom’s revamped jewelry hall.

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

Shree Ramkrishna Exports
SourcingJul 03, 2025
SRK Announces Its Natural Diamonds Are Now Carbon-Negative

This past year, the manufacturer said it recorded below-zero emissions per carat of natural diamond.

Weekly QuizJul 02, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Yeprem Golden Strada Statement Necklace
CollectionsJul 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Firework of Diamonds From Yeprem

The brand’s “Golden Strada” statement necklace features round, marquise, and pear diamonds that sparkle like Fourth of July fireworks.

Stock image of police cars with their lights on
CrimeJul 03, 2025
JSA Shares Holiday Weekend Security Tips Amid Spike in Burglaries

JSA’s Scott Guginsky provided a list of nine security measures jewelers should observe while locking up for the long weekend.

Jewelers of America logo with meetup, State of the Majors, giveaway and massages
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America is Headed to Las Vegas for JCK 2025

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Exterior and entryway of Boucheron’s Los Angeles Flagship
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Boucheron Looks to LA for First West Coast Flagship

Located on Rodeo Drive, the store’s design was inspired by Hollywood and Los Angeles culture.

Exterior of Marco Bicego Milan Flagship
MajorsJul 02, 2025
Marco Bicego Opens Milan Flagship

The new location continues the brand’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.

Chrono24 Time Is Our Thing campaign image
WatchesJul 02, 2025
Chrono24 Revamps Brand, Launches New Campaign

The online watch marketplace’s “Time Is Our Thing” campaign highlights the importance of time.

Bernadette Mack
SourcingJul 02, 2025
Bernadette Mack Joins Gem Legacy as Executive Director

She will oversee strategic planning, fundraising, industry partnerships, and the launch of the Gem Legacy Campus in Tanzania.

Counterfeit Pandora jewelry in bags and boxes
CrimeJul 02, 2025
Pandora, Amazon Partner to Uncover Counterfeit Jewelry Network

Working with Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit and law enforcement, Pandora helped to shut down a large-scale counterfeit network in China.

Cast Issa Rae
MajorsJul 01, 2025
Cast Closes Business, Plans for Relaunch

The jewelry company has closed its three California brick-and-mortar stores, as well as its online shop, for now.

Elie Hannoush
IndependentsJul 01, 2025
Elie Hannoush, Founder of Hannoush Jewelers, Dies at 73

He is remembered for his successful entrepreneurship, generosity, and dedication to his family.

Claire’s store
MajorsJul 01, 2025
Claire’s Is Looking for a Buyer, Report Says

The jewelry store chain has reportedly been struggling with costs related to tariffs as well as tough retail competition.

Mindi Mond Spike Earrings
TrendsJul 01, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Red Hot Rubies

Welcome warm summer days with red hot rubies perfectly chosen as July’s birthstone.

The Story of Everything Campaign, Toadstool Mushroom and Cosmic Egg
CollectionsJun 30, 2025
State Property’s New Jewelry Tells ‘The Story of Everything’

Co-founders Afzal Imram and Lin Ruiyin brought their son’s story of a cosmic egg, toadstool, and railroad to life in their new collection.

Smart Age Solutions CEO Emmanuel Raheb
ColumnistsJun 30, 2025
The Smart Lab: Why Q3 Is the Secret Weapon For Holiday Jewelry Sales

The best time to prepare for the holiday season is right now, according to columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

The Jewelry Book
IndependentsJun 30, 2025
Melanie Grant’s New Book Explores 200 Years of Jewelry

“The Jewelry Book” comes out this September.

Gemist
TechnologyJun 27, 2025
Gemist Raises $6M in Funding to Scale Jewelry Tech Platform

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Jeff Preolo, David Stout, Levi Higgs, David Benavides
IndependentsJun 27, 2025
David Webb Announces New Hires, Promotions

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

Blake Graham and Jessica Kohoutek
Events & AwardsJun 27, 2025
AGS, GIA Announce Beatrice Shipley Scholarship Winner

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

Buddha Mama Monstera Ring
CollectionsJun 27, 2025
Piece of the Week: Buddha Mama’s ‘Monstera’ Wrap Ring

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.

Cashier handing Rocksbox bag to customer
MajorsJun 26, 2025
Why Rocksbox Is Opening Stores As Signet Jewelers Downsizes

Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

Penny Ruston
IndependentsJun 26, 2025
Penny Ruston Dies at 80

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

Stock image of woman shopping
SurveysJun 26, 2025
After Recovering in May, Consumer Confidence Dips in June

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.

×

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