Events & Awards

March Trade Shows Report Mixed Results

Events & AwardsMar 28, 2016

March Trade Shows Report Mixed Results

JA New York and MJSA Expo reported increases in attendance for their recently held shows at the Javits Center while Baselworld saw a slight drop in the number of attendees.

20160328_JA-NY-Article.jpg
JA New York show organizers said that attendance was up at this year’s spring show due to the co-location with MJSA Expo and the Lueur Antique show as well as a successful hosted buyer program and new March dates.

New York--The month of March contained a flurry of activity for the trade, with three shows taking place in New York while the Baselworld show brought eight days of buying activity to Switzerland.

At the Javits Center in New York, the JA New York Spring show co-located for the first time with MJSA Expo and the Lueur antique show.

MJSA reported a 25 percent year-over-year increase in attendance. It said two factors were responsible for the rise--moving from its longtime home at the Hilton New York to the Javits Center as well as running concurrently with JA New York Spring.

“The first day, none of us (working the booth) had lunch, and it’s not very often that happens,” the association quoted Shawn Albert of Stuller as saying in its post-show release. “This year we wrote 60 percent more business.”

In addition to featuring leading vendors and manufacturers, the 2016 MJSA Expo also included a range of seminars covering everything from traditional skills to the future of manufacturing.

JA New York show organizers also reported an increase in attendance, boosted by the co-location with the other shows as well as a successful hosted buyer program and new March dates.

The hosted and VIP buyer program included hotel accommodations, transportation to and from the Javits Center, breakfast and lunch, and other amenities throughout the show.

In Switzerland, meanwhile, Baselworld show organizers said attendance was down 3 percent year-over-year as the 100th edition of the show was affected by a number of factors including a tougher economic environment than the previous year.

This is the third year in a row that the Swiss watch and jewelry show has seen attendance slip.

Show organizers also said that many people cancelled trips to Europe following the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, which impacted end-of-year sales for many watch and jewelry brands.

The situation also was “compounded” by certain modifications for visa regulations, affecting all sectors of the industry, as well as the fact that inventory acquired during the holiday season was only partially sold, leading to a tough start to the year.

Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

The Latest

Stock image of a gavel
CrimeNov 12, 2026
1 of 7 Men Charged in $100M Brinks Heist to Plead Guilty

Three of the other alleged perpetrators will stand trial next March, while two remain on the lam and one was deported late last year.

Bulgari Pink diamond
AuctionsNov 12, 2026
24-Carat ‘Bulgari Pink’ Diamond Sells for $14.8M

Unseen for more than seven decades, the fancy intense pink diamond was the star of Christie’s Geneva jewelry auction.

Zadok Jewelers Rolex showroom in Austin Texas
WatchesNov 12, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Now Offers Certified Pre-Owned Rolex Watches

The curated selection is available online and at its showroom in Austin, Texas.

dsf antique jewelry ceylon intaglio sapphire .jpg
Brought to you by
DSF Antique Jewelry: Fine Jewelry, Signed Designers, and a World of Rare Discoveries

With over 50 years experience in the trade, DSF Antique Jewelry offers quality, craftsmanship, condition, and remarkable variety.

Greenberg’s Jewelers family group photo
IndependentsNov 12, 2026
Greenberg’s Jewelers Welcomes New Fourth-Generation Members

The next generation understands what makes the 126-year-old retailer special, said CEO and Co-President Elise Greenberg.

Weekly QuizNov 05, 2026
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
GIA pink CVD diamond
Lab-GrownNov 10, 2026
GIA Examines Pink Lab-Grown Diamond Made to Look Natural

The 6-carat CVD-grown pink diamond was “deliberately modified” to mimic the appearance of a natural rough diamond, the lab said.

Screenshot of Botswana President Duma Boko during 2026 State of Nation address
SourcingNov 10, 2026
Botswana in Line to Take Controlling Stake in De Beers, President Says

If the Global Diamond Consortium emerges as the top bidder for De Beers, Botswana’s stake will double to 30 percent, Duma Boko said Monday.

overnight btyb 1026.png
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to Sell

With customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.

Emmanuel Raheb, CEO of Smart Age Solutions
ColumnistsNov 10, 2026
Who Checks the Facts When AI Writes Your Jewelry Copy?

An incorrect AI-generated ad or product description can cost your store valuable consumer trust.

Stock image of crime scene tape
CrimeNov 09, 2026
Jeweler Pistol-Whipped, $900K in Jewelry Stolen During Home Invasion

The incident, which happened in Miami-Dade County, serves as a reminder to jewelers of the dangers of selling and storing jewelry at home.

Tourmaline inclusion in muscovite mica
GradingNov 09, 2026
GIA Acquires Thousands of Gem Specimens With ‘Extraordinary’ Inclusions

GIA Analytical Microscopist John Koivula curated the collection of 2,665 crystals, gems, and minerals over a 60-year span.

 Bibi van der Velden Eclipse Campaign Imagery
CollectionsNov 09, 2026
Bibi van der Velden’s Alligators Become High Jewelry

The “Eclipse” collection, the brand’s first high jewelry line, centers its alligator motif in diamond and spinel jewels.

Daughters of the Deep indicolite earrings
EditorsNov 06, 2026
The Spectrum Pieces I Can’t Stop Thinking About

From a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.

Pat Pruitt Dragonfly Earrings
TrendsNov 06, 2026
Pat Pruitt’s DragonFly Earrings Take Flight on Election Night

Groundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.

Colin Jost in Kay Jewelers holiday ad
MajorsNov 06, 2026
SNL’s Colin Jost Finds the Perfect Gift in Kay Jewelers’ Holiday Ad

Jost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.

GCAL 8X_NJSB_1.jpg
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the Counter

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine

Wrapped holiday gift boxes
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This Year

From shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.

Little Pet Portrait Pendants by Russell Jones & Judi Powers
CollectionsNov 05, 2026
Judi Powers, Russell Jones Unleash Joy With New Collaboration

The designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.

Brilliant Earth Elizabeth Taylor jewelry
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3

Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.

Swarovski Joy: The Swarovski Musical Campaign with Ariana Grande
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign

“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.

GIA logo
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday Services

The lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.

Cartier bracelet and ring
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia Airport

A Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.

Pandora celestial chandelier earrings
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on Design

New collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.

Lanessa Elrod
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New President

Lanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.

Replica of Infinity Gauntlet
AuctionsNov 03, 2026
Infinity Gauntlet Set With 170+ Carats of Colored Gemstones Up for Auction

A replica of one of the most powerful objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the glove is heading to auction next month in Abu Dhabi.

Arthur Klein
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89

Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.

Zadok Jewelers
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet Giveaway

To enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.

×

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