Referred to as the “Super Bowl” of the jewelry industry, JCK continues to set the tone, trends and mood for the jewelry industry for the coming year.
30,000 industry professionals from all aspects of the jewellery industry attended JCK and Luxury. A week of product sourcing, education and networking.
The industry continued to gather under one roof with 17,300 participants and more than 1,900 exhibitors. More than 20 different locations at The Venetian and The Venetian Expo for JCK from May 31 to June 3. The AGTA and GEMS, Hong Kong and JCK Talks pavilions opened a day early on May 30. Luxury welcomed retailers from May 29 - June 3. It was open exclusively for invited retailers on May 29 and 30.
“This year's JCK was another exhibition that exceeded all expectations.” Says Sarin Bachmann, vice president of the RX Group, head of events at JCK.
“Even in times of uncertainty in the jewellery industry, JCK proves once again to be the place where the entire industry gathers to source products, introduce new technologies and strategies, learn, discuss, network and place orders for the rest of the sales period. There was a noticeable change in the energy of the industry once they arrived at JCK and Luxury. The excitement on the show floor prevailed and left the industry on a very positive note.”.
A key feature of this year's exhibition is to make it a safe and secure place to do business. Raising the bar again, JCK added additional certification measures for each individual attendee. Such as card swipe authentication at each entrance and a weapons detection scan for entering the venue.
“Strengthening safety measures at JCK is the best thing for our entire industry. We introduced cutting-edge technology that really raised the bar in creating a safe and secure space for our attendees and exhibitors to conduct their business,” Bachmann says. “JCK did this in a way that didn't slow down entry and the response was extremely gratifying.”.
Luxury retailer, Alexis Padis of Padis Jewelers, notes: “It was very reassuring to feel an increased security effort across Luxury and JCK.
From registration requirements to bag checks, weapons detection. Even the conspicuous police presence throughout the fair, I have never felt safer at a fair. Thanks to the JCK team for making our safety a clear priority.”.
JCK Talks & Education
The JCK Talks educational program opened a day before the rest of the fair for four days organized in sections. The newly introduced Tracks for 2024 included the following: Your Development, Business Management and Sales.
“Social Stage” is back after its impressive debut at JCK 2023. This year, Friday's topics focused on content. Saturday's highlighted the data and Sunday's showed how to put it all into practice. Content creators and influencers who have mastered the art of attraction led multiple sessions on The Social Stage.
Both JCK and Luxury continued to feature inspiring Keynotes. With Luxury Keynotes Kyle Scheele, sponsored by the Natural Diamond Council; and Henry Winkler, sponsored by the De Beers Group. The JCK keynote was a huge success. It was packed for Sugar Ray Leonard, who took the stage with a review of his career. But also of the lessons he learned with the theme “The Power to Win”. He was sponsored by Platinum Guild International USA.
Events & Activations
With the theme “Love” for JCK 2024, the exhibition continued to be a hub for exciting activities. But also “instagrammable” moments that participants queued up to experience. These contributed to the positive tone at the fairgrounds.
Starting with a JCK Chapel with an Elvis impersonator. Then moving on to a “Puppy Love” salon with the opportunity to hold newborn puppies. There was also a Love Lock fence, sponsored by Stuller. Along with an airbrush tattoo artist, with donations to Kids in Crisis for each tattoo that was done.
This activation was presented in the “Love is Love Lounge” at the fairgrounds, where Pride month was celebrated. Attendees commented on the positive impact and overall energy it left on the fairgrounds. But also the many ideas and inspiration for what they can take back to their own stores to inspire their customers.
JCK Rocks Tao Beach was an epic night and a huge success. A nostalgic look back to the days of JCK Rocks the Beach. This year's concert took over TAO Beach and was packed to capacity with enthusiastic JCK attendees and exhibitors.
GRAMMY nominee Flo Rida, whose hits include “Low,” “My House” and “Club Can't Handle Me.” He engaged with the audience and raised the positive mood of everyone in attendance to an even higher level.
It was JCK's way of thanking the industry for its dedication and positivity. Also to celebrate together another hugely successful show. The evening kicked off at Facets an evening that benefited Jewelers for Children. Raising over $2 million for children's causes. It then moved on to a dynamic band that led event goers through The Venetian and Canal Shoppes in a parade to Tao Nightclub to get ready for JCK Rocks.
Corporate Responsibility
The Sustainability Summit at JCK brought together innovators, leaders and advocates for positive change. For a more sustainable future for the jewellery industry.
The Summit included a panel moderated by Dennis Campbell, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard. Participants and speakers throughout the panel included Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability and International Affairs Officer at Kering.
Also Dr. M Sanjayan, CEO, Conservation International; Iris Van Der Veken, Executive Director & Secretary General, Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030; Melanie Grant, Executive Director, Responsible Jewelry Council; Glenn J. Hansen, Founder and CEO, Reduce 2; Tiffany Stevens, President, CEO and General Counsel, Jewelers Vigilance Committee; and Ann Grimmett, Vice President of Merchandising, Jared.
JCK continued to celebrate the culture of inclusion and diversity throughout the event. But notable was the presence of up-and-coming BIPOC designers, brand features, special JCK Talks sessions. They focused on DEI issues and specialized training sessions. At JCK and at all RX events, everyone belongs.
WJA also hosted the Generating Community Impact Breakfast, which focused on disability inclusion in the jewellery and watch industry.
Emerging designers from The Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) once again participated in the Design Collective at JCK. Thanks to funding from the JCK Industry Fund. Providing attendees with the opportunity to connect with six black-owned brands exhibiting jewelry and raw gemstones.
Luxury
Luxury celebrated 25 years of the show by continuing the increased amenities for retailers and exhibitors on invitation days and inside JCK.
“The upgraded atmosphere and excitement at the Luxury Fair was amazing. The experience far exceeded our expectations. We can't wait for next year!” said Aida Alvarez of exhibitor John Hardy who is returning to Luxury.
“The reason why we come here is the reason why everyone wants to be here. There's an upgraded sense of taste and an improved atmosphere when you come here. You feel the luxury, you feel the grace of the customers, you come here because everyone is vetted, you come here to do business. So we come to Luxury to grow. This is the place,” adds Luxury exhibitor Tigren Dorian of Dorian & Rose.
Trends & breaking news
Trends continue to be at the heart of the JCK experience. That is, where the industry sees them, feels them and discovers them. This year, the show floor was buzzing with the top trends to look forward to for the rest of the year.
As noted by Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK Online and JCK Magazine, “Y necklaces and lariats, pearls, especially in pink and gold tones with fashion-forward styles, colors of all kinds, especially blue and green gemstones, such as sapphires and tourmalines, along with gold styles, including gemstones set in a frame, rigid bracelets with bracelets, stamped rings and fringe effects.”.
In breaking news at this 2024 event, De Beers announced that it will suspend the protection of laboratory-produced diamonds for jewellery and that the Lightbox factory will be handed over to subsidiary Element Six to become a “world-class CVD production hub” for industrial purposes.
De Beers also launched its new initiative, Diamond Proof, a low-cost synthetic detector made for retailer counters, which will be available at the end of the year.
During the main JCK session, the conference sponsor, Platinum Guild International USA, introduced the new platinum alloy Inoveo, explaining that it has the advantages of platinum with the convenience of white gold. Also that it will be exclusively available to manufacturers, designers and jewelers from Stuller starting this summer.
Botswana's President Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi attended the JCK together with House of Botswana and in a one-to-one discussion with Victoria Gomelsky, he also highlighted the importance of natural diamonds to Botswana's economy.
The Plumb Club reaffirms its long-term commitment to JCK
JCK and Plumb Club are pleased to announce that their partnership will officially continue for another 7 years, bringing exhibiting members of the Plumb Club association to the JCK show.
“The ongoing partnership between JCK and The Plumb Club highlights the mutually positive impact the relationship between our organizations has on our attendees and the industry at large,” says Victor Weinman, chairman of The Plumb Club Pavilion and president and CEO of ODI.
In 2025, the JCK shifts one week later than its typical date pattern, June 5 - 9, 2025.
Source: southernjewelrynews.com
