The US jewellery industry witnessed a vibrant display of innovation and craftsmanship at the recently concluded JCK Las Vegas and COUTURE shows. Notably, Indian suppliers and designers left an indelible mark on both events, attracting significant attention from attendees.
Visitor turnout was buoyant at JCK Las Vegas (2-5 June), America’s biggest jewellery trade event, while COUTURE (1-4 June) presented top-tier fine jewellery designers’ latest and most innovative creations.
Indian suppliers to the global jewellery trade, and fine jewellery designers were highly visible at both shows.
JCK Las Vegas, staged in the vast Venetian hotel, is one of the biggest trade shows in the world, and offered a huge array of cutting-edge jewellery designs, as well as loose diamonds, gemstones, machinery and accessories.
A main focus of this edition was how growth in the supply of lab-grown diamonds will impact jewellery retail.
The lab-grown diamonds section featured the largest manufacturers from around the world, many of them from India.
Industry sources spoke of vigorous price competition in lab-grown diamonds led by Indian manufacturers.
Lab-grown diamond prices have fallen in recent times, driven by rising manufacturing output.
David Kellie, CEO of the Natural Diamond Council, told a panel discussion that retailers had approaching him lately, saying their sales of lab-grown diamond jewellery had eroded revenues compared to earlier times when they had sold higher value natural diamond jewellery.
Natural diamond manufacturers also came out in force at JCK Las Vegas, with leading Indian polished suppliers such as Rosy Blue, Venus Jewel, SRK and Hari Krishna Exports occupying large, conspicuous stands and showcasing rare and exquisite polished colour and white diamonds.
Rosy Blue presented some exceptional yellow diamonds amongst their stock, underscoring the vibrant interest in yellows presently, while Venus Jewel showed off their innovative 3-D holographic diamonds display technology for retailers, as well as their detailed reports identifying diamond characteristics.
At the very top end of the market at JCK Las Vegas, New York-based Scarselli Diamonds showed off a supremely rare and beautiful 2.32-carat emerald-cut fancy vivid blue VS diamond, with two 0.50- carat emerald-cut Argyle pink diamonds, set in a ring.
In gold jewellery, Shantilal Jewellers Since 1969, exhibiting at the India Pavilion backed by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), displayed the biggest 22-carat gold chain seen at JCK Las Vegas, weighing 1.2 kg.
Ashish Sand, Partner, Savio Jewellery, told Solitaire: “JCK 2023 marked our eighth edition and proved to be an outstanding success. We attribute our company’s triumph in the USA market to JCK, as the show has played a pivotal role in fostering our business to reach new heights. This year, we were thrilled to witness the presence of high-quality buyers and an increasing interest from visitors towards higher-priced products. This shift was particularly beneficial for our business, as it contributed to our growth and reputation as a prominent jewellery player from India in the B2B segment. Thanks to this remarkable show, we have established ourselves as a major player in the US market.”
“The show was very professionally organised, with an efficient appointments system in place for retailers to meet suppliers,” Himanshu Shah, director of London-based diamond jewellery manufacturer Andre Michael, who was a visiting buyer, told Solitaire.
In the seminar programme, leading social media strategists, including Katerina Perez, Tracey Ellison (@thediamondsgirl) and Laura Inghirami (@donna.jewel), presented insights into new trends at a well-attended session at the Innovation hub.
COUTURE show sees extraordinary innovation
The separate COUTURE show, at the nearby Wynn hotel, displayed an exquisite and eclectic assortment of the latest designs from top-level fine jewellery designers.
Standout pieces included a pin depicting snakes in combat, by British designer Stephen Webster; anodised titanium earrings by Maison Alix Dumas, and intricate jewels from Carrera y Carrera’s Circles of Fire collection, including the Shanghai necklace.
Among highlighted Indian exhibitors, bangles from fine jeweller Moksh featured emeralds, blue and pink sapphires, Keshi pearls and baguette diamonds; Hirani had a superb selection of extraordinary, high value natural yellow diamond necklaces in classic designs, while Amrapali London showcased a necklace featuring almost 1,000 carats of pink tourmalines, with white diamonds, and a ring displaying a centre stone Colombian emerald weighing 30 carats.
Leading international trade press packed into JCK Las Vegas and COUTURE, lured by the importance of the U.S. market to jewellery suppliers from Italy to India, and Turkey.
On the eve of COUTURE, the press witnessed the launch of a new Buyers Guide and digital campaign, organised by Italian state-backed agency ITA Houston, supporting Italian jewellery exporters to the U.S.
Some 100 Italian brands joined the Italian Pavilion at JCK Las Vegas, and three dozen Italian fine jewellery brands exhibited at COUTURE.