JCK Las Vegas 2025 delivered strong footfall and vibrant design showcases, reaffirming its role as a key pulse-check for the global gem and jewellery trade.
Attendance was high at JCK Las Vegas (6-9 June), but sentiment was cautious due to uncertainties over the impact of U.S. tariffs.
Many booths at the Venetian Expo were packed as buyers refilled orders and enquired about the latest designs, against a backdrop of continuing uncertainties over the outlook for international jewellery and gems trade due to tariffs.
Suppliers of natural diamonds, such as Mumbai-based Venus Jewel, spoke of better-than-expected enquiries, as the trade continued to adjust to tariffs.
Martin Rapaport told a well-attended Rapaport Breakfast event that uncertainties prevailed over global natural diamond trade, triggered by worries over a soft Chinese economy, competition from synthetic diamonds, and U.S. trade policy.
However, he said the medium to longer term outlook was positive, due to expectations that baby boomers will leave large inheritances in coming years, which will help to generate demand for diamond jewellery, including for pre-owned items.
Indian exhibitors at JCK Las Vegas were boosted by strong social media coverage by international content creators, notably of the India Design Gallery, which featured winners of this year’s Artisan Awards.
Instagrammers and trade press spoke of the increasing influence of Indian artisanal skills and creations in international jewellery designs, and of the importance of supporting Indian craftsmanship in filigree, enamelling and granulation.
The India Pavilion encompassed suppliers of fine jewellery, diamond jewellery and coloured gemstones, such as Kwality Emeralds offering high quality Zambian emeralds in a variety of shapes, as well as carved emeralds.
Other exhibitors from the India Pavilion included Vaibhav Global, owner of TJC, a British home shopping channel, and UV Overseas, who offer custom manufactured silver jewellery to brands in China.
Industry Events
The most attended event at JCK Las Vegas was the Rapaport Breakfast, an annual feature where this year more than 1,000 industry participants from around the world packed into the San Polo Ballroom.
Martin Rapaport spoke of the importance of knowing the origin of natural diamonds and highlighted the company’s plans to promote traceable and ethically sourced stones.
He warned of risks of a backlash by customers against retailers who sold synthetic diamonds at high margins for thousands of dollars.
At the Rapaport event, De Beers CEO Al Cook spoke of a constructive outlook for natural diamond prices due to a lack of new supply from mines, and plans for fresh marketing campaigns to boost demand.
The Natural Diamond Council (NDC) organised a number of popular networking events, attended by high-ranking members of Botswana’s mining industry.
Kering staged the first edition of their awards for Generation X, celebrating young designers who had created exceptional jewellery designs using recycled materials.
CIBJO-World Jewellery Confederation hosted a well-attended panel looking at nomenclature of terms used in the industry, the so-called Blue List.
Iris Van Der Veken, Executive Director of Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 (WJI 2030), joined a panel discussion about the future of sustainability in the watch and jewellery industry.
While moves towards greater sustainability in the industry will enhance business models, panellists said the industry needed to urgently step up efforts and partnerships towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
