Showstoppers for Las Vegas

Sin City has much to offer in terms of entertainment, but it will soon be bursting at the seams with something else that dazzles: new jewelry designs. JCK Las Vegas is the biggest and most important fine-jewelry trade fair in North America, and the industry is just weeks away from it. The fair takes place at The Venetian Expo, June 6–9, when thousands of attendees descend on the desert to shop the newest fine-jewelry offerings for stores nationwide. Orders will be placed in June so that stores are stocked in time for the ever-important fourth quarter selling season.

ALTR

Manufacturers are prepared! Many are bringing new collections that were designed with today’s market realities in mind—think high gold prices and a growing enthusiasm for colored gemstones due to issues in the diamond market.

Though lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) are a thorny topic due to fluctuating prices, Americans have widely embraced them. This is why “more than half of millennial and Gen Z couples pick engagement rings with a lab-grown diamond,” according to a recent Forbes article. Plus, they’ve become a mainstream product offering in fashion and in watches. With this wide acceptance in mind, LGD manufacturer ALTR is debuting a cutting-edge initial jewelry collection called Type at JCK.

“This is a new type of solitaire that refracts and reflects light,” explains Amish Shah, founder. “These letters are cut for beauty and brilliance and are set in an 18k gold frame. Each is crisp and visible from three feet away—viewers needn’t ask what it is because it’s engineered to speak for itself.”

Three sizes are available: 7 mm, 9.5 mm, and 12 mm. Multiples of three can be worn on a single chain with clear messaging.

          Carla Corporation

Gold is another hot topic. Its highest-ever prices have driven manufacturers to beef up offerings in vermeil and well-made hollow, hollow and tubing, die-struck, and electroformed gold designs. Carla Corporation’s Bryan D. Fleming, senior vice president, maintains that new 3D printers are helping to innovate his firm’s collections. He points to a new pair of twisted and texturized hoop earrings as an example. He’s bringing new gold earrings to Las Vegas.

“I couldn’t do that with wax—injecting it into a mold,” he says. “With 3D printing, it comes out perfect. Eighties-style gold is popular now, and we can hit a price point with it in hollow jewelry. People want nice gold looks at affordable prices and hollow can accomplish that.”

Vermeil is another way to offer a gold look at a lower price.

“As the price of gold continues to hover around $3,000 per ounce, vermeil has become a popular choice in all categories,” says Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development, ODI. Among her new designs: heavier vermeil pieces with link chains, lockets, toggle bracelets, and cuff bangles.

Imperial Pearl, too, is dipping its toe into the vermeil world. While it’s intent on elevating its sterling silver line with Tahitian pearls, it is debuting an 18k gold-over-silver collection.

Imperial Pearl

“We will keep this very intentionally designed with capsule collections,” says Kathy Grenier, vice president of business development. “We have a new point of view that aligns with the rest of our gold lines.”

SHEFI Diamonds, too, recognizes the ongoing performance of karat gold jewelry, expanding its Textura Collection with more textured and brushed gold finishes, more yellow gold, bezel settings, and lightweight gold styles. “Fashion textures have been the most requested,” says Surbhi Jain, marketing director.

More newness from SHEFI that you can expect to see at the show: a collection of abalone shell jewelry. “It’s inspired by the strong performance of our Mother-of-Pearl Collection,” she adds.

         SHEFI Diamonds

Finally, Chatham is trying to stay as “price point conscious as possible” according to Monica McDaniel, vice president and marketing director, because of the price of gold. It’s what their retailers are asking for. To wit, a new line for Las Vegas will feature its most popular lab-grown gemstones including ruby, emerald, sapphire, alexandrite, and diamond.

However, McDaniel also recognizes the popularity of bold gold, so Chatham is addressing that trend in the form of chunky and sculptural looks with its lab-grown gemstones. Also coming to the show are new tennis-style jewels and additions to its 18k gold Legacy line featuring oversize center stones in lab-grown ruby, emerald, sapphire, diamond, alexandrite, aqua blue spinel, and chrysoberyl.

“Legacy has been so well received that we’ve decided to keep the new designs coming,” she adds.