As you prepare your strategy for the fall/holiday selling season, make the most of your time at JCK Las Vegas, June 5 to 8 at Mandalay Bay, to track the latest styles and bestsellers trending that you can translate in your store.

With over 2,400 vendors exhibiting in all product categories, retailers can get the lay of the land in the Plumb Club Pavilion. Many of the 43 vendors, representing leading manufacturers and suppliers in all facets of the jewelry, diamond and watch industries, invite jewelers to spend an afternoon there to get a good overview of the market in one place. It doesn’t hurt either that the carpeting is cushy, or you can get an ice cream at the snack bar.

Here are some of the many trends expected to be important at JCK Las Vegas.

Bridal & Diamond Jewelry
Bridal remains a top category for jewelers, who can expect to find new branded collections launching at JCK Las Vegas. Maren Pfister, merchandise manager for Ostbye cites design directions in the bridal category trending for dainty and feminine, stone-focused with lighter prongs, unique textured shanks and ornate side details, vintage and nature inspired, two-tone with rose gold accents, as well as enclosed halos offering a big look that’s budget friendly.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota manufacturer is launching two collections that speak to these trends: Forever Elegant and Cherish. Pfister notes that different cuts, shapes and sizes in stones and colors of 14K gold are featured in designs that pair well with wedding bands that can be mixed and stacked.

Diamond jewelry for fourth quarter, Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development, Taché USA, New York reflects a surge in demand for whimsical elements. “Events of the past year are creating a niche for jewelry that makes people feel happy. Playful themes like flying pigs and smiley faces, hopeful symbols like angels and stars are strong. Butterflies are still flying off the shelves, but for holiday 2017 dragonflies and bees are the buzz!”

Fletcher also cites a trend for icons and messages working together to tell a story. “The infinity symbol has been around forever, but paired with an engraved dog tag it becomes a more meaningful message.”

Pearls & Color
Pearls are regaining popularity in fashion as people are working with pearls everywhere! “Pearls never go out of style, but how we are styling with them is fresh and modern, and the variety of product available in colors and shapes continue to energize the category,” says Kathy Grenier, marketing director for Imperial Pearl, Providence, Rhode Island.

Among the new designs Imperial is launching in Vegas are pearls with adaptable links that can convert a necklace into multiple styles; more gem and pearl combinations in fall colors like burgundy and plum; and fresh designs that mix Tahitian pearls with silver. Grenier sees a lot of innovation in earrings with convertible gem jackets, front-back studs, and threader styles popular.

Pearls satisfy the quest for something unique and fashion forward, hails Fran Mastoloni of Mastoloni Pearls. “We’ve seen about a 10% jump in pearl sales and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Jewelers see there’s good profitability in pearls. Pearls allow a margin based on creativity and uniqueness.” What’s trending for the New York based pearl house are baroque freshwater earrings, necklaces and pendants; and South Sea and Tahitian strands, princess and opera lengths mixing colors, shapes and sizes.

The market is buzzing over Chinese freshwater pearls known as “Edison”. Joel Schechter of Honora, a Richline brand in New York says he has limited supply in fine, gem white “Edison” pearls, branded as “Ming” in round, 12mm to 15mm sizes, as well as Chinese freshwater pearls in natural colors like purple, peach, and bronze, and baroque shapes. The brand is launching styles that mix pearls with diamonds and gems, and mother-of-pearl slices in silver and gold; encage pearls in eardrops and pendants; and reinterpret Y- and choker necklaces.

Flexibility Key
The mega trend for spring is flexibility, hails Allison Peck for Color Merchants, New York. Styles that can stack and layer, adapt and transform are key.

Moreover, bestsellers continue to be classic styles with some twist that makes them unique and special, says Peck. She cites its latest “Spryng’ adjustable-up-to-three-sizes eternity bands; Duo Collection of two-stone styles in a variety of gems, sizes and shapes; new gemstone rings with elongated ovals and marquises set east to west; and fresh diamond illusion designs.

In step with trending Pantone colors in green to blue, pink to peach, Peck says gems like peridot and blue topaz, as well as morganite continue to be popular. She also cites greater demand for yellow gold and nature themes in jewelry design, inspiring Color Merchants’ new Ginko Collection of leafy looks.