The Vicenzaoro ‘Italian Club’ Brings 130 Companies to JCK Las Vegas

The Vicenzaoro ‘Italian Club’ Pavilion at JCK Las Vegas.

Italian jewelry, as always, was showing its strength at the JCK Las Vegas jewelry tradeshow, led by Vicenzaoro with its section of 130 manufacturers and designers. The companies came from the jewelry production centers of Vicenza, Valenza, Arezzo, Naples, Marcianise, Torre del Greco and Milan, with 20 percent of vendors exhibiting at North America’s largest tradeshow for the first time.

Presented by Fiera di Vicenza, Vicenza, Italy, where the collection of Vicenzaoro jewelry tradeshows are held each year, the exhibitors presented high jewelry collections and more accessible items in Las Vegas. It’s the eight year that the organization had its "Italian Club" pavilion at the Las Vegas tradeshow. 

Models wearing jewelry from the Vicenzaoro exhibitors.

About 30 exhibitors were represented during fashions show held throughout the four-day tradeshow. In addition, Trend Area's "Inspirations 2014 – MUTATIONS” - made its debut at JCK Luxury, the showcase for exclusive brands, which took place prior to the JCK Show. With its own exhibition area that explored the directions in which style, materials, working methods and consumer behavior are heading and its significance on the luxury industry. 

The TrendVision stand during JCK Luxury.

Jewelry industry pros were able to preview the new trends for 2014 that the TrendVision Jewellery + Forecasting team, Fiera di Vicenza's independent international forecasting center, has identified. The four moods of jewellery trends for the coming 2014 season—“Experimental Nature,” “Shadow Reality,” “Ethno Pop,” “Visionary Structures”—were unveiled at a keynote breakfast.

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Rare Gems, Fine Diamonds and Shimmering Gold on Display at JCK Las Vegas

Outside the entrance of JCK Las Vegas on opening day.

The first day of JCK Las Vegas, the largest of the nine jewelry tradeshows that set up camp at Sin City, started off slow on May 31 but quickly picked up as buyers filled the aisles of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during the next two days.

On display was everything under the sun for the jewelry industry, from jewelry-making equipment to finished jewelry from well-known brands and less-familiar names whose pieces fill jewelry store shelves throughout the country.

Below are several examples of some of the jewelry that was available at five-day event. The first nine examples were from a grouping of exhibitors known as the Prestige Promenade—international designers and manufacturers who mostly specialize in high-end jewelry and deal directly with the trade. You may not know their names but you have seen their jewelry. The remaining companies consist of more familiar brand names.

Alexandrite and diamond ring handcrafted with a 2.69 carat oval alexandrite center stone accented with 0.52 carats of round alexandrites and 0.62 carats of brilliant diamond rounds set in platinum by Omi Prive.

A cross of a peacock feather and a fishbone in 18k White gold earrings with round brilliant-cut diamonds and ruby stone studded in and engraved yellow gold by Bapalal Keshavlal.
 

Blue sapphire pave drop and blue sapphire tassel earrings by Mariani 1878.

18k yellow gold link necklace by Old World Chain.

Emerald hoop earrings in 18k white gold and diamonds by Facet Barcelona.

Earrings featuring a central round diamond surrounded by emeralds and diamond-covered petals in 18k gold by Picchiotti.

Diamonds and white gold petal earrings and ring by Universal Jewellery Design Centre.

Yellow 14k hand-crafted pendant necklace by I. Reiss.

 
Yellow gold ring covered in colored gemstones by Ramon.

Le Vian Chocolate Cravings ring in rose gold with its trademarked “chocolate” and “vanilla” diamonds set in “strawberry” gold. 

From Galatea’s new "Pearlfection" collection, a hand-carved, tear-drop shaped Tahitian pearl set in 14k yellow gold. This piece is one of 20 new styles created by Chi Huynh, founder of Galatea. The pearls take the form of acorns, lotus buds and tulips.

An elaborate yellow and white diamond necklace and matching earrings by L’Dezen.

The iconic Effy Panther in diamonds and emeralds set in 14k rose gold from the brand’s Signature collection.

Love Beads bracelet made of Swarovski crystals by Chamilia.

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Lilian Raji Agency to Launch Prestige Promenade Social Media Program

The entrance to the Prestige Promenade pavilion at the 2012 JCK Las Vegas Show.

Prestige Promenade, a collective of high-end jewelry designers and manufacturers, has retained strategic marketing and public relations group, The Lilian Raji Agency, to manage its social media program.

The new program "will give a voice to Prestige Promenade across multiple social media platforms, providing jewelry industry commentary and regular updates on member activities," said Lilian Raji, president of The Lilian Raji Agency. Its aim is to “develop customer brand preference for Prestige Promenade members and retail partners.”

Calling it the “Prestige Social Media Program,” it will serve as a continuation of programs that already serve its retail partners, including its “Prestige Promenade Online Marketplace,” which allows jewelers to augment their websites with updates and exclusive selections from Prestige Promenade members.

“The Prestige Social Media Program will now allow these same customers to engage a more meaningful relationship with their favorite retailer and Prestige Promenade jeweler as they follow and join the conversation,” Raj said.

The jewelry designers and manufacturers that make up the Prestige Promenade exhibit together in the exclusive Prestige Promenade Pavilion at JCK, part of the annual JCK Las Vegas jewelry tradeshow. Beyond the destination, the organization exists to promote its members through cooperative marketing efforts and  retailer partner relationships.

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Yael Turns to the Cosmos for Inspiration

Three strands of diamond pave hug a 6.06-carat fire opal set in 18k rose gold.

Fine jewelry design house, Yael Designs, introduced its summer 2012 Lyra Collection during the JCK Luxury tradeshow (May 29 - May 31). 

Green tourmaline earringss with a total weight of  7.13 carats highlighted by diamond pave and white gold.

The collection showcases gemstones wrapped in elegant diamond threads set in 18k white and rose gold. The cocktail rings, earrings and pendants use tourmalines, morganites, rubellites and opals that bring plenty of color to the collection. Color and diamond threads overlapping large gems were two prominent themes at this year’s tradeshows in Las Vegas.

Diamond pave white gold sparkle as it surrounds an 8.87-carat opal.

The inspiration and the name for the collection came from the cosmos, more specifically, the small constellation named Lyra, which contains one the brightest stars in the sky.

Although the full collection made its first appearance at a tradeshow, individual pieces from the collection have been worn by celebrities—including ice skating champion Kristi Yamaguchi and actress Kerry Washington—and received a prestigious 2012 AGTA Spectrum Award.

The Jewelry Industry is Better Prepared to Handle a Downturn

The opening day crowd during the 2011 JCK Las Vegas tradeshow held at Mandalay Bay. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

Not since 2009 has the global economy and the jewelry industry’s place in it been so unstable. This comes as the international jewelry industry descends on Las Vegas for a series of tradeshows beginning Monday (led by JCK Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay and The Couture Show at the Wynn Las Vegas) where retailers will purchase their inventory for the all-important holiday season. It’s one of the largest jewelry trade events on the global calendar and it will be a real test on whether the U.S. jewelry industry can withstand the latest onslaught of mixed economic news.

I think the jewelry industry will prevail. The industry itself has done little to exacerbate the fragile global economic situation. In fact, it has performed admirably during these difficult economic times—outside of the diamond industry with its mishandling of the Zimbabwe human rights issue and now diamond grading scandals at two labs. 

After the contraction of the U.S. jewelry industry in 2009, it has been posting mostly positive numbers and showing consistent, incremental growth. Unlike the banking industry, it has learned from its mistakes. The jewelry industry is not as leveraged as it was in 2008. It is doing better at using the Internet and social media instead of treating it as the enemy. Creativity has taken over as well. As the cost of materials increased, designers and manufacturers have created objects of adornment using more color, a variety of materials and high-quality craftsmanship. The jewelry industry as a whole is a smarter and more humble industry than it was prior to 2008.

However, it must get past an economic situation that is again rising to a boil led by two factors that just won’t go away: Wall Street’s reckless behavior and its defiant stance against any regulation; and the Euro crisis.

The Facebook IPO debacle managed by Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase’s $2 billion-plus trading loss by taking large positions in credit default swaps show that Wall Street has learned nothing from the 2008 financial crisis that nearly took down the world economy.

Meanwhile, the end of the Euro or at least a serious contraction of the European Union now seems a possibility. Greece is on the brink of outright rejecting the monetary union and other countries are saddled with outrageous debt that member countries seem unable or unwilling to resolve. There are an endless number of theories as to what will happen if the Union disbands or shrinks, which tells me that no one really knows what will happen. But everyone in Europe seems to be scared.

The jewelry industry has its own challenges and victories, some of which were revealed this week. Among them:

* Tiffany & Co., the luxury retailer jeweler that has performed like a juggernaut throughout this recession, downgraded its outlook Thursday based on a softening of sales in the U.S. and abroad.

* Meanwhile, it’s the mid-market jewelers that are showing resiliency. Signet Jewelers, the largest specialty retail jeweler in the U.S. and U.K., whose brands include Kay and Jared, reported modest growth in the first quarter Thursday (sales up 1.4 and comps up 1.2 percent). Zale Corp., the long-struggling North American specialty retail jeweler, showed significant growth in its first quarter report Wednesday (8 percent increase in sales and comps).

* Online jewelry and diamond retailer, Blue Nile, reported a 3.6 percent first quarter increase in sales. However, lower markups led to a 9.7 percent decline in gross profits.

* The Swiss watch industry, which appeared invincible throughout the recession, is reporting that its phenomenal growth is slowing to just robust levels. Watch exports increased 9 percent in April, down from 16.1 percent for the first four months of the year, according to the Swiss Federal Customs Office.

* However, the large luxury conglomerates are still poised for strong growth throughout the world. For example, LVMH reported that its Watch & Jewellery division sales increased by 141 percent increase, year-over-year, to $826.6 million. This is misleading as LVMH acquired Italian luxury jewelry house, Bulgari, in March 2011. Excluding the Bulgari acquisition, sales increased 17 percent. Richemont, reported that jewelry and watch sales rose 32 percent for the year, with overall sales in the Americas up 26 percent.

Despite the uncertainty, I expect to see a positive environment and exciting new jewelry designs at the tradeshows. Most importantly, I anticipate business to be strong. Unlike 2008, the industry is better prepared today to meet these challenges.