48 SOLITAIRE INTERNATIONAL JULY 2018
In terms of on-trend products that
the exhibitors consider attractive for US
consumers, there was wide diversity. W hen
asked how the companies discerned these
trends, answers ranged from them doing
“no research” to using “trend spotters”
who keep a finger on the pulse of the
US market. In general, the variety of the
exhibitors’ offers corresponded to the wide
diversity of tastes in the USA. Since most
exhibitors already have US customers, they
also follow the trends through their clients,
who make requests depending on their
particular customers.
Some products seemed to be a fusion
of traditional Indian and modern pieces
in an assortment of designs and a variety
of materials, which included gold, silver
(including diamond-set silver), gold-plated
silver, brass and zinc. Silver seemed to be
the metal of choice for most exhibitors,
although diamonds and gold (both
14-karat and 18-karat) along with coloured
gems were available at most booths. A few
of the pieces offered at the India Pavilion
are featured on these pages.Venue changes for 2019
After years of renovation, the Sands
Convention Center will again host the
JCK show. Located across the street from
the Wynn Hotel, which hosts the Couture
show, this move has been welcomed by
attendees, who will spend less time in
transit between the two events.
Another change in venue is the re-
location of the AGTA GemFair that will
join the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry &
Watch Show at the Las Vegas Convention
Center, not far from the Sands.
In place of the AGTA GemFair that has
traditionally been associated with JCK ,
two new pavilions are taking its place
at the Sands: the International Colored
Gemstone Association (ICA) Pavilion and
a new Fine Gems Pavilion.
Fair dates for JCK are June 2 through
June 5. The two gemstone pavilions will
open a day longer, from June 1 to June 5.
The AGTA GemFair and the Antique show
will open from May 31 to Tuesday June 4.
Couture has not yet announced its dates. ntogether in the “Passport” area, situated
at the back of the show floor, while the
diamond exhibitors were in a small
pavilion near the front. To learn more
about what types of jewellery the Indian
companies were promoting in the United
States market, as well as their opinions
of the JCK event, we spoke to ten of the
exhibitors in the jewellery pavilion. (In
passing , it should be noted that traffic was
greater at the diamond pavilion.)
All but two of the exhibitors, who were
first-timers, have been attending JCK
for between two and 20 years. General
perspectives on the USA market were
positive with expectations that products
would receive a good response from
US retailers. Unfortunately, for more
than half of the exhibitors, the show did
not meet their expectations. The others
indicated that the show was either “okay”
or “reasonable”.Colour was seen not only in
gems and enamel but also in
titanium as in this gemstone
and titanium brooch by Shirley
Zhang, a designer from China.Cufflinks in gemstones set in
gold by Ravi Jewels, a 15-year
participant at JCK, exhibiting
in the India Pavilion.Fringe earrings in
silver and gold by
USA-based designer
Freida Rothman.One of the most innovative uses of
pearls in fine jewellery comes from USA
designer Little H, who slices pearls and
sets them with colourful gemstones.