New York's primary industry trade show, the JA New York Summer Show, celebrated its one hundredth anniversary year by delivering a show packed with lectures, demonstrations, and educational seminars that were both timely and relevant to the diamond and jewelry trade.

 

The show delivered jewelry trends from around the globe to regional buyers through International Pavilions. Top name designers, never far from the minds of savvy buyers hunting the next hot trend, joined in the celebration by showcasing their creations in the Couture Club & Pavilion.

 

Smaller than the Vegas shows and a regional show to be sure, JA New York offered those in attendance a more intimate venue that allowed an optimal chance to catch-up with colleagues and even form new relationships.

 

Diamonds

JA exhibitors had it all on Diamond Way, as well as in the NY Diamond Dealers Club Pavilion. Service seemed the watch-word of the day with diamantaires. Price, while always of great importance, was not the sole consideration of many buyers. Many admitted that providing good service and manageable programs, along with memo terms to meet the wide range of needs, was as, if not more, important to many buyers.

 

Educational Lectures, Demonstrations and Panels

Exclusive Jewelers of America educational programming, always popular with attendees, was no less so this year. With four days of standing room only seminars, JA offered a compendium of timely topics for the industry.

 

Talks focused upon the themes of the bench jewelers' craft, diamonds, retail sales & marketing, and extending the reach of business into non-traditional realms to reach the consumer. By far, the diamond programs were the best attended.

 

With attendees interested in learning how to build more competitive and profitable diamond businesses, the special diamond programming day initially focused upon retailers and diamond certifications. The question addressed, "Diamond Certs -Do Retailers Really Need Them?" This hot topic addressed the many aspects of diamond grading certifications and, naturally, touched on the recent GIA lab scandal and the controversy that seemed to embroil the entire industry.

 

Other diamond-related topics included: "Dynamic Diamond Selling-Combining Romance & Technology," "Beauty and the Beast-Diamond & Document," "Anatomy of a Diamond Grading Report," "Selling Ideal Cut Diamonds to Today's Consumer," and concluded with "Romancing the Stone-Selling the Diamond and Not the Document."

 

The "At the Bench Live" presentations, highlighted the bench jewelers craft and co-sponsored by the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America and the Jewelers of America, were also a big hit.

 

Couture Club & Pavilion

For many, the highlight of the show was the return of the Couture/International Jewelry Design Guild (IJDG)-Design Collections, which showcased the newest innovative designs from many of the industry's top names. "This special section adds a distinctive element of glamour to the show," commented Nancy Robey, vice president of Global New Business Development for the VNU Expositions Jewelry Group.

 

Outside of the Las Vegas Couture event, the JA New York Summer Show is the only place to view the Couture Collections and the only place to view the IJDG Design Collections under one roof.

 

International Pavilions

Providing a window on the world and an element of global fusion, over twenty countries were represented at the International Pavilions. All brought their distinctive cultures and designs to the show, with unique offerings for nearly every taste. The International Pavilions provided a global perspective to New York-based buyers.

 

Italy's pavilion drew the most 'oohs and aahs' with an exhibit spearheaded by the Naples Consortium showcasing that city's cultural and artistic heritage entitled, "A Jewel for a Queen-Goldsmiths and Engravers from the Kingdom of Naples 1770-1860."

 

The special exhibition showcased the art of today's Neapolitan and Torres craftsmen who are keeping the traditional techniques of the local artisanal goldsmiths and jewelers alive. Featuring bejeweled masterpieces based upon antique models, each piece exhibited has been re-made with a modern sensibility. The exhibit was popular with show visitors.

 

Special Exhibitor Sections: JA Show Floor Sparkled with Specialist Niches

The Summer Show featured many special sections, including the Inner Circle, Collection Showcase, Platinum Collection, Place Vendome, Antique & Estate Jewelry Pavilion, Diamond Way, New Product Gallery, Bench Jewelers Marketplace, AGTA Colored Stone Section, Watch Village, Gift Gallery, the NY Diamond Dealers Club, and New Designer Gallery.

 

Conclusion

For a regional show held during a major heat wave and with gasoline prices at record highs, the JA New York Summer Show should have been anything but a success. However, all involved, exhibitors, retailers and show staff alike rallied and made this one of the best New York shows in recent memory.

 

If the JA show is anything to go by, it bodes well for the up-coming holiday period.