Whether you’re stocking up on holiday merch for your store or buying gifts for friends and family, knock out your entire list with this week’s run of buying shows, from Atlanta to New York. And if you’re going to be in the Big Apple, don’t miss Wednesday’s Awards for Excellence Gala. The WJA’s long-awaited fundraiser is back after a two-year hiatus. It’s party time!
LISTEN
The Jewelry District, Episode 54 (ongoing)
In the latest episode of The Jewelry District, JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and news director Rob Bates discuss the Rolex-sponsored gala celebrating the long-awaited opening of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in L.A., assess the Swiss watch industry’s scorecard on sustainability, recap last month’s HardRock Summit in Denver, and speculate about jewelers implicated in the Pandora Papers.
ATTEND
Gemflix Webinar on Leen Heyne: Oct. 20, 12 p.m. ET (online)
Gemflix takes a deep dive into the work of Dutch goldsmith Leen Heyne, whose simple-on-the-surface aesthetic obscures layers of complexity wrought through physical force and command of material. Hosted by Gem X Core member Stephanie Carendi, the webinar will provide attendees with a glimpse inside Heyne’s studio in Tilburg in the Dutch province of Brabant. He will share insights into his process and demonstrate some of his master goldsmithing techniques.
WJA Awards for Excellence Gala: Oct. 20, 6 p.m. ET (in person) & 7 p.m. ET (online)
Better late than never. The Women’s Jewelry Association’s signature event, the annual Awards for Excellence Gala, is back following a two-year-plus, pandemic-related hiatus. Themed “Building Resilience Through Responsible Business,” the event, which will take place at its longtime home at Chelsea Piers in New York City as well as virtually, will honor Karen Goracke, president and CEO of Borsheims Fine Jewelry and Gifts, and Fern Mallis, creator of New York Fashion Week. Proceeds from the evening’s fundraising efforts will benefit WJA’s innovative programming focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion; responsible sourcing and sustainability; and leadership development. See you there!
WatchTime New York at Gotham Hall: Oct. 22–24 (in person)
The sixth edition of WatchTime New York, taking place at Gotham Hall in midtown Manhattan, spans three days instead of its customary two, to allow more time for the event’s popular panel discussion series. The draw for collectors, however, remains the show’s stellar lineup of exhibitors, which this year includes 28 returning brands, from A. Lange & Söhne to Zenith, as well as newcomers Chopard, Laurent Ferrier, Massena LAB, and Norqain. The show is open to the public by paid admission (with each date ticketed individually to give attendees greater flexibility in devising their itineraries).
Windup Watch Fair in New York: Oct. 22–24 (in person)
When this year’s Windup Watch Fair opens at Chelsea Market in New York City, the popular shopping event will play host to 38 exhibitors, mostly micro watch brands, in a fun, engaging environment designed to make it easy for watchmakers and collectors to connect. Don’t forget your credit card!
New York City Jewelry & Watch Show at the Metropolitan Pavilion: Oct. 22–25 (in person)
The sixth annual New York City Jewelry & Watch Show, produced by the Palm Beach Show Group, returns live and in person to the New York Metropolitan Pavilion this week. The multiday consumer, retail, and B2B shopping event is a one-stop shop for antique, estate, modern, and contemporary jewelry and watches from the industry’s finest dealers. Multiday general admission tickets cost $20.
Atlanta Jewelry Show at Cobb Galleria Centre: Oct. 23–24 (in person)
One of the country’s biggest and most important regional buying fairs, the Atlanta Jewelry Show welcomes attendees to the Cobb Galleria Centre for two days of holiday buying. Come for the jewels, stay for the education. On Oct. 22, the day before the show opens, the one-day ConnectED Conference delivers essential retail education, from how to use text as a marketing platform to tips to take your livestreaming to the next level.
Top: Dainty baguette and round diamond white Crystalline bow-shape Olivia ring in platinum-plated sterling silver, $199; Anna Zuckerman Luxury
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
