Come Aug. 24, when Luxury opens to invitation-only buyers at The Sands Expo and Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, the Rahaminov booth is bound to display some of the show’s biggest—and priciest—diamonds. But the Los Angeles–based jeweler also has a few surprises in store.
“There’s a box in our safe that we’re saving for the show,” says Melanie Goldfiner, director of business development at Rahaminov. “It has the word JCK on it, and all the salespeople know they can’t touch it or show it till JCK.”
(Luxury opens on an invitation-only basis on Aug. 24. Both it and its sibling event, JCK, open to all registered buyers on Friday, Aug. 27, and conclude on Monday, Aug. 30.)
Like many high-end jewelers, Rahaminov has had a strong year, in spite of—or rather, because of—the pandemic.
“People are loving jewelry,” says Goldfiner. “They couldn’t go anywhere or do anything during the lockdowns, but they wanted to buy jewelry for their loved ones and themselves. They wanted something tangible.”
Goldfiner is confident that even though people are starting to travel and dine out again, the momentum behind fine jewelry will keep building.
“The trend has been for people to buy jewelry that’s wearable,” she says. “Life has become a little bit more casual. And people want to buy jewelry they can wear, whether it’s for a backyard picnic or, one day, to a gala. That’s been the trend for a while, but it’s definitely taken an uptick in the last year and a half.”
At Rahaminov, wearability translates into pieces that are simple, yet modern and classic. “Nothing too eccentric or intricate but still having a design element,” Goldfiner says. “Our moval cut continues to do well, and ovals in general. And emerald cuts have been on the rise. Fancy shapes are what people are shopping and having fun with.”
Straight line necklaces (aka tennis necklaces) set in yellow gold are top sellers (“You can wear them with T-shirts,” she says). But Rahaminov is also doing well with more elevated styles—such as the 5 ct. kite-shape diamond enhancer pendant they’ve attached to a yellow gold rivière necklace.
Big diamond center stones are also in demand. “Engagement ring sizes in our neck of the woods are going up a bit more,” Goldfiner says. “People haven’t spent a lot of money, and they’ve been saving and they’re willing to spend more on the engagement ring.”
Armed with loads of big rocks and a smattering of colored stone designs—with an emphasis on blue and green gems, such as emeralds, tourmaline, and aquamarines—Rahaminov is getting excited for Vegas.
Says Goldfiner: “We have high expectations.”
Top: Illusion bezel pendant in 18k yellow gold with 5.05 ct. emerald-cut diamond, price on request, Rahaminov
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