The industry typically kicks off the new year with 24 Karat Weekend—built around by the glitzy dinner thrown by the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York, held at a local hotel.
The annual shmooze fest is also highlighted by three events hosted by prominent industry groups: the luncheons given by the Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, as well as Jewelers of America’s annual Gem Awards.
But with the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging areas of the United States, some of those organizations now doubt they will be able to mount their traditional events in January 2021.
“We are planning to do our luncheon virtually and at this time are still planning on [holding it in] January,” says JVC president and chief executive officer Tiffany Stevens. “The board of directors last week was open to changing the date, but we’re under assumption for January.”
Jewelers’ Security Alliance president John Kennedy says that his group hasn’t canceled its annual luncheon—yet.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of skepticism that we can have it [in person],” says Kennedy. “If we cannot have an in-person event, we will give out awards and everything else virtually, most likely in January.”
Jewelers of America spokesperson Amanda Gizzi says that it is “still finalizing” its plans for the 2021 Gem Awards and has nothing to announce yet.
The 24 Karat Club did not return a request for comment by publication time, but a source tells JCK it’s also looking at whether it will be able to hold the annual event.
Top: A past 24 Karat Club banquet (image courtesy of the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York)
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