The JCK show marks its pearl anniversary this month at The Venetian Expo. Celebrate with us!

by Melissa Rose Bernardo & Victoria Gomelsky

1. A bit of trivia: The first JCK show wasn’t even called JCK; it was Jewelry ’92. More than 6,000 buyers attended the fair at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. For comparison: The 2019 fair hosted 13,803.

2. The show floor opens every day, Wednesday, June 8–Monday, June 13, at 9:30 a.m., and closes daily at 6 p.m.—except on the final day, Monday, when it closes at 4 p.m.

3. The second-floor Design Collective should be your first stop if you’re looking for truly unique pieces. Mokume gane wedding bands and Damascus steel combs? Chris Ploof has you covered. Sexy mixed metal jewels with spikes, snakes, and skulls galore? Alp Sagnak is your guy.

4. JCK might not open until Friday, June 10, but JCK Talks—sponsored by GIA—kicks off Thursday, June 9, with a day of panels in the level 1 ballrooms.

5. The JCK Talks fun continues June 10–12 on the Showcase Stage, starting at 11 a.m., covering topics in six tracks: market and consumer trends, responsibility, sales, style and design trends, marketing, and relevance. Each day features a session from each track.

6. In 2018, JCK gave lab-grown diamonds its own pavilion; not surprisingly, the section has gotten bigger every year. You’ll find a plethora of loose stones from exhibitors including GoGreen, plus finished jewelry from brands such as Fenix Diamonds and Smiling Rocks.

7. Want a closer look at this year’s Jewelers’ Choice Award winners? Pop by the second-floor JCA Lounge to see the pieces in person.

8. Plumb Club has exhibited at JCK Las Vegas since 1994. On Saturday, June 11, drop by its pavilion from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to toast the show’s 30th birthday. After all, no celebration is complete without Champagne and light entertainment (and cocktails, wine, cheese, and cake!).

9. Speaking of celebration: Showgoers will enjoy daily moments of appreciation with treats on the show floor each day. Any chance of bringing back 2019’s DIY doughnut bar?

10. Tucked behind the Currents neighborhood, at the back of the main aisle of level 2, you’ll find the brand-new Innovation Hub, a one-stop shop where showgoers can find inventive solutions to their most pressing business challenges.

11. Need some motivation for your morning workout? Make it a Jewelers for Children fundraiser. Run, walk, or even do yoga at The Venetian Thursday, June 9, at JFC’s annual Rings of Strength. (jewelersforchildren.org)

12. Dust off your high heels and tuxedos. Diamonds Do Good returns with its evening soirée in the Palazzo Ballroom Thursday night, when it will recognize the five recipients of the inaugural 2022 Sustainable Development Goal Awards. (diamondsdogood.com)

13. The Plumb Club is hosting invited guests at the Katy Perry Play concert Friday, June 10. Now, who in PC wants to take some JCK editors along? (Only kidding!)

14. Anyone who attended JCK Las Vegas during the 2010s remembers the raucous “JCK Rocks the Beach” concerts at Mandalay Bay by A-listers such as Bruno Mars and Maroon 5. Now, “JCK Rocks” returns to The Venetian, Saturday, June 11, with an evening cocktail fete followed by Hamilton–Remix, starring Miguel Cervantes (Broadway’s resident A. Ham) and more Hamilton cast members and alums. Don’t throw away your shot!

15. Saturday night is going to be packed! The Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association is bringing back its gala to The Venetian’s Murano Ballroom. Among the honorees: the fifth-generation family-run Ben Bridge Jeweler, which has been named the group’s Retailer of the Year. (idcany.org)

16. At 8 a.m. Sunday, June 12, in the Palazzo Ballroom, the always-anticipated Rapaport Breakfast is sure to draw a crowd eager to hear industry sage Martin Rapaport expound on everything from inflation to sanctions on Russian diamonds.

17. Also on Sunday: JFC’s Facets of Hope in the Palazzo Ballroom, honoring Richline Group’s Dave Meleski and Rogers Enterprises’ Craig Stern. But the real draw is the heartrending stories about JFC’s great work. (Bring tissues.)

18. It wouldn’t be Vegas without the Le Vian Red Carpet Revue—featuring a 2023 trend forecast and fashion show—now in its 23rd edition. In 2021, Le Vian focused on heart-shape designs, colorful stones such as rainbow sapphires, and stacking styles. Alas, we’ll have to wait until Sunday to see what Le Vian is loving this year.

19. Overseas flights are still a major pain, so thank goodness so many international exhibitors come to Vegas. Travel to Hong Kong, Spain, and Germany all in the same day; they each have their own neighborhoods. Then jet over to the first-floor Passport pavilion, where you’ll find companies from countries as far afield as Thailand (your go-to for spectacular silver) and Turkey (high-karat gold specialists).   

20. From apatite to zircon, virtually all the world’s gem varieties will be on display in the expanded Gems neighborhood, which opens Thursday, June 9, one day before the rest of the JCK show. With exhibitors from the American Gem Trade Association and the International Colored Gemstone Association, it’s on level 2, next to Plumb Club and behind Luxury. Whether you’re looking for bread-and-butter goods (blue sapphires, anyone?) or esoteric gems (like the single-source stone grandidierite), think of Gems as a distilled-to-its-essence version of Tucson without the saguaros.

21. Looking to add some affordable giftables to your stock? The Shoppe by JCK is an all-new pavilion, on the second floor, for gifts and accessories including leather goods, eyewear, handbags, stationery, skin care/beauty products, and home decor.

22. Don’t forget to pick up a JCK Show Daily! On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, JCK publishes an on-site edition containing live-from-the-floor reporting, event schedules, and show maps.

23. Have you downloaded the JCK app? Visit the App Store or Google Play. Trust us: It’s the best way to navigate the show floor.

24. Luxury returns to its home on level 2 in the same format buyers have come to expect: a main show floor plus ballrooms, with Luxury lunch served across those spaces. Open by invitation only Wednesday and Thursday, the show opens to all JCK show attendees June 10–13.

25. Missed VicenzaOro in March? Non c’è problema! Nestled next to Plumb Club on the second floor is Bella Italia, where you’ll find more 18k gold than you could imagine and brands such as Palmiero and Picchiotti.

26. If you haven’t signed up for JCK Pro—a members-only pass to market insights, expert content, and connection opportunities—be sure to add JCK Pro to your cart when you register for JCK 2022, or subscribe at jckonline.com/pro with code “SHOWPRO22.” You’ll receive a discounted rate that gets you on-site Pro perks including access to an exclusive lounge and a dedicated registration line (skip the crowds on opening day!).

27. When you need a moment to relax or socialize (or simply rest your tired dogs), look for a lounge—the Jewelers’ Choice Awards Lounge, and Design Collective and Gems lounges—on level 2. And enjoy complimentary afternoon snack and cocktail service in the revamped Luxury Lounge.

28. Essentials & Tech isn’t all 3D printers and CAD software: You can find super-accessible tools such as Picup Media’s GemLoupe and a $169 smartphone clip-on lens to take your jewelry pics up a few notches. (Excuse us while we order one…)

29. As of press time, masks are recommended, but not required, for JCK show participants. Watch lasvegas.jckonline.com for updates to the latest CDC guidelines.

30. A JCK Keynote will take place on Friday morning. Among the previous keynote speakers: swimsuit model–turned–jewelry designer Kathy Ireland and Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. This year’s speaker: self-described marketing maven Swan Sit.

Top: Fringe necklace with 9.23 cts. t.w. green tourmaline and 0.2 ct. t.w. diamonds in 18k yellow gold, $6,595; Lauren K

(Hamilton marquee: Bruce Glikas)