JCK 2025: A Deep Dive into the Dazzling Trends and Triumphant Spirit of the Jewelry World
The Las Vegas desert heat is a familiar prelude to the electric energy contained within the walls of the JCK show. Each year, the world’s most influential jewelers, designers, miners, and tastemakers converge for a multi-day spectacle of brilliance and business. In the latest episode of the acclaimed podcast, “The Jewelry District,” hosts and industry veterans Victoria Gomelsky, JCK’s editor-in-chief, and Rob Bates, its news director, unpacked the key moments, prevailing moods, and glittering trends from the 2025 event. Their conversation paints a vivid picture of an industry not just surviving, but thriving with resilience, innovation, and a bold new confidence. This wasn’t just a trade show; it was a declaration of strength.
The Pulse of the Show Floor: An Atmosphere of Optimism and Grit
Walking the aisles of JCK 2025 was an immersive experience. The air buzzed with a palpable energy, a symphony of languages and the clinking of champagne flutes underscoring the serious business being conducted. According to both hosts, the overwhelming mood was undeniably upbeat, a stark and welcome contrast to the anxieties of recent years.
“I think part of that was relief,” Rob Bates mused, reflecting on the collective sigh that seemed to ripple through the convention hall. The industry has navigated a gauntlet of global challenges, from pandemic-related disruptions to economic uncertainties. “But I think part of it was,” he continued, “that retail has held up despite all the craziness in the world.” Consumers are still celebrating life’s milestones, and jewelry remains a tangible, cherished part of that celebration.
One particular cloud on the horizon has been the looming threat of tariffs. Yet, as Victoria Gomelsky discovered in her conversations with high-level executives, the industry’s response was one of stoic resolve rather than panic. “There was much less hubbub about [tariffs] than I thought there would be,” she remarked. The prevailing attitude wasn’t to dwell on the potential negatives, but to strategize, absorb costs where possible, and steadfastly stay the course. This grit and forward-looking focus underscored a powerful theme of the show: the jewelry business is built to last.
The Reign of Gold: The New Ultimate Statement
While diamonds will always be a cornerstone of the industry, the undeniable star of JCK 2025 was gold. Bold, unapologetic, and gleaming with intrinsic value, gold has re-emerged as the ultimate power play.
Why Gold is the New “Flex”
“Gold is the new flex,” declared Gomelsky, capturing the sentiment perfectly. For decades, the ultimate statement of luxury in jewelry was often a large, scintillating diamond. However, the market has undergone a seismic shift with the rise and widespread acceptance of lab-grown diamonds. While these stones offer accessibility and beauty, their proliferation has subtly altered the perception of what makes a piece truly rare and aspirational. A large carat weight, once an unambiguous symbol of status, no longer carries the exact same weight it used to.
In response, jewelers and consumers are turning to the timeless, elemental allure of gold. They are leaning into the metal itself—its heft, its warmth, its enduring value—as the primary vehicle for expressing style and substance. Gomelsky noted her surprise at the sheer commitment to this trend. Where she anticipated seeing a pivot to more accessible 14k gold or alternative metals to manage costs, she was instead greeted by a stunning array of substantial 18k gold pieces.
“It does feel like a resiliency that this industry and this business has that I don’t know that people would have expected,” she said. “It’s heartening.” This wasn’t just a trend; it was an investment in quality, a testament to the belief that true luxury is tangible and timeless.
Trends Spotted in Gold
This golden age manifested in several distinct styles on the show floor:
- The ’80s Revival: Collar necklaces, crafted as rigid, hard-bangle styles—some elegantly torqued—made a major comeback. These pieces command attention, framing the face and exuding a powerful, confident aesthetic.
- Cuffs and Bangles: The delicate, stackable chains of past years gave way to bigger, bolder forms. Substantial cuff bracelets and chunky bangles were everywhere, meant to be worn as singular, impactful statements.
- Medallions and Motifs: Large gold medallions, often serving as a canvas for intricately set stones or elaborate engravings, were a prominent feature. The Year of the Snake was celebrated with serpentine forms coiling around wrists and necks, while winged motifs—butterflies, birds, and dragonflies—added a touch of ethereal beauty.
Behind the Scenes: The People and Stories That Shape the Industry
Beyond the glittering display cases, JCK is about connection and conversation. For both hosts, the most memorable moments were the ones that brought the people of the industry together.
Victoria’s Highlight: A Dinner of Design and Transparency
For Gomelsky, a standout experience was a dinner hosted by Single Mine Origin (SMO). This pioneering U.K.-based company is at the forefront of the movement toward transparency, tracing its gold directly back to specific, responsible mines. This provides designers and, ultimately, consumers, with a clear and unbroken chain of custody, answering the increasingly urgent question: “Where does my jewelry come from?” The dinner was an intimate gathering of top design talent, a melting pot of creativity where Gomelsky could connect with the brilliant minds shaping the future of jewelry. It’s these opportunities for genuine connection, she noted, that make JCK invaluable.
Rob’s Highlights: High-Level Discourse and a Nation’s Ambition
Rob Bates found his highlights in the powerful conversations unfolding in seminars and private meetings. He pointed to the Natural Diamond Council’s takeover of a local restaurant, which became a bustling hub for networking and insight exchange.
He also attended a compelling presentation on “Angola’s Diamond Potential.” The nation, which has a complex and troubled history with diamonds, is making a concerted effort to reform its industry and put its best foot forward. Bates observed that officials are keenly focused on promoting the ethical practices and positive charitable impact of their modern mining operations. Their ambition is clear: to join the ranks of respected diamond-producing nations like Botswana.
Navigating the Markets: Deep Dives into Watches and Diamonds
The podcast also offered expert analysis on two of the industry’s most dynamic sectors: pre-owned watches and the ever-evolving diamond trade.
The Pre-Owned Watch Market Cools to a Sustainable Simmer
Gomelsky moderated a fascinating panel on the pre-owned watch business, featuring Elizabeth Smith of Oliver Smith Jeweler and Charles Tian of WatchCharts. The consensus was clear: the market has fundamentally changed since the speculative frenzy of 2022. The power has shifted from the seller to the buyer. The meteoric rise in prices, fueled by pandemic-era cash and crypto gains, has corrected, leading to what Gomelsky views as a “more sustainable business.” The current market is driven less by hype and more by genuine passion and connoisseurship, creating a healthier long-term ecosystem for collectors and retailers alike.
The Diamond Industry at a Crossroads
The diamond trade is in a profound state of flux, a central theme Bates explored in depth. Shortly after JCK, he traveled to New York City to moderate the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) presidents’ meeting, a high-level conference tackling the industry’s most pressing issues.
There, he conducted a pivotal interview with Botswana’s new president, Duma Boko. Bates contrasted Boko’s style with that of his predecessor, describing him as less of a “big personality” and more “wonky”—a serious, earnest leader who stuck to his script. That script was a powerful one, detailing how central diamonds are to Botswana’s economy and national identity, and articulating the real-world harm the country perceives from the rise of lab-grown diamonds.
This tension between natural and lab-grown was a recurring theme. At the annual De Beers breakfast at JCK, CEO Al Cook unveiled an ambitious new strategy, including a new brand identity and a “beacon” to reignite desire for natural diamonds. It’s a massive effort to reclaim the narrative. Yet, on the show floor, Bates saw the stark reality of the other side of the market: vendors selling lab-grown diamonds for as low as $50 a carat. This price collapse highlights the challenges and identity crisis facing the lab-grown sector, even as it continues to disrupt the traditional market.
A Personal Touch: New Trends and a Podcast Milestone
Amidst the high-level analysis, Gomelsky also highlighted a charming and commercially savvy trend: letter and word jewelry. This pandemic-era desire for personalization has gathered significant steam. She noted that supplier Stuller has even introduced lab-grown diamonds cut into the shape of individual letters. These small, relatively inexpensive loose gems are an “easy sell,” she argued. “If you’re wandering into a jewelry store and can’t find a gift for somebody, you can’t go wrong with the initials.”
Finally, the hosts took a moment to celebrate a milestone of their own: the 150th episode of “The Jewelry District.” Since its launch in 2019, the podcast has become an essential voice, hosting CEOs from De Beers, Signet, and Pandora, alongside countless brilliant designers and industry shapers. It’s a testament to their dedication and a fitting moment of reflection at the close of another successful JCK show—an event that proved the heart of the jewelry industry continues to beat with strength, passion, and a brilliant, golden luster.
