Glitz, not glamour, best describes this desert metropolis, with one exception. The annual Couture Show for jewelry which takes place the first week of June at The Wynn hotel raises the bar for the high end jewelry industry. Exhibitors include mostly US jewelry companies, plus some internationally based jewelry companies from Italy, France, Germany and this year, from Brazil. A trade-only event, it’s open to qualified upscale jewelry retailers, designers, manufacturers and press.
The Couture Show (www.TheCoutureShow.com) ushers in a week’s worth of more than 200 high end diamontaires (Hearts on Fire and Kwiat, for example) and jewelry brands like Buccellati, Marina B (as in Bulgari), Mikimoto, as well as smaller jewelers looking to capture the interest and expand the commercial reach of their own jewelry brands into the US. Moving into its 16th year, Couture continues to be the benchmark for luxury and excellence for high-end jewelry design.
Trade shows can be daunting and exhausting, even to the very professionals they cater to, but the nature of this show—luxury jewelry–is the equivalent of shopping Madison Avenue in Manhattan or New Bond Street in London. A curated experience that’s five stars all the way through.
From iconic brand names to lesser known names and rising stars in the industry, private salons and booths are brimming with baubles twinkling to attract a retailer. The countres of Germany and Brazil curated small group exhibits within the main show. In addition, there was a watch pavillon with a handful of high end watch brands.
The Couture Design Awards’ 140 entries this year marked the largest group of design submissions ever, and a “People’s Choice Award” was added. Stand out award winners included Shaun Leane “Queen of Night” collar with 15 carats of pear-shaped purple sapphires, 35 carats of pave diamonds and other gemstones set in 18-karat blackened gold. Federica Rettore’s 18-karat gold earrings feature rose cut and brilliant cut diamonds, colored sapphires, fossil coral and gun-barrel stainless steel.In the Gold Category, Elena Votsj won for her gold ring with brilliant cut diamonds and garnets.
Judging by the record attendance at the Couture Show and the high number of exhibitors, the category is alive and well at the prestige level, which is encouraging news to this segment of the industry.
