The U.S.’ preeminent trade show for fine and high jewelry and timepieces, Couture, returns once again to the Wynn Las Vegas, hosting a mix of buyers, influencers, executives and creatives all eager to take in the curated selection fine jewelry and timepieces that will set the trends for the rest of the year.
This 2024 edition sees about 300 designers and brands on the show floor and villas. It is understood that around 4,000 members of the expansive jewelry community are expected to walk the show floor from preview night on Wednesday, through the four full days until Sunday.
This year sees the return on CoutureTalks, a speaker series covering a range of topics relevant to the global jewelry community. “We were very strategic in establishing our lineup for our CoutureTalks,” explained Gannon Brousseau, Couture director and executive vice president of Emerald. “We’re reintroducing learning and thought leadership after our initial 2019 launch, so we needed to ensure that the subject matter was relevant and compelling, and that the speakers were leaders within their fields. We’re excited to have arrived at that perfect combination of great content and exceptional partners.”
The series kicks off Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the Bandol ballroom with Shopify covering How to Craft a Holistic Brand Experience. “Shopify is a global leader in commerce that powers millions of businesses,” Brousseau said. “Key executives are going to share the ways in which Couture designers and retailers can use their tools to craft a holistic experience for their clients.”
Friday at 8 a.m. Tracr will take a deep dive into sustainability, responsibility, sourcing and technology. “Their session will mark the launch of exciting new developments that will be discussed by top executives from Platinum Guild, Kwiat, Tracr, DeBeers and Stuller, led by Josh Helmich,” he said.
“PerfectCorp is a powerhouse in the AI space,” Brousseau said, highlighting Friday afternoon’s talk called Fashion Forward with Beautiful AI: How Virtual Try-On Is Amplifying Success Across the Apparel and Accessories. “They’re going to share their knowledge and expertise and offer innovative solutions for leveraging the advantages of this new frontier.”
This year’s show unveils Luminaries by Couture, a representation of six of the seven mentees who make up the second mentorship program spearheaded by the Couture Diversity Action Council. The designers will showcase a range of imaginative designs and singular points of view. Hailing from a range of backgrounds and experiences, the group also presents a diversity of aesthetics, price points and approaches to the design process. From experts in CAD to seasoned bench jewelers to gemstone aficionados, each of these designers has chosen jewelry design as the medium for expressing their own world view.
“One of our guiding principles is our commitment to championing and fostering fresh talent, and the work of each of these designers showcases both acumen and an expansive understanding of jewelry as an art form. We are proud they have entrusted the Couture community with sharing a glimpse into the cultural influences and personal journeys that have informed their collections,” Brousseau said.
De Beers is supporting the Luminaries by Couture on a fundamental level by sponsoring the salon build where the group will be showcasing their jewelry, ensuring the designers’ designs will be on display in an environment befitting the quality and creativity of their work. “De Beers Group is proud to support the Luminaries by Couture as representatives of the next generation of fine jewelers,” noted Sally Morrison, De Beers director of public relations for Natural Diamonds. “New voices that bring diverse perspectives to our craft deserve our whole industry’s nurture and attention.”
Security remains a major focus of the event. As with last year, all attendees and exhibitors badges will be cross-checked against their government issued photo I.D. every time they enter the event spaces. “Our in-house security remains in close, continuous contact with the Las Vegas Police Department, Wynn’s internal security team and Jewelers’ Security Alliance to make sure we’re establishing and safeguarding the safest possible environment,” Brousseau said. “Last year was our first time implementing these stricter measures and both our exhibitors and our attendees commented that their increased sense of safety enhanced their enjoyment of our event, so we’re going to maintain best practices and stay constantly vigilant and responsive.”
Running concurrently to Couture, the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show will also set up shop at Wynn, and all Couture attendees have access. Thursday night there will be a poolside party by invite only with musical guest Santigold. Saturday night, the highly anticipated Couture Design Awards will take place from 6:30 to 10 p.m. in the Encore Theater.
While the Couture show may be based in Las Vegas, its influence does not stay there. The annual event helps set the pace for the jewelry market and influences creatives globally, with buyers and executives from the world’s top-tier luxury retailers making the show a priority. Brousseau continued, “What we’re most looking forward to, however, is seeing the extraordinary level of design on display.”
“Our designers and brands are traveling from around the world to showcase their work at Couture and based on brief glimpses at the entries to our Design Awards and some of the anticipated collection launches we’ll play host to, we are humbly reminded that Couture is a curation of the most exceptional designers and brands in the world; it is a privilege to showcase their innovation, creativity and dedication at our event.”
