DAY 1
Zypp necklace with Australian South Sea and Japanese akoya pearls and diamonds in 18k white gold; price on request; Yoko London
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2026 SALES 12–12:45 P.M.
MARKETING 3–3:45 P.M.
RETAIL 4–4:45 P.M.
A panel of plugged-in store owners discuss “Gen Z Jewelry Shoppers: Trends, Preferences, and Insights.”
Designers and retailers tackle “Marketing That Connects With All Demographics.” Tip: Everyone appreciates authenticity.
Curious about “Trends in Engagement and Fashion Jewelry”? Industry experts reveal all in this session.
SPOTLIGHT STAGE
SHOWCASE STAGE
SHOWCASE STAGE
COVER STORY
Jumbo Swan Floatie pendant in ceramiccoated silver with diamond and 14k gold; $1,250; Tacit
THE PRICES ARE RIGHT A B U S T L I N G D AY 1 O F LU X U RY F O U N D E X H I B I TO R S I N T W O C A M P S : A C C E S S I B L E , A LT E R N AT I V E - M AT E R I A L D E S I G N S F O R VA L U E - D R I V E N S E L F - P U RC H A S E R S A N D NO -APOLOGIES HIGH JEWELRY FOR BUYERS WHO’VE NEVER BLINKED
BY VICTORIA GOMELSKY
O
N DAY 1 of Luxury, which opened to invited guests on Wednesday at The Venetian Expo, Just Jules’ Julie Romanenko (LUX400A) teed up her latest line: “It’s the hottest new thing,” said the Scottsdale, Ariz.– based designer. Ironically, Romanenko was referring to a collection of rather old things: vintage 9k gold lock pendants inspired by a charm from her mother’s Sweet 16 bracelet. The designs, which feature 14k gold bezels and chains, start at $3,000 retail. “I’m working really hard not to do the $10,000 pieces,” she said. Romanenko wasn’t the only jeweler committed to offering accessibly priced designs, but for many exhibitors, the definition of affordability at a time when gold continues to hover around $4,500 per ounce was difficult to pinpoint. Unlike last year’s Luxury show, when gold peaked around $3,200 and buyers largely leaned in, the precious metal’s precipitous rise —Michael Hakimian, Yoko London over the past year has divided
“We’re not in that market where $500 up or down makes any difference.”
Great Barrier Reef cuff bracelet with 9.69 ct. black opal, blue and pink sapphires, paraiba, tsavorite, and diamonds in 18k white gold; $170,565; Yael Designs
the trade into two principal camps: designer-led brands catering to value-conscious self-purchasers; and bigger, diamond-centric brands focused on selling large, natural stones to buyers for whom inflation has barely registered. Retailer Lisa Vinicur of Diane Glynn Jewelry in Jenkintown, Pa., summed up the former camp: “$4,000 is the new $2,000,” she said as she tried on a pair of gold and diamond earrings at designer Fern Freeman’s booth in NouvelleBox (BASSANO2602). “The sweet spot customer wants something for $2,500 and that’s really difficult.” That helps explain why Freeman incorporated a slew of chic alternative materials into her collection, including black-coated stainless steel, white ceramic, and wood. “We’re back to wood—wood is good,” Brett Freeman, Fern’s husband, said as he gazed, wistfully, at his chunky gold ring. “My wife made this for me 30 years ago when gold was $200.” At Tacit (also in the NouvelleBox ballroom), a 2-year-old brand from fine jewelry designer Michelle Fantaci, colorful ceramic-coated silver is the main ingredient in a 14k gold and diamond line she created expressly for gift-givers and self-purchasers. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4