The JA New York Special Delivery show, designed as a pre-holiday cash-and-carry for retailers, closed Tuesday at the Javits center after three days of buying and selling.
A number of retailers in attendance who spoke with National Jeweler said they were at the show to invest in on-trend pieces prior to the start of the upcoming, and hopefully busy, selling season.
The trends seen on the show floor include:
1) Pieces with a Seventies flair. Accessories inspired by this disco-fueled decade were all over the runways during the recent major fashion weeks worldwide, which were previewing trends for spring 2015. For fine jewelry, this translates into lots of yellow gold--which has been popular in fashion jewelry for some time now--particularly thick, chunky chains and bold medallions and cuffs done in the metal. Exhibitor Anzie was among those with displaying pieces with a 70s vibe.
2) Mismatched earrings. No two earrings are always the same anymore, which is good news for customers prone to misplacing them. Pairs of earrings that are different but together express an idea--think, a heart in one ear and an arrow in the other--are negatives of each other, or are completely unrelated are in right now.
Rome-based jewelry company Anna e Alex had a number of interesting complementary pairs on display at the show. They were crafted of sardonic shell and retail for less than $600. Anna e Alex is new to the U.S. market and was founded by Anna Neri and Alessandra Sales, both of whom spent years at Bulgari.
3) Unique rings. Rings that do more than rest at the base of the finger have been in style for a while now. At the show, a number of full-finger rings were on display, as were pieces with attached midis--a second, smaller ring that sits above the wearer’s knuckle--and rings that don’t quite connect and also can be asymmetrical.
Hong Kong-based Cupid, a brand of exhibitor Forever Jewels Ltd., displayed this trend in a ring from its Front Row/Enigma collection.
4) Little for layering. Small, delicate necklaces of varying lengths that, more than likely, will be worn together were all over the show floor. Displayed alongside them were stackable rings and skinny cuffs, as highlighted in Cindy’s TrendTracker, designed to be worn open side up, often with embellished or interestingly shaped end caps.
World Trade Jewelers had a number of both on display at its booth--including from its Svelte Diamonds collection the uber-popular bar necklaces in varying sizes that are designed for layering--as did KC Designs.
5) Updated engagement rings. There were plenty of pear-, marquise- and oval-shaped diamonds and other colored gemstones at the show, as these shapes are making a comeback for bridal.
Natalie K, a bridal brand of Los Angeles-based M.K. Diamonds & Jewelry, had a number of pear-shaped stones on display at its booth and also noted that demand for ovals was strong.
