Couture Show Ends on Upbeat Note

Despite the fears of the spreading delta variant of COVID-19, and with masks on, attendees and vendors at the Couture Show 2021 were in upbeat spirits when the show came to a close yesterday. This show marks the first time in more than a year and a half that the watch and jewelry industry were able to join together in person instead of digitally. Attendance was good, and most vendors were positive about the buyer-ready turn out.  From the By_Couture event in the all-new space at Wynn Las Vegas, to the eBay-sponsored Antique Watch and Jewelry space in the Wynn, the spirit was upbeat and positive. Of course, there’s no getting around the fact that everyone was concerned about the virus, masks were a premier gift this year and a lot of retailers and vendors also couldn’t attend due to travel restrictions. It’s a double-edged sword.

Still, “the show began with an inaugural Preview Event on Monday evening, allowing designers and brands to get a jump start on their appointments, and giving attending retailers and media a first look at the most recent collection launches.” “It feels great to be back together again,” said Gannon Brousseau, Director of Couture and Executive Vice President of Emerald. “Everyone is so thrilled to be here, and it’s so refreshing to witness business being done. We are in the process of re-defining the future of this industry, and it is so heartening to see this community leading the charge.”

The watch brands exhibiting at Couture this year ran the gamut from Reservoir to G-Shock, Bell & Ross, Oris, Grand Seiko and   many others. In fact, this year a total of more than two dozen brands showcased new watches and watch accessories in Vegas. RedBarCrew was in attendance, as well, and Watchonista used the venue to launch its first-ever Watchonista print magazine. Similarly, The Jewelry Journal launched its new newspaper-format issue at the show, complete with watch coverage by Roberta Naas.