2026-06-07  Week 23 

Las Vegas can feel like a blur until you slow down long enough to notice what’s actually happening: the jewelry industry gathering in one place to learn, compare, reconnect, and make the next year of retail decisions. I’m Doug Meadows from David Douglas Diamonds, and I’m back with a grounded recap of week 23 of Century Of Luxury And Legacy, straight from the show floors and late-night conversations that shape how we buy and sell jewelry. 

We break down the landscape from the Luxury show to JCK Las Vegas, plus stops at Couture and the Antique Show at the Wynn. You’ll hear what the scale looks like up close: tens of thousands of attendees, nearly two thousand exhibitors, and vendors investing big with massive booths and huge teams. More importantly, we talk about how to work a trade show with purpose, whether you’re hunting for engagement rings, wedding bands, gold chains, better tools, or simply a clearer read on jewelry trends and new technology. 

Then we dig into people, because relationships are the real currency here. I share why “being seen” matters and how it opens doors you can’t predict, along with standout time spent with mentor David Nygaard and renowned appraiser Mona Miller. Mona walks us through how to think about antique and estate jewelry, including the major eras from Georgian and Victorian to Art Deco, Retro, mid-century modern, and contemporary estate. We close with the theme I keep coming back to: intentionality and the belief that jewelry is never just metal and stones, it’s story, memory, and meaning. 

If this resonates, subscribe, share the episode with a jewelry lover or retailer, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show. What part of the Las Vegas jewelry shows would you want to experience firsthand?