My work schedule for early June has been the same for several years already. The JCK Las Vegas show is the largest jewelry trade exhibition in the world that sets the trends of a giant industry for the year to come. At the show, retailers representing virtually every market have a unique chance to meet with manufacturers and suppliers from all over the world, offering everything from diamonds, gems, and watches to equipment, technology, and packaging.

This year, JCK’s Design Center held in store a very pleasant surprise for me. One hundred best jewelry designers in the world are featured in that pavilion. The most prestigious awards of JCK – the Rising Stars of JCK – are given out to a group of industry leaders. This year, three of the eight talented new designers that have been selected for the prestigious prize were Russian. Two of them, Misha of New York and Nina Basharova, are already living and working in the United States.

The style of Misha Zakhalov readily makes apparent his Russian roots and a Russian school of jewelry-making. He uses the famous filigree technique, albeit with great simplification. Old Russian craftsmanship and the very best and often rare exotic stones in modern settings are his recipes of success. Nina Basharova moved to the U.S. in 2002 and since that time has been recognized in more than fifteen design competitions. Nina distinguishes herself with a genuine sense of style, innovation, and creativity. I would recommend everyone to look at those two brands – high-profile industry experts are convinced that they have a bright future.

The only company from Russia itself that also received the Rising Star was the Moscow-based jewelry factory Elit and its international dealer Gemra AG. The company presented the Russian haute jewelry brand Monte-Auri. The earrings made in the form of the Russian ethnic headdress kokoshnik elicited great interest from the show’s attendees.

One other jeweler brand from Russia attracted the attention of professionals – German Kabirski. “Where was Russia keeping such a powerful weapon before?” my colleague, a magazine editor from Brazil, was asking me. “What an innovative approach! What new technological and daring solutions!.. Tell Mr. Kabirski to patent his technique! I’m sure that next year he will be in the Design Center and will take one of the awards…”

We shall wait for the next JCK. The first three days of June in my calendar for 2009 have already been set off.

As always, best wishes to all.