Join four of the jewelry industry’s deepest thinkers for a free-flowing, eye-opening panel discussion on the state of the jewelry industry as we head into 2027. Rob Bates (founder and editor of The Jewelry Wire), Dave Siminski (Vice President of United Precious Metals), Peter Smith (author, educator, and RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Expert for 2026), and Ross Wesdorp (Co-Owner and Senior Director of Sales at Jewel-Craft Inc.) will bring their expertise to a range of topics affecting the jewelry industry today, which may include:

• The State of the U.S. Jewelry Market: Review of 2025, forecasts for 2026 and beyond, and the factors driving continued sales growth despite economic uncertainty.
• The Changing Retail Landscape: The growth of e-commerce, consumer spending trends, holiday sales performance, and how independent jewelers are competing in a consolidating market.
• Industry Structure & Workforce Trends: Store openings and closures, consolidation among retailers, staffing challenges, and the role of major industry players.
• Diamonds & Product Trends: Evolving natural and lab-grown diamond markets, changing consumer preferences, and opportunities for retailers.
• Precious Metals & Supply Chain Challenges: The impact of rising gold, silver, and platinum prices, tariffs, and broader supply chain pressures.
• Emerging Opportunities & Industry Risks: Key opportunities and challenges facing the industry in 2026 and 2027, such as growth in repairs, estate jewelry, AI adoption, and organized retail crime.