JSA warns exhibitors to tighten security ahead of Las Vegas Jewelry Week

At Las Vegas Jewelry Week, the most fragile item in a case was not always the priciest. For dealers in vintage jewelry, a signed brooch, a retro cocktail ring or an heirloom wristwatch could be a small archive, a piece whose value rested as much on maker’s marks, grading papers, serial numbers and pre-transit photographs as on gold and gemstones.

As JCK Las Vegas 2026 moved into The Venetian Expo from Friday, May 29, through Monday, June 1, with Luxury opening Wednesday, May 27, and select JCK areas such as AGTA GemFair and the Gems Pavilion opening Thursday, May 28, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance reminded exhibitors that the show floor was not the only place thieves watched. Scott Guginsky, the organization’s executive vice president and a retired New York Police Department sergeant, said organized transnational theft groups targeted the industry during Jewelry Week in Las Vegas, and noted that JSA had been working closely with local law enforcement. Las Vegas Metro Police and JCK security staff were expected to be visible, but JSA said that did not replace strict booth discipline.

The guidance was blunt. Ship goods by armored courier. Confirm end-of-show shipping arrangements several days before the show closed. Vault merchandise immediately upon arrival and keep showcases locked outside exhibit hours. Control booth traffic during the crush of buyer appointments, setup and breakdown, and never leave merchandise unattended, not even for a minute. JSA also warned against bringing goods to hotels or Airbnb rentals, against private or unauthorized hotel-room shows, and against identifying yourself as a jeweler in hotel lobbies, restaurants, taxis or buses. The association also recommended GPS trackers such as Apple AirTags on luggage and booth containers.

The caution rested on a hard crime backdrop. JSA’s 2025 Annual Crime Report recorded 1,233 crimes against U.S. jewelry firms in 2025, down from 1,420 in 2024, but dollar losses still reached $144.7 million, up from $142.5 million. The association said its database helps federal and state law enforcement investigations, a reminder that every missing parcel can become more than a trade-show headache.

For vintage inventory, the stakes are sharper. A modern line can be reordered; an Edwardian ring with a chipped old-cut diamond, a maker’s stamp and a documented repair history cannot. In a week built on fast handoffs and crowded aisles, the best defense was the oldest discipline in the business: keep the chain-of-custody airtight, know exactly what entered the booth, know exactly where it went, and keep the paper trail as close to the jewels as the jewels themselves.