Sterling silver will be the shining star at JCK this year. According to the JCK Online contributing editor, sterling silver has been on the upswing for the past couple of years, and it is expected that 2023 will see that continue. “The metal, which can carry a wide range of price points, marks a departure from the long-reigning yellow gold but also offers something a hefty gold piece can’t—a big look at an approachable price,” the editor wrote in a recent JCK article.
Show officials believe JCK attendees believe yellow gold is still important and many will want the best of both metals and wear two-tone jewelry.
JCK, promoted by show officials as the industry’s largest and most renowned jewelry trade event in the world, will be held June 2-5, 2023, in Las Vegas, NV. It’s definitely a global success considering there are 30,000 professionals from 130 countries expected to attend. This year’s theme focuses on innovation, and attendees will be immersed in the trends and advances in technology, as well as learn from thought leaders and connect face-to-face with other attendees and exhibitors.
If you want to see the latest metals analysis technology, we will be in Stand 54065 demonstrating X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Precious metals analyzers utilizing XRF technology help jewelry store operators to confirm the metal in jewelry they are buying, as well as prove to their customers the precious metals they are buying, and even help customers understand the value of the silver, gold, and other jewelry they are cashing in. It also enables jewelry manufacturers to accurately identify the elements contained in the precious metal they are buying and quality check the jewelry they are selling.
If silver is the year’s trend, then jewelers will need a large supply of it. In 2022, according to the USGS, approximately 900 tons of silver was recovered from new and old scrap, accounting for about 14% of apparent consumption. That means that some jewelry may contain silver that was used in chemical production – like photographic wastes, films, dental alloys, spent catalysts, electronics, and other industries. (Read What Happens to the Gold After the Old Jewelry is Cashed In?) Depending on the origin of the recycled silver, various contaminants may be unknowingly introduced into the melt, thus affecting not only the properties of the melt itself (such as its melting temperature), but also the properties of the end-product, the jewelry item. This could hurt both the quality and the brand of major jewelry makers.
Recycling efforts must be combined with careful elemental analysis of the recovered metal to determine its exact chemical composition and to ensure the metal is free from contaminants or hazardous materials before it gets to the customer. So, not only should metal recycling companies confirm what’s in the melt, but jewelry manufacturers should also analyze the scrap they are buying before putting it into production.
Precious Metals XRF analyzers determine the chemistry of a sample by measuring the fluorescent (or secondary) x-ray emitted from a sample when it is excited by a primary x-ray source. Because this fluorescence is unique to the elemental composition of the sample – like a fingerprint — XRF can determine the exact content of the metal elements.
We noted that two-toned jewelry will still be in style in the coming year, but how are customers to know if the non-yellow gold design is silver or white gold, platinum, or even some mix of the non-precious metal nickel? Or even if that gold is 10K or 18K? Gold alloys include yellow gold, which has silver as the main alloying element, rose gold, which is alloyed with copper, and white gold, which has either palladium or nickel as the main alloying elements.
It makes a difference to a customer if they think they are buying white gold, but the jewelry piece is made of silver, or a plated base metal. Or how much that nickel is alloyed with the gold. Jewelers need to be able to identify non-standard, under-karat and counterfeit gold with fire assay-comparable accuracy, as well as help identify if something has been gold-plated over less valuable metals. The company reputation is at stake.
To accurately assess if a piece of jewelry is made of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium (or some other material), jewelers should utilize an XRF precious metals analyzer. X-ray Fluorescence technology is a fast, simple, nondestructive solution for analyzing metals and alloys, and even determine the presence and concentration of other trace, alloying elements.
You can see the technology in person if you are at the show. Bring any jewelry piece to our booth and we’ll analyze it right in front of you. If you can’t make to the show, check out our video presentation “All that Glitters is not Gold” with an introduction by JCK Magazine’s publisher (fast forward to 19:30 to see a demo).
You can also read more about XRF technology for precious metals testing on our website and follow the show on social media using #JCKLasVegas.
SHOW DETAILS
June 2-5, 2023
Stand: 54065
The Venetian
Las Vegas, NV
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