So, when three of National Jeweler’s four editors flew West for Jewelry Market Week, we made a decision: We were going to make a note of every single piece of jewelry we saw that evoked a feeling of lightness and put a smile on our faces because, at the end of the day, that’s the point of jewelry.
We landed at 15 but could have listed many more.
Below, each editor shares a recap of their most joyous jewelry moments from the shows, as told in their own voice.
Michelle’s Merriment
I was the one who came up with the idea for this story, so it seems fitting that my joy at the 2026 Las Vegas shows could not be contained, i.e., I have the most pieces in this story.
I was one of the first, if not the first, kid in my elementary school to wear glasses (see below); perhaps that’s what drew me to the “Sunglasses” pendants by first-time Couture exhibitor Edina Kiss.
The arms articulate just like a real pair of glasses, so you can open them up, hook them around a chain, and then close them so they are secure.
First-grade Michelle would’ve loved them too.
The author was a pioneer when it came to wearing glasses at Todd Lane Elementary School.
The Sunglasses pendant by Edina Kiss in 18-karat yellow gold with 1.1 carats of blue sapphires and 1.05 carats of pink sapphires ($21,900)
The glasses on the brand’s 18-karat yellow gold interlocking chain, sold separately
Designer Xiao Wang exhibited at Couture as part of “The Iridescence” and brought a charming set of charms with her that included a jewelry store, a tea shop, and my favorite, a bookstore.
Xiao Wang’s bookstore charm is part of her “Ice Cream Candy” line. It is 14-karat yellow gold with diamonds.
It’s hard to separate joy from wonder when I think back on all the jewelry I saw in For Future Reference’s “VIP room,” but I’ll do my best to narrow it down to a couple.
First is the “Gold Rush” version of designer Lauren Harwell Godfrey’s bejeweled take on Pet Rocks, which she introduced last year as part of her “1975” collection. (When I was a kid, I had a Pet Rock I “rescued” from the pool down the street from my house. I named him Pancake.)
The “Bodie Lil’ Buddie” pendant features a 55.07-carat turquoise with crystal and onyx eyes and 18-karat gold framing ($11,929).
Circa 1700’s “Rock Candy” ring is set with an 8.85-carat antique old European-cut diamond set in an 18-karat yellow gold. The mount and shank are crafted of a rich blue enamel that changes color in the light, and there is a red enamel heart on the interior shank (price upon request).
The “Bodie Lil’ Buddie” pendant is turquoise—the gemstone of choice at the shows this year—and just as cute as his predecessors.
Second is Circa 1700’s “Rock Candy” diamond ring featuring an 8.85-carat antique old European-cut diamond because who wouldn’t feel joy when trying on a diamond like this?
For me, it is less about the size and more about the character of the stone and the incredible enamel setting, which shifts from blue to black to purple depending on the light.
You can see a picture of the ring above, but this video really does it justice.
As Associate Editor Natalie Francisco noted in her jewelry trends roundup, all things Western themed were popular at the shows this year—cowboy hats, boots, spurs, horses, and horseshoes.
Buddha Mama’s 20-karat yellow gold “Cowgirl” stud earrings feature sky blue enamel and 0.36 carats of diamonds ($12,050).
Mastoloni’s “Cowgirl Boot” pendant is 14-karat yellow gold and features a 6-6.5 mm freshwater pearl on an 18-inch chain ($1,050). The pendant is part of the brand’s “Charmers” collection.
I was in my 30s when I rode a horse for the first time and was terrified, so I wouldn’t say I’m a “horse girl,” but I love horseshoe jewelry and, as it turns out, boot jewelry.
At Buddha Mama’s booth, I spotted a pair of enamel and diamond boot “stud” earrings; I put the word stud in quotations marks because only in Buddha Mama’s world would a pair of earrings this size be classified as studs.
A singular boot that made me smile was from Mastoloni, which had so many good charms (another show trend) at its booth—a mermaid, a seahorse, a shell … but I liked the boot best.
I’m always enchanted at the sight of a locket but, somehow after all these years in jewelry, I still don’t have one to hold pictures of my beloved cat, Salem. As I’ve already blown my 2026 jewelry budget, I will add “locket” to my 2027 wish list.
Kirsty Stone, the designer behind the brand Retrouvaí, created her first lockets for Couture 2026, a collection called “Vein.”
Retrouvaí’s engraved “Cloud” locket is part of the new “Vein” collection. It is 18-karat yellow gold on a handmade chain and comes in three sizes; the largest, the “Grandfather,” is pictured ($29,640).
The “Cloud” locket is sweet and subtle on its face yet carries a powerful message on the back that Stone wrote herself: The forces which shape us most are rarely visible.
I end my recap of all the jewelry that made me happy with some joyful color, courtesy of Anzie and Gumuchian.
Anzie’s “Amie” friendship bracelets come in every color, from hot pink to brown, and feature sweet little symbols like a butterfly, evil eye, heart, horseshoe, or my personal favorite, a paw.
A selection of four “Amie” bracelets from Anzie. The bracelets come on a nylon cord and feature a 14-karat gold charm. Pictured from top are the diamond pavé heart on a pink cord ($490), the mini diamond pavé heart on a red cord ($315), the horseshoe on a gold-colored cord ($190), and the turquoise evil eye birthstone on an orange cord ($165).
A peridot pendant from Gumuchian’s new “Zoe” collection of diamond and colored gemstone jewelry. The 18-karat gold piece has a half-carat peridot on an 18-inch chain ($1,760).
Gumuchian introduced a new collection at JCK Luxury called “Zoe,” named after co-founder Patricia Gumuchian’s first granddaughter.
It’s simple, elegant, and the perfect gift for a new mom, or anyone who enjoys their birthstone.
How sweet it all is.
Lenore’s Loves
I’m a big believer in fun jewelry. Many of my favorites have already been highlighted in my “Best Animal Jewelry in Las Vegas” story, but I still had a few gems to share that brought me joy.
My first appointment in Las Vegas was Tacori, a brand I have stopped in to see many times over the years. Last spring, I toured its Los Angeles studio.
I can always count on Tacori to have beautiful diamond engagement rings in every configuration you can think of, but don’t sleep on its colored gemstone selection.
The ring pictured below reminded me of a swirly sherbet in a cone on a sunny beach day. The pastel-toned diamonds and sapphires blend together in such a beautiful way.
The “Classic Crescent RoyalT” mosaic band is crafted in 18-karat yellow gold and hand-set with marquise and pear-shaped pastel sapphires. Pavé diamonds outline the top and bottom edges of the signature crescent detailing.
Tacori’s Classic Crescent RoyalT marquise and pear pastel sapphire mosaic band in 18-karat yellow gold, set with 8.06 carats of sapphires and 0.19 carats of diamonds ($19,900)
I also stopped in to see Sydney Evan on my first day of Couture. I trekked to the villas and was rewarded for my efforts with a bevy of fun jewelry.
When I first walked in, I was greeted by two tall wooden dividers, with the brand’s signature motifs, like smiley faces and monstera leaves, carved into them.
Designer Rosanne Karmes, the brand’s founder, was also there to greet me and show me what’s new and a few of her favorites.
I’ll highlight two of my favorites. First up, this martini multi-charm necklace is pure fun. There’s a martini glass charm, an olives charm, and one that reads “chill.”
Sydney Evan multi-charm martini necklace in 14-karat yellow gold with diamonds ($6,515)
Amid my hectic Las Vegas week, it was a much-needed reminder to take a breather. Maybe not with a martini during working hours, but a step outside for some fresh air is always a welcome reprieve.
I’m actually not even a fan of traditional martinis. I’ll do a French martini, a sweet version that swaps the vermouth and bitters for pineapple juice and Chambord.
The clasp is also in the shape of an evil eye, if you need someone to watch your back while you chill out with your martini.
Another fun standout by Sydney Evan was this lighter charm, complete with a bright yellow happy face on the front. The wheel of the lighter also spins!
Sydney Evan 14-karat yellow gold and diamond lighter charm ($1,925)
While I don’t smoke, lighting a scented candle and sitting back with a martini would certainly bring me joy.
Last up for my “loves” is this robot charm by Lauren Newton Jewelry.
Lauren Newton Jewelry “Sparky” robot charm in 18-karat yellow gold with emerald eyes and buttons ($6,450)
As a Brooklyn girl, I love to highlight Brooklyn-based jewelry designers.
The robot charm, lovingly named “Sparky,” not only brought me joy, but was a standout among all of the jewelry I saw at the Las Vegas shows.
There are some pieces you can’t forget, and Sparky is one of them. Crafted in 18-karat yellow gold, he’s fully articulated with emerald green eyes. (He can be customized with other gemstones.)
Something about his sweet face and his emerald buttons brought an instant smile to my face.
Natalie’s Novelties
While I was searching through the many extraordinary pieces at Couture and JCK Las Vegas for the top trends taking over this year, there were two pieces that caught my eye.
For the rest of my time in Las Vegas, I couldn’t stop thinking about NeverNot’s “Feel The Rhythm” boombox pendant and Vanessa Fernández Studio’s “Ondina Caótica” necklace—both pieces sparked joy for me.
NeverNot’s “Feel the Rhythm” boombox pendant features diamond and blue sapphire pavé alongside accents of emeralds, rubies, and pink, blue, orange, black, and white sapphires ($17,550, including the chain)
Of all the pieces on the show floor, the one that brought music to my ears was NeverNot’s Feel The Rhythm boombox pendant.
When I first began studying journalism, music was my topic of choice, so it felt full circle to see the “NeverNot Music” collection of boomboxes crafted from precious metals and gemstones.
NeverNot said the collection, including this piece, is a celebration of music’s extraordinary ability to transcend generations, cultures, and time itself.
The Feel The Rhythm pendant uses 18-karat yellow gold and diamond pavé to replicate a boombox with “NeverNot Turn It Up” engraved on the reverse.
The front of the piece uses blue sapphire pavé for the speakers, accented by emeralds, rubies, and pink, blue, orange, black, and white sapphires as the boombox’s buttons.
Vanessa Fernández Studio’s “Ondina Caótica” necklace showcases 7.41 carats of pear-shaped diamonds in a range of colors, 12.92 carats of neon chrysoberyl, 4.12 carats of pink sapphire, and 16.63 carats of spinel accented by 2.10 carats of diamond pavé in a custom 18-karat yellow gold alloy (price upon request)
After interviewing Fernández in January for my “6 Jewelry Designers Poised to Have a Breakout Year in 2026” article, I couldn’t wait to see the neckpiece she teased ahead of Couture.
The “Ondina Caótica” necklace, from the “Curva Caótica” collection, continues her nod to Hilma Af Klint, who is known as the mother of abstract art, and is an ode to the goddess Ondina.
What makes Fernández’s one-of-a-kind pieces continuously stand out to me is how each one is sculpted to make her custom 18-karat gold alloy flow like energy in a never-ending spiral.
The Ondina Caótica necklace features diamonds, chrysoberyl, pink sapphire, and spinel accented by diamond pavé and held in 18-karat yellow gold without settings.
Fernández, who creates all her pieces on the bench without molds, explained on Instagram that each stone’s setting was cut directly into place and the stones were placed with prongs at angles.