JCK Industry Fund Announces 2026 Grant Recipients

NORWALK, CT – May 7, 2026 – JCK and its Industry Fund Committee proudly announce the recipients of the 2026 JCK Industry Fund grants. The core mission of the JCK Industry Fund is to support the long-term success and ongoing growth of the global jewelry industry by funding innovative initiatives that drive meaningful improvements. The 2026 grants continue a strong legacy of empowering transformative projects across the trade.

“We’ve seen firsthand how investing in visionary programs transforms lives and drives industry progress,” says Sarin Bachmann, Senior Vice President, RX Jewelry Portfolio, and Chair of the JCK Industry Fund Committee. “This year’s recipients exemplify the spirit of innovation and dedication, expanding access to education, supporting emerging designers, strengthening our industries workforce, and uplifting communities around the globe.”

The 2026 JCK Industry Fund grants will support a wide array of impactful initiatives managed by organizations dedicated to bettering the fine jewelry landscape.

• BIJC Education Fund, The Future Jewelers Academy – Provide hands-on training, mentorship, and career pathways in jewelry design and manufacturing to students.  
• Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) – Support industry diversity of emerging designers by providing funds for travel and other expenses involved in participating in trade shows for new designers that may otherwise not be able to afford to launch their lines at this scale. The grant will cover designer showcases, travel, lodging, marketing, and operational needs, ensuring equitable representation.
• Diamond Council of America – Launch the Second Spark Workforce Initiative, providing subsidized certification, career support, and job placement for 100 veterans and returning parents to address the jewelry industry's workforce shortage.
• Diamond’s Do Good (DDG) – Amplify consumer engagement through broadcast and digital campaigns, retailer collaborations, and storytelling initiatives, promoting the positive impact of natural diamonds and strengthening industry trust.
• Gem Legacy – Build a water well for sustainable school meal funding and retaining walls for safe infrastructure at their campus in Tanzania, supporting education, nutrition, and vocational training for mining communities.
• Jewelers Security Alliance (JSA) – Modernize their national jewelry crime database, integrate it with their mobile app, and enhance analytics, visualization, and real-time crime prevention capabilities.
• Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) – Continue providing legal guidance on tariffs and trade.
• The Jewelry Edit Foundation – Create a four-part video series, "Inside the Jewelry Trade Show," and mentoring program to educate emerging designers, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, on navigating trade shows, from preparation to post-show success.
• Partners in Health – Support the final stages of the Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone - a region whose diamonds shaped the global jewelry industry’s past, and whose people now deserve a future defined not by extraction, but by dignity, health, and long-term opportunity. Enhancing maternal care through workforce training, advanced medical equipment, and expanded patient-centered services.

This year’s recipients were carefully selected by a dedicated committee of jewelry industry leaders. Each recipient was evaluated based on their ability to align with the JCK Industry Fund’s overarching mission and their capacity to drive sustainable progress in crucial focus areas.

For more information and to donate to the JCK Industry Fund, please visit the official JCK Industry Fund webpage. Attendees have the convenient option to donate while registering for the upcoming JCK show, and exhibitors can contribute directly while securing their booth space.

Media Contacts

Jen Cullen Williams, Luxury Brand Group
[email protected]

Lindsay Tyler, Senior Marketing Director, JCK & Luxury
[email protected]

About JCK
Considered the most important jewelry exhibition in the world, the award-winning JCK show provides the global jewelry and watch trade community the optimal stage for business growth by uniting the industry to buy, sell, network, learn and discover. A one-stop destination with the most diverse selection of professionals and products, JCK is jewelry’s most important gathering. Having been a launchpad for jewelry trends, products, and brands for three decades, JCK offers unrivaled access to quality buyers and sellers with 18,000 attendees and over 1,900 exhibitors annually. This is where the jewelry and watch industry and its media partners unite to do business, make vital connections, and get inspired during multiple days of product discovery and exceptional experiences. Visit lasvegas.jckonline.com.

About Luxury
The jewelry event that defines Luxury. An ultra-curated and exclusive jewelry buying experience, Luxury caters to the niche, high-end jewelry market. Only the most prestigious and affluent jewelers are invited to this two-day program of appointments, relaxed networking and amenity-packed shopping experience. Luxury attendees receive convenient access to exhibitors from across the globe at JCK, considered the most important jewelry exhibition in North America, to discover trends and meet all their sourcing needs under one roof, from settings and findings, to loose stones, to equipment and technology, from high end to fashion, and everything in between. Luxury provides the best place to do business in a high-end, secure environment. Visit luxury.jckonline.com.

About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organizations. With a presence in 25 countries across 41 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.