Key takeaways
• The Jewelry Symposium (TJS) 2026 achieved an 18% increase in attendance over the previous year, drawing 131 attendees to its event in Detroit, Michigan.
• The event featured 20 international speakers presenting on advanced technical topics, including 3-D printing, AI applications for jewelry design, and responsible sourcing.
• Submissions for presentation abstracts and corporate sponsorships are now open for the 2027 symposium, with an abstract deadline of August 1, 2026.
(TROY, MI) – TJS (The Jewelry Symposium), the jewelry industry’s annual international event dedicated specifically to the advancement of jewelry manufacturing technology, was held in Detroit, MI, from May 16-19, 2026, with 131 attendees. Before the symposium, Jewelers of America and the MJSA Education Foundation co-sponsored an important roundtable discussion with 100 industry professionals on workforce challenges and skilled-labor attrition in the jewelry manufacturing industry.
Over the three full days of the symposium, 20 esteemed international speakers from 7 countries (Germany, India, Italy, Spain, Thailand, the USA and the UK) presented technical papers to a gathering of jewelry makers, students and specialists. Topics ranged from new technological developments in additive manufacturing (3-D printing), tips for specific types of casting and polishing defects, AI applications for jewelry design, navigating FTC guidelines, responsible sourcing, and more. Sponsors for this year’s symposium included Au Enterprises, Caurum, David H. Fell & Co., Dougherty Charitable Fund, Dynasty Casting, Eddie Bell, Gesswein, GIA, Hoover & Strong, Jewelers of America, Legor Group, MJJ Brilliant, MJSA, Mano Acero Jewelry, MTC of New York, OTEC, Progold, Ransom & Randolph, Romanoff, Stuller, Sunjewels, TechForm Casting, Uni-Design, and United Precious Metal Refining.
“We are encouraged by the year-over-year growth since 2023, with an 18% increase in attendance at the symposium this year alone,” says Linus Drogs, TJS Board Chairman. “Proudly, we continue to draw the very highest quality speakers, including professionals from widely recognized brands like Tiffany & Co., GIA, and Hoover & Strong. Our meaningful roundtable discussion this year, generously co-sponsored by MJSA Education Foundation and JA, prompted healthy debate and discussion about the ongoing hiring challenges and the strategies different companies use to overcome them. Overall, TJS this year received the best response from the industry yet, with more repeat and first-time attendees, more sponsor support and a distinct feeling of connectedness and purpose among them all.”
Networking sessions were also hosted to allow for private discussions, mentoring of students and young professionals, as well as relationship building and sharing of ideas, inspiration and best practices. Attendees reported enjoying the networking equally as much as the learning.
TJS Scholarship attendee and GIA student Amelia Zavagnin remarked, “TJS has been a fantastic experience. I am very new to the industry, and it’s just been such an eye-opener, learning about where we are right now and what is coming in the future.”
Presenter Michael Binnion from Tiffany & Co. said, “I was really excited to be a speaker this year at The Jewelry Symposium. I bring colleagues every year. It’s a great place to learn, and I enjoy being here. Some of my best industry friendships were made at the Symposium, and we constantly help each other with work challenges. It’s a great place to meet people and a really important part of my life.”
First-time TJS attendee, Omar Avilez from TANE Mexico, commented, “I’ve wanted to attend the Symposium for years. On the first day, I was surprised to discover that so many industry people I have followed and admired since I was a student are attendees. It was an honor and a pleasure to learn from them and to see that TJS is not a commercial venue. That is its main advantage. It is educational— knowledge, science, tools. It’s very important for the industry.”
Annual TJS sponsor and attendee Roger Gesswein said, “I highly recommend The Jewelry Symposium to anyone who is serious about being a leader in the jewelry industry. You cannot beat the access you get to leaders in the field, and the technology is second to none. We are real supporters of this organization. We learn different golden nuggets every single time. If you want to advance your field or advance your company, definitely come to TJS.”
TJS is now accepting abstract submissions for presentations at its 2027 event until August 1st, 2026. Abstract forms may be downloaded from https://www.thejewelrysymposium.com/be-a-speaker.
Sponsorships are also now open for the 2027 event. See https://www.thejewelrysymposium.com/be-a-sponsor for details.
For more information regarding TJS, visit www.thejewelrysymposium.com or email Jessa Cast at jessa@thejewelrysymposium.com.
About The Jewelry Symposium
The Jewelry Symposium for the Advancement of Jewelry Manufacturing Technology is a passionate, collaborative, non-commercial, global community that inspires creativity, fosters innovation, and encourages the further development of all facets of the jewelry-making family.
