Watch Trade Shows for Dealers: IWJG, JCK and the Shows Worth Knowing
The watch trade shows dealers actually go to: IWJG, the Las Vegas antique show, JCK, Miami, Hong Kong and Europe, with who can get in and what to bring.
By Dejan Zoric
5 min read
The short answer
The watch trade shows most useful to pre-owned dealers are the members-only IWJG shows in Miami, Las Vegas and New York, and the trade-only Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show during JCK week. Big jewelry trade shows like JCK, JIS and JA New York have watch sections, Hong Kong's Watch & Clock Fair is for sourcing from manufacturers, and Watches and Wonders is a brand fair, not a dealer show.
Key takeaways
- Not every 'watch show' is for dealers: some are dealer-to-dealer, some are jewelry trade shows, some are brand or consumer events.
- IWJG and the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show are the most dealer-to-dealer.
- Trade-only shows check credentials: business license or resale certificate, proof of employment, sometimes invoices.
- Register early. Approval can take days, and some shows close registration before the show.
- Shows are for relationships. The trade carries on after you fly home.
On this page
Ask ten dealers where they met their best trade partner and a lot of them will say a show. There's nothing like a room full of dealers, watches on tables and deals done face to face. But "watch show" means very different things. Some are dealer-to-dealer trading floors. Some are giant jewelry fairs with a watch aisle. Some are brand launches you can't buy anything at.
Here's how the main shows break down for a pre-owned watch dealer, who can get in, and how to get the most out of one. All dates and rules are as listed on each show's website in October 2026, and they change, so always check the official site before you book.
The dealer-to-dealer shows
These are the closest thing the pre-owned trade has to a trading floor.
IWJG (International Watch & Jewelry Guild). Founded in 1988, IWJG runs members-only wholesale shows. The public can't attend: you need IWJG membership.[2] Shows run Monday and Tuesday, 9am to 6pm, and the calendar lists Miami in November 2026, then Miami, Las Vegas and New York (the TWA Hotel at JFK) through 2027.[1] Of all the shows on this list, it's the most purely dealer-to-dealer. (We've also compared Soda and IWJG directly.)
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show. Held during JCK week, it calls itself "the largest trade only, five day event serving the antique jewelry, watch and estate industry." Attendees must be buyers from an active retailer, wholesaler or designer, and must provide two business documents, such as invoices, a seller's permit or business license, or three verifiable retailer references. Allow 7 to 10 business days for approval.[3] The 2026 show was at the Wynn, and 2027 dates hadn't been published as of October 2026.
Jewelry trade shows with a watch side
These are big, trade-only shows built for the jewelry business. Watches are a section, not the whole show, but the people you meet there are the trade.
| Show | Where | Next dates (as listed) | Who can get in |
|---|---|---|---|
| JCK Las Vegas | The Venetian Expo, Las Vegas | June 4–7, 2027 | Qualified jewelry trade only; "attendance is vetted and credentialing is required" |
| JIS Spring | Miami Beach Convention Center | March 7–9, 2027 | Qualified jewelry professionals only |
| JA New York (Spring) | Javits Center, New York | March 14–16, 2027 | Active jewelry trade only; no home-based businesses or general public |
| Inhorgenta | Messe München, Munich | February 19–22, 2027 | Trade visitors only, with proof of business |
| Vicenzaoro January | Vicenza, Italy | January 15–19, 2027 | People operating in the sector; registration mandatory |
Sources: JCK[4], JIS[6], JA New York[7], Inhorgenta[10] and Vicenzaoro.[11] JCK has a Timepieces section, and Inhorgenta has a dedicated timepieces area. Vicenzaoro runs VO Vintage alongside it (January 15–18, 2027), which is open to the public and focused on vintage watches and jewelry, the most relevant part for pre-owned dealers.[11]
Shows open to the public (and the trade)
Original Miami Beach Antique Show. One of the big ones, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, March 18–22, 2027. It's open to the public with a ticket, and trade buyers can register with a company ID such as a resale certificate. Note the rule for dealers: bringing in quantities of jewelry or watches is "strictly prohibited" unless you've bought a Non-Exhibiting Dealer badge.[8]
There are also smaller pre-owned watch fairs that welcome both the public and the trade, especially in the UK and Europe. They can be great for buying, but expect a mix of collectors and dealers on the floor.
Sourcing fairs and brand events
Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair. The biggest watch-only trade fair on this list: in 2026, 632 exhibitors and more than 17,000 buyers from 115 countries and regions. The next one is September 7–11, 2027.[9] It's mainly for sourcing from manufacturers, brands and parts suppliers, not for trading pre-owned luxury watches.
Watches and Wonders Geneva (April 5–11, 2027) is where brands present their new models. It has professional days and a public weekend, but it isn't a place to buy and sell pre-owned stock.[12] Dubai Watch Week says it's free and open to all, and describes itself as "a non commercial event where no trade activities take place on ground."[13] Both are great for understanding where the market is heading, not for doing deals.
Getting in: credentials
Trade-only shows check that you're really in the trade. Expect to need:
- Proof of business: a business license, seller's permit or sales tax/resale certificate.
- Proof you work there: for example a W-2, payroll stub or ownership records.
- Sometimes invoices: JCK, for example, asks retailers for supplier invoices from the last 12 months, and says it does not recognize eBay and other online auction platforms as credentials.[5]
- Photo ID at the door. Business cards on their own usually aren't accepted.
If you're early in your career, sort your paperwork first. Our guide on how to start a watch business covers the basics.
How to get the most out of a show
- Register early. Approval can take days, and IWJG closes registration from the Wednesday before a show.
- Go with a list. Know which references your clients want, your budget and your walk-away prices. See how to find a watch for a client.
- Know the real prices before you land, not just the asks you see on the tables.
- Bring business cards anyway. They won't get you in, but they'll get you remembered.
- Take security seriously. The Jewelers' Security Alliance's advice for Vegas week includes using armored couriers, vaulting goods on arrival, not doing deals in parking lots or hotel rooms, hiding your badge outside the show and keeping an itemized inventory with photos.[14]
- Mind your manners. A show is a small world. Read the unwritten rules of watch dealing before you go.
Prepare before you fly
The smartest dealers don't wait until they're standing at a table to find out what's out there.
After the show
The handshake is the start, not the end. Shows happen a few days a year, and the dealers you meet live in different cities. On Soda, you can find their company in the dealer directory, check their verification and track record, and keep trading in one marketplace of every verified dealer's listings and auctions, with binding deals and secure, verified payment details.
The bottom line
For pre-owned dealers, IWJG and the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show are the closest thing to a dealer trading floor. JCK, JIS, JA New York, Inhorgenta and Vicenzaoro are trade-only jewelry shows with a watch side. Hong Kong is for sourcing, and Watches and Wonders and Dubai Watch Week are about brands, not trading. Whichever you choose: register early, bring your paperwork, go with a list and keep security tight.
Keep the show going all year
The best part of a show is the people. Soda is where you keep doing business with them after the tables come down: a trade-only network of verified dealers, binding deals, live auctions and no commissions on your trades. See all features, then apply for access or book a demo.
Questions dealers ask
What is the biggest watch show for dealers?
For pre-owned, dealer-to-dealer trading in the US, IWJG's members-only shows and the trade-only Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show during JCK week are the best known. For sourcing from manufacturers, the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair is the biggest watch-only trade fair.
Can anyone go to a watch trade show?
No. Trade shows like IWJG, JCK, JIS and JA New York are closed to the public and check credentials such as a business license or resale certificate. Some fairs, like the Original Miami Beach Antique Show and VO Vintage in Vicenza, are open to the public with a ticket.
What do I need to bring to a watch trade show?
Your approved registration, a government photo ID, and the business documents the show asked for. If you're selling, check whether you need a table or a separate badge to bring in goods.
Is Watches and Wonders a dealer show?
No. Watches and Wonders Geneva is a brand fair where watch manufacturers present new models to retailers, press and, on its public days, enthusiasts. It isn't a place for dealers to buy and sell pre-owned watches.