The 24 Karat Club Returns To NY Waldorf With More Inclusive Invite List

In just a couple of weeks, on March 14, 2026, the 24 Karat Club of the City of New York will return its annual banquet to the Waldorf Astoria New York. Before its closure for an eight-year renovation, the legendary hotel had long been synonymous with the illustrious event. The reopening of the Waldorf last July makes the 2026 dinner a true homecoming for the Club, whose banquet was the longest-running New York–based industry event to be held there consecutively until the hotel shuttered for restoration.

But while the return to Park Avenue may be the headline, the more meaningful development, in my opinion, is what’s happening inside the ballroom. Under the leadership of Club President Steven Lagos, the organization is making a deliberate effort to broaden who has a seat at the table.

“When I was elected Club President, I wanted to shake things up a bit,” Lagos told me. “I was asked to bring a new perspective and took the opportunity to make some changes that will create excitement and hopefully engage the next generation of designers, executives, press — everyone involved in the industry. With the return to the renovated Waldorf, the timing was right; a fresh opportunity to merge the old with the new — in every sense.”

The banquet remains invitation-only, traditionally drawing leaders from the global jewelry and watch sectors. Historically, those invitations were largely controlled by brands and long-standing member relationships — and guest lists tended to look much the same year after year. Now, it seems, that is changing.

“It starts with a commitment from leadership,” Lagos said. “We’re committed to inviting new and younger guests in addition to our long-term partners.”

In a move that signals that commitment, Lagos allocated a block of tickets to his daughter Kate, an associate designer, asking her to reach out to her peers — the sons and daughters of industry families and emerging professionals shaping the business today.

The Club is also encouraging members to extend invitations to up-and-comers across design, business, and media, and is willing to invest in additional tables to ensure those voices are included.

“We’re hoping to create excitement and interest, to continue the legacy and build a successful future for the Club and the industry at large,” Lagos said.

The Club’s mission — to foster fellowship within the jewelry industry and related trades — remains intact. What’s evolving is how that fellowship is expressed. “We’re just broadening our scope and focusing on the future,” said Lagos.

My Personal Perspective On The 24 Karat Club Banquet

I personally was struck by the club’s announcement in an email communication, when they communicated their new, more inclusive policy. When I was first starting out in this industry 40 years ago, this was (and most likely still is) the most notable event of the year. And the most difficult to score an invite to.

The 24 Karat Club was incredibly exclusive; invitations were extended by the member companies, and securing one felt like a true milestone. Women were not even permitted to be members of the all-male bastion at the time. (In fact, it wasn’t until the late 1980’s when policies shifted following the 1988 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Club Association, Inc. v. City of New York upheld that large private clubs could not discriminate based on gender.)

Anyway, the banquet was always a black-tie soirée worthy of the luxury industry the Club represents — formal, traditional, and very much an insiders’ gathering. That history, though, is precisely why this moment feels significant.

To see the Club not only return to its historic home at the Waldorf, but also intentionally open its doors wider — to younger generations and to people of all genders — reflects an understanding of where the industry is headed. These are the designers, executives, entrepreneurs, and communicators who will drive the business forward.

I personally look forward to the March 14 event and to witnessing this subtle but meaningful shift for one of the industry’s most enduring institutions.