The U.S. Antique Show Team Wish List
One of the key perks of working on the U.S. Antique Show team is that we get to be surrounded by beautiful things. While ogling our dealer’s cases and stands is just a fraction of what we do all year, everyone on the team feels rewarded when we finally get on show site and we get to wander the aisles of our shows and see items sourced from across the globe. Though there are, admittedly, varying levels of knowledge among the team, as you can see from this Holiday Wish List we’ve compiled, there is no shortage of taste and style!
A Legacy of Love: Antique & Vintage Engagement Rings
While the majority of engagements happen in the month of December, over a quarter of engagements (37%) happen between November and February. For couples contemplating a Valentine’s Day proposal, the Original Miami Beach Antique Show (OMBAS) provides a unique opportunity to source that perfect, one-of-a-kind ring to seal the deal. From cushion cuts to Old European cuts, vintage and estate or contemporary rings featuring antique diamonds, OMBAS dealers have procured the finest engagement rings from across the globe.
If These Pieces Could Talk: Triumphs of Tiaras and Headpieces
While seemingly antithetical to the current, “Quiet Luxury” trend of today, tiaras and other headwear are making a decided comeback. At the recent Cannes film festival, as reported by Marion Fasel of The Adventurine, Chanel ambassador Margaret Qualley stunned in a star headband from the brand’s High Jewelry collection, and model Isabeli Fontana wore a stunning brooch by contemporary designer, Elsa Jin, as a hair piece. Earlier this year, at the 2024 Met Gala, celebrities from all walks of life rocked headpieces, from subtle flashes of sparkle to over-the-top-ornate.
Fusing Past with Present
Retailers who are interested in carrying antique, vintage and estate jewelry are often faced with a few obstacles. Exceptional retailers want to have a comprehensive understanding of the product they carry, they want to make sure the pricing is beneficial both to their stores and their customers, and they need to ensure that they have the right client for the pieces they carry.
A Brief History of the Permanence of Fine Jewelry
Prices of gold, platinum and silver are public knowledge, with the current price per ounce of the metals (at press time) $2,343.70, $930.90 and $27.57, respectively. It’s also easy enough to find out the going rate for diamonds and, with a little more digging, fair market prices for colored gemstones and pearls. Yet those numbers only paint part of the picture, as anyone in the trade can attest.
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