Special Events

What to Look for When Buying Antique Jewelry: In this insightful session, Author, Jewelry Historian and founder of Gemolithos, Ioannis Alexandris, will share tips for shopping for antique jewelry. From what to look for to what to avoid, Ioannis will cover antique jewelry from 1800–1939.

Ioannis Alexandris, Founder of Gemolithos Fine Gems & Jewels

Education Area, Booth #104

1:00PM

Modern Eyes, Classic Pieces: Wedgwood in the 21st Century: The under 50’s are appreciating Wedgwood in a very different way than their parents. They are not collecting but rather looking for functional and statement pieces. Stuart will delve into the new trends and what’s hot and what’s not.

Stuart Slavid, Senior Vice President | Director of European Furniture, Decorative Arts, Silver and Fine Ceramics, Bonhams Skinner

Education Area, Booth #104

2:00PM

Timeless Traditions: The Legacy and Future of the Horological Society of New York: The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is America’s oldest watch making guild, founded in 1866. With the lecture “Timeless Traditions: The Legacy and Future of the Horological Society of New York,” Navarro will delve into the organization’s rich history, mission, and contributions to the watchmaking community. 

Carolina Navarro, Deputy Director

Education Area, Booth #104

3:00PM

The Pitfalls of Print Collecting: Terms to Know Before You Go: While the language is clear to those in the know, people who are new to prints may make buying errors if they don’t understand what the verbiage on the label actually means. This talk will teach you the basic terms you need to understand when considering the purchase of a fine art print.

Robin Starr | General Manager of Bonhams Skinner, previously Vice President of American & European Works of Art

Education Area, Booth #104

4:00PM

Complimentary Appraisals with Bonhams: Bring your Antique, Jewelry, Watches, or Artwork for a complimentary appraisal from one of Bonhams’ expert appraisers.*

Ocean Ballroom A

11:00AM to 7:00PM

*One (1) item per ticket holder 

Quick Q&A and Book Signing with Marion Fasel: The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance is the first publication to examine the origin story of diamond engagement rings and illustrate how they become one of the, if not the, most enduring traditions in jewelry.

Panelist: Marion Fasel, Author, historian, curator and founder of The Adventurine

Moderated by Michelle Orman

Education Area, Booth #104

1:00PM

Timepiece Pursuits: The Thrills, Triumphs and Tribulations of Watch Collecting: Collecting watches is a hobby that can drive us mad. It may start as a “hobby,” but for many, the call of collecting takes over and one time “enthusiasts” become all-out obsessives! In this vibrant panel discussion, OMBAS attendees can hear from a panel featuring a celebrated dealer and an auctioneer, moderated by a watch journalist – all three of them collectors in their own right, too –  about the watches they travelled to find in 2024, times it worked out and the times it didn’t, the battle of auctions versus private dealers, what happens when they’re fighting for the same watch or client, and more.

Panelists: Fred Savage, Timepiece Grading, Brynn Wallner, Dimepiece.co, Max Traber, Bonhams

Moderated by Anthony Traina, Hodinkee

Education Area, Booth #104

2:00PM

Gem Pursuit Live Podcasting: In this podcasting session, Alyce Ketcher and Matthew Weldon, hosts of the popular podcast, Gem Pursuit, will uncover the mysteries of Murph the Surf, a notorious playboy-turned-jewel heist who stole the Star of India from a New York City museum and drove it back home to Miami.

Alyce Ketcher and Matthew Weldon

Education Area, Booth #104

3:00PM

Tales from the Trade: An #OMBAS Tell All: The one that got away, bidding wars, pieces of questionable provenance, unusual requests…our dealers have stories to tell! Traditionally kept within the confines of those “in the know,” for the first time, a diverse group of OMBAS dealers are going to spill the tea publicly! Without naming names, this tell-all panel discussion will provide an inside glimpse into what it’s really like to be an antique, vintage and estate dealer.

Matthew Weldon, Courtville

Oliver Bachet, Director of IAJA

Michael Singer, Windsor Jewelers Inc.

Education Area, #104

1:00PM