The education series at the 2025 Original Miami Beach Antique Show (OMBAS) was an exceptional enhancement to the astounding display of antique, vintage and estate jewelry, timepieces, art, furniture, home décor and accessories that could be discovered on the show floor. Held in a newly minted, dedicated education area of the Miami Beach Convention Center, the topics of discussion included horology, watch collecting, tips for collecting antique jewelry, an in-depth exploration of a famous jewelry heist, incorporating Wedgewood into contemporary décor, terms to know before print collecting, a book signing and, back by popular demand, a tell-all from a few of U.S. Antique Show dealers.

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography
That same afternoon, Carolina Navali, Deputy Director of the Horological Society of New York (HSNY), shared with the audience some of the history of the longest, continuously running Horological Society in the nation. In addition to telling the audience about some of the many opportunities offered by the HSNY, from hands on watch-making classes to lectures, Carolina also gave the inside scoop on the role the society played in one of the major plot lines of the most recent season of HBO’s popular series Gilded Age. Given her hints that there was more to come in the upcoming season, we’ll definitely be on the lookout to see where Jack Trotter’s invention of a new clock mechanism transpires!

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography
Adding to the excitement of the week, a new partnership with Bonhams for Appraisal Day resulted in a record number of treasure hunters bringing in personal items to show to experts in a variety of fields. With some perhaps hoping to strike it rich, visions of Antiques Roadshow triumphs dancing in their heads, the majority of attendees at Appraisal Day were merely wanting to get some context for treasures that had been in their family for generations. Having the opportunity to meet with someone with the knowledge and expertise of a Bonhams appraiser, who not only provided a verbal valuation but also took the time to share what they knew about the item from a historical perspective, was meaningful beyond learning something’s monetary value, and highlighted a core component of what makes OMBAS so special in the process.

Image courtesy of Lucas Botz Photography