Review And Photos by Andrea Valluzzo
Tal’s Design, Scottsdale, Ariz.
NEW YORK CITY — The Metropolitan Pavilion was most apropos for the New York City Jewelry & Watch Show. Well-lit but unassuming with plain white walls, the pavilion was a blank canvas that did not take attention away from the allure of the dazzling jewels, leaving the focus where it should be — on booths filled with glittering gold, diamonds and jewels.
Debuting October 30–November 1, the new show is under the umbrella of shows run by veteran show promoter Palm Beach Show Group, known for its high-end and glamorous walled events. President and chief executive officer Scott Diament said dealers lobbied hard for him to launch this niche show in New York. At his general line antiques shows, which feature art, antiques and jewelry, he has to limit the number of jewelry dealers to no more than 20 percent of the total number of exhibitors.
Jumpstarting the holiday season in the desirable New York market, the show offered tens of thousands of items and spanned continents, time periods and genres. “We wanted to present a great cross section of jewelry. If someone wants to buy jewelry or watches, they should put this show on their calendar,” he said, noting that the diversity ran from Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier and Vacheron & Constantin to many other designers. Offerings ran the gamut from Deco rings, Art Nouveau necklaces and blue diamonds to tiaras, classic fine jewelry and bold, contemporary statement pieces.
Marion Harris, well known to the trade as a dealer specializing in antiques and folk art, hit the show early on opening day as a shopper. A New York City resident, she was pleased to make some discoveries here, even among New York dealers. “I thought it was a welcome addition to the Palm Beach Show Group’s roster and found some of the 47th Street estate jewelry dealers interesting, especially ones that I was not already familiar with. They often have small stands in the Jewelry District and are not usually so accessible. I also came across an importer from Germany with an interesting contemporary line that I would not have known about otherwise.”
Jacob’s Diamond & Estate Jewelry, Los Angeles
After a while, some of the offerings at a jewelry show can blur together, but not here. Dealers brought great items, especially statement pieces rarely seen. Steven Neckman featured a carved amethyst necklace with matching bracelet from the 1970s, Italian, while Linda Gumb, London, featured a lovely butterfly-form piece in turquoise stones and a small grouping of Hermes pieces, including a gold bracelet and earrings and a watch. Among costume jewelry standouts were the bold necklaces on offer at Ira Scheck, New York City, while Perrisue Silver, Princeton, N.J., featured nearly every color of the rainbow in her booth, with one area devoted to yellow featuring a maize-hued cuff bracelet with diamond accents and a green twisty, multistrand necklace.
While most of the booths focused on jewelry, quite a few showcased watches and timepieces, ensuring a fine selection in many styles at varying price points. Elements of Time, South Miami, Fla., offered a limited edition Harry Winston power reserve watch in platinum, #47/50, which attracted much interest but is still available. The dealers said Rolex watches were selling well and their Chanel purses and jewelry were popular.
Blue was a popular hue at the show. J.S. Fearnley offered a Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra necklace in turquoise and yellow gold; Roberto Capra, Inc, New York City, featured a stunning tiara in blue diamonds; a starfish bangle in sapphires and diamonds was on offer from Tal’s Design, Scottsdale, Ariz.; a Bulgari snake bangle was at Gioia, New York City; and RAF Jewels, New York City, showed a miniature Cartier desk clock in cobalt blue enamel with gilt accents. Glen Leroux, Westport, Conn., had on view a lovely tennis bracelet in sapphires and diamonds.
EPS Platinum, Bucks County, Penn.
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then the show floor was filled with many friends as diamonds in every form, color and size were showcased in nearly every exhibitor booth. Jacob’s Diamond & Estate Jewelry, Los Angeles, offered a delicate pair of starfish-form earrings covered entirely in diamonds, while Jewels by Viggi’s showcase literally vibrated with shimmering diamonds inside. Moira Fine Jewellery Limited, London, featured a circa 1870 gold snake necklace in yellow gold having a woven body on a diamond-set head.
The show will return here next fall October 28–31. The Palm Beach Show Group’s next show is back in New York, November 20–24 at the Park Avenue Armory. For more information, www.palmbeachshowgroup.com or 561-822-5440.
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