Another Saturday at the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry Show

Saturday morning in Las Vegas. 
Only two more days of the antique and estate jewelry show...thank god.

Trade shows are exhausting, both physically and mentally.
For someone like me who spends the majority of my work day sitting in front of a computer, being on my feet from 10am to 7pm is difficult.  I have to admit that I'm totally impressed by the chic NY and European dealers who show up everyday in high heels.  How do they stand in heels all day long?
Honestly, I dress for comfort and practicality at these shows...so if you see a middle aged woman in a boring black skirt and shirt and fugliest birkinstocks ever...yes that would be me.  And no, I don't care what anyone thinks about my ugly shoes.

Then there is the mental challenge of dealing with the dealers.  Don't get me wrong, there so many awesome dealers at this show.  If you've never seen an Indian or an Israeli dealer negotiating on the price of a loose diamond, let me tell you, it is a thing of beauty.  They will just stand there and offer a price that they know is well below your asking price just to see if they can wear you down.  It's not even about the money when it comes to a matter of a couple of hundred dollars on a 13 carat diamond...it's about the game. These dealers have superior negotiating skills and they are charming and fun to do business with.  You can learn a lot by observing them in action.

Here's the view from my room at the Bellagio.  Luckily, the Bellagio is conveniently located across the street from the show which is being held at the fabulously faux french, Paris Hotel.  Seriously, could theParis hotel be a little more stereotypical?  The only thing missing is a man on a bicycle with a beret and a baguette.

So what are these shows all about? 
Buying and selling of course...and making contacts and seeing who has what, and understanding where prices are going in the trade....and if you haven't guessed...that would be up.

My days are spent looking at case after case of amazing estate jewelry.  Imagine a huge convention center room just filled with showcase after showcase of bling. I always wonder why anyone would buy brand new jewelry when there is so much pre-owned jewelry out there.

Anyone need a strand of South Sea pearls....or twenty?

Or how about an humongous diamond collar necklace?

Leaving the major bling aside, I concentrate on my niche product which is signed jewelry that is actually wearable and affordable...because really, how many opportunities do you have to wear a humongous diamond collar necklace?
Here's a cool piece from Cartier that I looked at yesterday. I didn't end up buying it because it was priced too high...note the calculator beneath my hand.  I have to buy below a very specific price point in order to be certain that Beladora can offer the most attractive prices on the internet.   It's getting more and more difficult with the rising prices of gold, gemstones and manufacturing.  But, we've picked up some great pieces and overall I'm happy with the show.

The day ends with coming back to the room and getting gussied up for dinner.
Here I am in my room, gussied up, sort of. 
At least the birkinstocks are off and the ballet flats are on.

Not being the adventuresome types, we don't even bother to the leave the hotel at night.
We have a routine and we stick with it.
Besides there are enough restaurants at the hotel that we can try a different one each night. I recommend Yellowtail for sushi and Prime if you want good food with quiet ambiance.
After dinner it's off to the Fontana bar terrace to watch the water show and discuss the business over cognac and cigars.

At about 11pm we go our separate ways.  Since I'm not a gambler, I avoid the casino like the plague.  

The others, I suspect, end up at the black jack tables until the late hours...but I wouldn't know because I'm in my room with a book. I definitely require a decent nights sleep if I'm going to be 10% as sharp as the diamond dealers!

One of these days I'd like to come to Las Vegas when I don't have to work.  I think that spending the day basking in the sun by the pool and going to a show or two might be fun. 

Las Vegas - Dealing With The Dealers

Well it's that time of year again
yes, it's the week for my annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas
not for gaming in the hopes of acquiring the ever elusive mammon
but for serious shopping for little shiny baubles made of gold and gems

This year there might be a little selling too
maybe

As all the world's jeweler's
descend on the city of sin
for the five big trade shows
jewelry, watch, gem, couture and antique and estate jewelry
wish me luck
It's not easy dealing with the dealers 

Getting Geared Up For Miami

While most of the country gets blasted with blizzards

some 2000 continuous miles from the Rocky Mountains to the tip of Maine

I will be off to Miami Beach where the weather forecast shows a balmy 84 degrees.

But I won't be lolling about by the pool soaking up the sun

because I will be busy working at the Antiques and Estate Jewelry Show

shopping for baubles for Beladora.

Yeah, I know tough work...but someone has to do it.

And then I will be off to Palm Beach / Wellington

To visit some friends who play polo for a living...

yeah, I know, another tough job!

I haven't seen them in years and I'm really looking forward to it.

So blogging will be light... if at all for the next week or so.

The View From Vegas

It is so good to finally be home after the Las Vegas show.
Like any trade show, from any industry,
it all tends to get a bit tedious after a few days. But I must admit that I did enjoy staying at the Bellagio because the view is so expansive that it was relaxing just to look out the window

especially after spending all day long looking at cases like thisand this

where you must look with a very critical eye in order to hone in on exactly what you are seeking to buy.

After studying row after row of cases holding individual items of some exquisite and not so exquisite estate jewelry...you can be visually overwhelmed.

Happily it was all worth it because Beladora.com bought some beautiful estate jewelry.

You will be wanting to check out the What's New and the Signed Designer Jewelry pages on Beladora in the next couple of weeks as we upload our new Buccellati, Chanel, Cartier, Van Cleef, David Webb, Oscar Heyman and Cathy Waterman jewelry.

Then after standing up all day and schmoozing with the dealers...and then waiting for a cab in the 110 degree heat, it was nice to get back to the Bellagio and to sit down at Petrossian for a little aperitif.

And dinner at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Prime Steakhouse, which was waaaay better than Michael Mina. I can even overlook the fact that they served almost raw foie gras, then proceeded to explain to me how foie gras was supposed to be cooked, as if I didn't know. But overall the meal was delicious and the restaurant was full, because apparently there is no recession when you are in Las Vegas.

BTW, Jean-Georges Vongerichten has a blog. That chef is busy!

After dinner it was the Fontana Patio for cognac & cigars. The Bellagio pond looks peaceful in this photo but it was actually really raucous because the famous fountain show goes off about every 10 minutes and lasts for something like 10 minutes. Still, it was so nice after being indoors all day long to sit outside and thanks to Fontana hostess Jing, we got great table every night.

(Can I just say that after staying at the Bellagio for 5 years in a row, the service is excellent. There are employees that recognize me, even though I'm only there for a few days each year, like John at Sensei. Seriously, how amazing is that with all of the thousands of people who stay at that hotel?)

Finally, after being surrounded by crowds all day long it was just so nice to get back to my room and to appreciate the view of Las Vegas but without all the people and noise.

Vegas - The Report From The Field

How to survive a week of work in Las Vegas?
Skip the fancy restaurants, opt for sushi instead. Drink light beer instead of wine. Be back in your room before 11:00 with a book by Christopher Reich. Sleep well and wake up with a view of the sun on the distant hills.
As if the Antique and Estate Jewelry show isn't tiring enough...today I am off to the JCK show, which is the mother of all jewelry trade shows with everything from actual gemstones and finished jewelry to packaging, software and literally anything else you would need to be in the business... at any level.
I like to go and visit the Italian jewelers, because they always have innovative designs and high quality manufacturing...and they are really good looking and serve red wine.

My Friday suggestions for you...check out the Wall Street Journal for the article 'Does the Internet Make You Smarter or Dumber". Yes, we all need to know the answer to this. And, absolutely don't miss reading the article by Scott Adams, the creator of "Dilbert" on "Betting on the Bad Guys" or why you should invest in the companies that you hate the most.

Happy Friday

Vegas - The Report From The Field

Lesson for working at a trade show....bring your own food!
Yesterday, while I was standing in line to buy two small bottles of water, $4 each, the lady in line in front of me was charged $40 for a pre-made, pre-packaged salad, sandwich and cup of coffee. We are talking mediocre food here at its best, not a slice of foie gras on brioche. It's one thing to make a reasonable profit, it is another thing to totally rip people off when they are isolated in a convention facility.


And...while I'm on the topic of pricey food, why does the Maine lobster pot pie at Michael Mina's restaurant at the Bellagio have to cost $78? The lobster alone can't cost more than $20 so what accounts for the other $58 dollars in the price? And considering that Michael Mina is considered to be one of the best chefs in the US, why was the green pea soup that was served as an appetizer, the same base sauce used it the Alaskan halibut entree? I can certainly understand economies of scale in the use of ingredients at any basic restaurant, but this kind of blatant lack of originality at Michael Mina was not OK.


But enough of my rant...I suggest that you go over to Dave Tom's blog Savoir Faire and read the fab post on Helena Rubinstein and her jewelry collection. If anyone knows a current day Helena Rubinstein who buys ruby beads like you and I buy a coffee at Starbucks...please introduce me. I need a client like her.

Vegas - The Report From The Field

There is no reception for my iPhone at the jewelry show at the MGM Grand.
And...at the show the charge for wireless for my laptop is $100....obviously I'm not connected.
That hotel is a zoo.


Now, after standing on my feet all day long, I get to sit down for a cocktail and a yummy dinner at Michael Mina...it kind of makes all the hassle of the haggling worth it.

Off To Las Vegas

I'm off again to Las Vegas for the Antique and Estate Jewelry Show. There will be a little selling and hopefully a lot of buying and maybe even some relaxing, though probably not. Posting will be officially on hold, although I will read all of your blogs.

In the meantime, there is a little private friends and family sale going on you know where and you also know where with a 15% discount. Just use the discount code: MEMORIAL