The inaugural Hamptons Jewelry Show is shaping up to be a sophisticated mid-summer event for estate dealers, diamantaires and contemporary designers seeking to connect with an affluent clientele.
Jewelry industry veteran Hilary Joy Diaz is curating the show, which features over 80 exhibitors and takes place from July 24 to 27 at the New York seaside community’s Southampton Fairgrounds. The organizer is Rick Friedman — the event producer behind ArtHamptons — and participants include De Beers Award-winner Cornelis Hollander, colored-diamond specialist Scarselli, Thailand-based jeweler Mousson Atelier, and Phigora Watches, which deals in certified luxury pre-owned timepieces.
As the first major public-facing international jewelry fair in the region, the Hamptons Jewelry Show presents a rare opportunity for exhibitors to test the appetites of private collectors and direct buyers outside of traditional retail and trade settings.
“We cherry-picked the best of the best from every category. There are small designers who create masterpieces using mixed mediums and magnificent gemstones, antique and signed collector’s pieces that are second to none, contemporary works that are truly wearable art, and museum-quality diamonds that have never been seen before,” says Diaz. If one were to compare the show to music, she adds, “there would be every genre from opera to rock and roll.”
The direct approach
Unlike shows in Palm Beach or Las Vegas, which are more traditional in their trade audience and format, the new event aims to engage private clients in a gallery-like setting. The venue spans 17 acres, featuring climate-controlled tents, curated booths, and a retail experience that blends art-fair aesthetics with luxury hospitality.
Several exhibitors are viewing the show as a gauge for high-end consumer behavior this summer.
Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos, founder of Mahnaz Collection, sees the event as a chance to engage collectors directly.
“The Hamptons Jewelry Show promises to be a very welcome and long-overdue opportunity for all Hamptons jewelry lovers, including discerning collectors, as [it] offers a wide spectrum of aesthetic preferences — from the offerings of small studio jewelers to large-scale colored-diamond vendors,” says Ispahani Bartos, whose brand is renowned for its curated selection of 20th-century design jewelry and artist-made pieces.
Rick Shatz from The Back Vault typically sells to estate dealers, but the company’s jewelry specialist, Elyana Roldugina, views the show as “a great opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to a large audience of private customers at one time.” As she observes, “the Hamptons during the summer has a large concentration of people that our vintage jewelry will appeal to.”
Gaining exposure
Jewelry brand Tamsen Z, known for its vibrant, gemstone-focused designs, is using the show to connect with both existing clients and new customers. “The Hamptons is the perfect backdrop for showcasing Tamsen Z, echoing our unassuming sensibility,” says founder Ann Ziff. “Many of our clients own properties and summer here. However, this show will allow us to introduce our collection to a new audience that appreciates wearing precious gemstones for everyday.”
For newer brands like OX, the show also offers a storytelling opportunity. “OX is all about movement and how it’s expressed on the wearer. I look forward to giving a jewelry experience that moves them, literally,” says cofounder Jessica Busiashvili.
The organizers, who expect more than 4,000 people to attend over the four-day run, are positioning the show as both a commercial event and a visibility platform — particularly for designers who struggle to reach ultra-high-end buyers outside of coastal cities or trunk shows.
“A major event has never been assembled like this before,” says Diaz; it means collectors don’t need to travel the world to find award-winning designs and one-of-a-kind pieces, as “they will all be under one roof in the first and highest-caliber jewelry show of its kind.”
Main image: Charm necklace by Oni. (Oni)
