About a month ago, I achieved one of my jewelry dreams: I attended the Original Miami Beach Antique Show.
This massive 5-day event draws dealers, buyers, and enthusiasts from all over the world to create one of the most dynamic, treasure-filled antique shows out there – in a location that’s delightful in late January, especially when one has 29 inches of snow at home.
I’ve wanted to go for years, but I couldn’t exactly take time off from my day job for “a really cool antiques show.” As soon as I became my own boss, attending the Original Miami Beach Antique Show went straight to the top of my list.
Thanks to my antique jewelry fairy godmother, the one and only Lenore Dailey, I also had the great privilege of attending the 2016 Jewelry History Series; two days of lectures alllllllll about antique jewelry.
There is nothing like being in a room full of people who are as passionate as you are about your favorite thing. It made my nerdy little heart sing, and my new knowledge lent greater context to the treasures I would see over my days at the Original Miami Beach Antique Show.
It also gave me a chance to get to know some of my favorite Instagram buddies IRL, which was a wonderful added bonus. And to try on said buddies’ jewelry.
These antique diamond earrings of my dreams are better known around Instagram as the legendary Olsen twins, property of the incandescent Grace Lavarro.
So: my brain primed with knowledge, glowing with the wonder of having touched the Olsen twins (you know what I mean), I set foot onto the floor of the Miami Beach Antique Show within 10 mins of opening on the first day. And oh my goodness, the treasures I saw.