Antique Show Observations From a First-Time Attendee
Associate Editor Lenore Fedow shares her impressions of the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show and a few of her favorite finds.

After a few days of bouncing between JCK and Couture, my last stop was the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show.
I’d meant to go during my first market week back in 2019, but time got away from me. Whenever I told anyone I hadn’t been yet, I got the same response: “You have to go to the antique show!”
So off I went. Sunday morning, I hopped in an Uber and headed over to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
After being at the glitzy Couture show and the bustling JCK show, the antique show seemed quiet and understated. There was no espresso bar or showcase stage; just simple booths set up one row after the other.
What the show floor lacked in pizazz, it made up for in jewelry treasures.
I was certain the first booth I stopped in had the most amazing jewelry I’d ever seen, until I got to the next one, and then something even better would catch my eye, and so on.
At Couture and JCK, I’d made appointments and was running from one to the next from morning to late afternoon.
At the antique show, I had just one appointment, so I was free to roam.
I also enjoyed a sense of anonymity there. Not that I’m famous by any means, but people at JCK or Couture have seen me at events or press previews, so there’s a lot more stopping to chat.
While I like to catch up with jewelry friends, it was nice to walk around the antique show undisturbed.
Usually at trade shows, exhibitors perk up when press comes by, excited to tell me all about their jewelry and company.
My experience at this show was somewhat different. I had a handful of painfully awkward encounters where the person behind the counter couldn’t care less who I was or what I wanted to see.
Now, I don’t need or expect any special treatment. As someone who is not a buyer, I’m mindful of taking up too much of a person’s time and keeping them from a sale, especially without an appointment, but a little courtesy goes a long way.
With that being said, one of my first stops was Bella Antiques, a New York-based antiques dealer.
They had a treasure trove of beautiful jewelry, including a massive malachite heart and a showstopper of a citrine ring.
Next, I wandered over to Isi Fischzang Jewelry & Antiques, another New York-based company, specializing in estate jewelry and antiques.
I received a warm welcome here from the booth attendant, a fellow New Yorker who was happy to show me some jewelry and offer suggestions on other booths I should visit.
Animal motifs are currently trending in jewelry, but designers have been imagining all kinds of creatures as jewels for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
At the Isi Fischzang booth, I saw this gorgeous gold snake brooch, set with diamonds and colorful gems.

One of my favorite pieces of the day was this stunning crocodile ring, seen in the top image, dripping in diamonds with bright green eyes.
After my visit with Fischzang, I walked over to the Chris Enebo Antique Jewelry booth. The Colorado-based exhibitor’s booth was a favorite stop of the day.
The booth attendants were incredibly knowledgeable. For every piece in the case, they had an interesting fact to share.
If you like the phrase, “behind every great man is a great woman,” this Hercules cameo may be the perfect fit.

If you just like gorgeous cameo rings, then check out this ring below.

My last stop of the day was my only appointment. I finally got to meet Konstantinos Leoussis of KIL N.Y.C.
I wrote about Konstantinos, who is both a jewelry designer and an antiques seller, last fall, but had yet to say hello in person.
The draw of antique jewelry is the story, and he knows his history.
Konstantinos travels across Europe to source his jewelry, specifically looking for pieces from the late Stuart to the Edwardian era, though he collects pieces that interest him from all periods.
I went through trays and trays of dazzling jewels, but I’ll just share a handful of my favorites below.
Next year, the show will be held at the Wynn, where Couture also takes place, which should make it more convenient to visit.
Regardless of the location, to hold that much history in your hands is an incredible experience, and it’s one of the many moments during market week that I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
After several days of trade shows, when my feet were sore and I was in desperate need of a nap, I reminded myself that I have a job that “requires me” to fly to Vegas and spend my days trying on millions of dollars of beautiful jewelry, and the urge to complain subsided. Somewhat.
Covering this industry has been an adventure, one I’m excited to continue.
The Latest

The company is focused on modernizing the custom jewelry buying experience with e-commerce tools like product visualization and 3D styling.

Following its recent acquisition, the storied brand has updated its leadership team and regional managers.

AGS also named the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The 20-karat yellow gold and diamond wrap ring is modeled after the Monstera plants in the garden of the brand’s Miami villa.


Rocksbox President Allison Vigil shared the retailer’s expansion plans, and her thoughts on opening stores in malls.

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.

The “Playlist: Electric Dreams” collection brings lyrics from the musician’s song, “Little Wing,” to life through fine jewelry.

The event is set for May 16-19 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Vault’s Katherine Jetter is accusing the retailer of using info she shared for a potential partnership to move into Nantucket.

Agents seized 2,193 pieces, a mix of counterfeit Cartier “Love” and “Juste Un Clou” bracelets, and Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra” design.

The designer brought her children’s book, “The Big Splash Circus,” to life through a collection of playful fine jewelry characters.

The trade association has chosen the recipients of the funding initiative it formed to foster the growth and sustainability of the industry.

The organization has also announced this year’s slate of judges.

Lori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.

The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.

The “XO Tacori” collection was designed to blend luxury and accessible pricing.

Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.

National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.

Signatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.

The winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.

Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

The singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.

The bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.

The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.