All eyes are on JIS Miami Oct. 15–18

In 1979, a group of five business partners led by Michael Breslow founded Jewelers International Showcase, or JIS, at the Miami Beach Convention Center, a regional show catering to Florida retailers and, eventually,their counterparts in the Caribbean and Latin America. Since then, the thrice-yearly event has grown into an industry mainstay anchored by the October show, which draws some 12,000 buyers to the shores of nearby South Beach.

Earlier this year, Reed Exhibitions, owner of JCK Events and JCK magazine, acquired JIS, adding a Plumb Club pavilion and a luxury counterpart: LUXURY Miami by JCK runs Oct. 14–16, with JIS hot on its heels Oct. 15–18. Both shows serve the growing Latin American market, given Miami’s reputation as the region’s unofficial capital.

“We get customers that we cannot get here in New York or in Vegas,” says designer Hassan Bounkit, a JIS exhibitor for the past three years. “And most of them want immediate delivery, so we try to cater to that. They want to stock for the holidays.” To appease buyers, Bounkit is bringing a wealth of holiday resort styles. “I’m doing mostly slender elongated earrings—interchangeable as always,” he says. “I’m also doing a lot of multi- and single-strand sautoirs mixed with chains and big freshwater pearls, and some chokers and bibs.”

Meanwhile, fellow exhibitor Nina Nguyen of Lafayette, Colo.–based Nina Nguyen Designs, will tout her new Ha Long Bay collection of opal and carved turquoise jewels in addition to her signature drusy and geodes. “It is the ultimate in layering and mix-and-match pieces,” she says. “They are great alone, but I really love how well the pieces look when combined.”

That synchronicity extends to the shows themselves. JIS badge holders can attend LUXURY Miami on the last two days, and LUXURY attendees have access to JIS—provided, that is, they’re able to resist the siren call of Miami’s beautiful beaches!

Zen collection Enlightened earrings with turquoise in vermeil; $395; Nina Nguyen Designs, Lafayette, Colo.; 720-459-7664; nina-nguyen.com