Jewelers International Showcase hits Miami Beach

It’s no secret that vendors heading to the JIS Miami Beach Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center Oct. 11–14 go largely to meet with their Caribbean and Latin American retail customers. But color-savvy buyers from all regions would do well to check out the longstanding show’s exhibitors, many of whom excel in the gemstone space.

San Francisco–based Belle Étoile is returning for the eighth year, both for the Latin American shoppers, who appreciate the firm’s colorful silver and enamel styles, and for the show, which they describe as very well organized.

“The Caribbean loves all of our color and floral- and fauna-style pieces,” says Belle Étoile executive vice president Carolyn Thamkul. “JIS is actually our number-two show after JCK Las Vegas.”

Thamkul is bringing a special collection of styles with enamel colors including brown, black, champagne, and ivory, plus several reds and greens. Patterns will be abstract or woven, with a few wacky looks—Canadian geese, for instance—in the mix. “It’s a very winter-oriented holiday collection,” says Thamkul, who’s also taking stackable bangles, rings, and hoop earrings to the show.

New JIS vendor Bhansali, which debuted to the trade at this year’s ­LUXURY show in Las Vegas, is going to JIS as well. The company, whose ­jewelry appeared on the cover of JCK’s “Best in Show” July–August issue, already has seven retail accounts, and is hoping to acquire more.

Codesigner Anar Bhansali, who runs the Los Angeles firm with her brother Tej, is bringing 18k gold pieces with diamonds set into gemstones, double-sided gem-set bangles, and pearls inset with stones. “We’ll bring our three collections—One, Hope, and Soul—as well as our one-of-a-kind Couture collection,” Anar says. “We have heard that a lot of South American buyers like color.”