Miami Beach Antique Show Returns With Vintage Cartier, Rolex, and Estate Jewelry

For over 60 years, the Original Miami Beach Antique Show has been a destination event for collectors hunting signed and unsigned pieces. OMBAS runs March 26–30 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and this year the floor reads like a survey of the last two centuries of fine jewelry: Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and the unsigned period rarities that often prove the most compelling finds of all.

With over 600 dealers from across the globe who are passionate and knowledgeable storytellers, OMBAS is the chance to discover items that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, while learning about the history and provenance of a piece from experts in their fields. The inventory is deliberately wide: antique, vintage, and estate jewelry, timepieces, accessories, art, furniture, and home décor all share the floor without strict separation. The layout rewards patience. Exhibition Halls A through C are where the antiques action unfolds, alongside a newer section of modern and contemporary art and an educational area with daily programming. A single walk through the main halls might begin with Georgian rings, move through a run of Art Deco brooches, and arrive without warning at contemporary sculptures.

"We are delighted to present long-time and new attendees alike with a vast selection of unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that cannot be sourced anywhere else," said Andrea Canady, Show Manager for U.S. Antique Shows. "Our knowledgeable dealers travel the globe to source the best in antique, vintage, and estate pieces to present to collectors and enthusiasts, and they are always passionate about sharing their expertise with visitors to their stands."

The educational programming is where OMBAS distinguishes itself from a straight buying event. On Friday, March 27 at 1:00 PM, Ioannis Alexandris, author, historian, and U.S. Antique Shows dealer from Gemolithos, will share insight garnered over decades of identifying authentic antique, vintage, and estate jewelry, from what hallmarks to look for to understanding subtle shifts in design across eras and maisons. Following his presentation, Alexandris will answer questions from the audience and sign his book, Antique Jewelry 1800–1939, Appreciating the Dreams. Nearly 300 pages, the book is intended not only to enlighten readers about the different artistic styles of the period but also to explain the influences that shaped them, as well as the materials and processes used to craft these creations. For anyone trying to understand whether the brooch on a dealer's velvet tray is genuinely Edwardian or a later reproduction, that hallmark-to-design-evolution framework is exactly the kind of knowledge that separates confident buyers from expensive mistakes.

A second session, "The Legacy in Your Jewelry Box," follows at 3:00 PM the same day with Andrea Lucille Pooler, who addresses one of the more emotionally complicated realities of owning fine jewelry: what to do with inherited pieces. The focus is on how to evaluate, document, and manage personal or inherited collections while preserving both market value and meaning.

The most broadly useful programming of the week arrives on Saturday, March 28. All ticket holders can receive one complimentary valuation from a Bonhams expert appraiser, running from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM in Ocean Drive Ballroom A, covering art, antiques, jewelry, watches, and accessories. Appraisals are first come, first served, so arriving early with that mystery brooch, inherited timepiece, or unsigned ring makes practical sense.

The show also features a "Tales from the Trade" panel, a returning OMBAS dealer roundtable in which participants have been known to name names, revealing trend predictions, recent bidding wars, and unusual requests. The watch panel, moderated by Tony Traina, brings together watch dealers, collectors, and curators to dissect the current vintage watch market. Whether the goal is a first vintage Cartier or a museum-grade Patek Philippe, panelists Tania Edwards of Collectability, Morgan Cardet of Matthew Bain, and Mike Nouveau, a vintage watch specialist, will walk through how professionals navigate the OMBAS aisles and beyond.

Attendee Leyla, a repeat visitor who describes herself as a serious industry participant, put it plainly: "OMBAS is one of the most important shows in our industry, a must for anyone that is serious in buying or selling antique and estate jewelry, art or antiques." First-timer Jade Trau came expecting jewelry and left surprised: "I didn't expect the furniture, the art, or the clothing and purses. It's fascinating."

The show runs Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, closing Monday, March 30 at 4:00 PM. Tickets purchased at the door run $50; advance tickets were available online for $30 through March 25. Trade members may qualify for complimentary badges. With the Bonhams appraisal day, two dedicated education sessions, and over 600 dealers covering Edwardian through contemporary eras, the calculus for skipping is hard to justify.