A World Away In Wellington

No matter how much I like to wake up to views like this

And to be able to enjoy the balmy temperatures
where you can comfortably sit outside in February at 9:00 at night for dinner
which you can't do in Los Angeles without a coat, even in August
It is lovely to be back in LA.

It seems that I was computer and camera challenged the entire time that I was away
But I did manage to take this picture on my iPhone which represents the extremes of Miami

A sky full of clouds worthy of a Renaissance painting over an ugly parking lot
Miami = Beauty and Banality

The highlight of my trip, regardless of the drive from hell up the I-95
was a few days to relax in Wellington, the epicenter of equestrian sports in the United States
with the best of show jumping, dressage and of polo.
Everything important in equestrian events happens in Wellington in the Winter
so as you drive through the town, all you see is one field, ring, paddock and barn after another.



While we tend to think that polo is all about well known players such as

Nacho

and Nic

But in spite of their high profile endorsements from Ralph Lauren and Piaget
the professionals in the game are made up of more than just pretty boys from Buenos Aires

I was fortunate to be able to catch up with a dear friend whom I haven't seen in years. 
She grew up in a California polo family and played very well herself as a teenager.  Later when she was in her early 20s she married a young man from Wellington, who has now become the top ranked (9 goal) American professional polo player. Not only is he an amazing athlete, he is a wonderful person, a devoted husband and a fabulous father.

Since these polo families tend to be dynastic, I expect that in a few years their two sons will be making a name for themselves in the sport.

Showjumping, like polo, tends to be a family thing too.
While in Wellington, I ran into an ex polo player from California, who went into jumping and now his daughter is one of top riders in the US.  At 25, she is a amazing Grand Prix competitor and after her season she is off to Europe to compete.



So I had my few days away from the reality of Beladora
and enjoyed my time in the world of Wellington
but now it's back to blogging and business.

Getting Geared Up For Miami

While most of the country gets blasted with blizzards

some 2000 continuous miles from the Rocky Mountains to the tip of Maine

I will be off to Miami Beach where the weather forecast shows a balmy 84 degrees.

But I won't be lolling about by the pool soaking up the sun

because I will be busy working at the Antiques and Estate Jewelry Show

shopping for baubles for Beladora.

Yeah, I know tough work...but someone has to do it.

And then I will be off to Palm Beach / Wellington

To visit some friends who play polo for a living...

yeah, I know, another tough job!

I haven't seen them in years and I'm really looking forward to it.

So blogging will be light... if at all for the next week or so.

Jewelry Biz - The Miami Beach Estate Jewelry Show

Happily I'm home for the Miami Beach Antiques and Estate Jewelry Show
and I do now understand the appeal of Miami

the weather was warm and tropical
the beaches were white and the water was turquoise

I was sorely tempted to spend my days in a chaise lounge next to the pool at the Loews Hotel or on lying on the sand on the adjacent beach

but this is what I was up to

looking at piece after piece of estate jewelry like this David Webb gold link bracelet with diamonds

and this Tiffany gemstone bracelet by Paloma Picasso

and this Tiffany "XO" cuff bracelet

So did I buy any of these gorgeous bracelets?

No I did not.
Prices were ridiculously high at this show

to the point where dealer to dealer trade prices were in most cases higher than what Beladora charges for the same jewelry.

For example, this Retro gold bracelet priced at $4650 on Beladora.com would have cost me at least $2000 more to buy with a trade price from a NY dealer at the show.

But overall the trip wasn't a loss

I did manage to find a few nice pieces and I reconnected with some of the dealers that I like to do business with.

And I got to see the fabulous South Beach scene and Art Deco architecture at night

and have drinks in a poolside cabana at the way hip Delano Hotel

But mostly it was long days at the show and then early dinners at the Loews hotel followed by discussion of the day's events with cognac and cigars for the gentlemen and a glass of Cabernet for me outside on the terrace where the palms were swaying in the tropical wind.

In Sunny South Beach

Being from Southern California I never understood the whole Miami Beach thing. It is so built up and crowded and just not my idea of a vacation destination. I had never been particularly impressed by the few times that I had been in Florida before. But now that I realize how nice the weather is in mid-winter, I would so want to vacation here if I lived in the snowy North East.

And today after staying out a little too late last night I would just love to lie on the beach and sleep in the sun....but it's back to a day spent indoors at the antique and estate jewelry show.