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New York--The JA New York show this year welcomed new and seasoned exhibitors, among them a number of companies that exclusively create designs in sterling silver.

Across a variety of booths, many silver pieces at the show featured precious and semi-precious gemstone details, bringing an array of color to showcases. Simple pendants, larger rings and gemstone-station necklaces were also staple designs.

A number of silver exhibitors reported that the show was going “very well.”

“Everyone’s paying attention to silver now,” Tom Colucci, vice president of sterling silver brand Portofino Dreams, said. “It’s a price-conscious world we live in.”

Portofino, which Colucci describes as a “higher end” silver line, offers pure sterling silver designs and sterling jewelry with a gold overlay. Colored synthetic and glass gemstones embellish some pieces in the collection.

“Traditionally, people like regular, white metals,” Colucci said of the two jewelry styles Portofino offers. “But with more confidence, they get into the gold overlay designs.”

Robert Ebrahimian, also of Portofino Dreams, said the company serves as a good entry brand for jewelers looking to sell sterling silver for the first time, due to their range in design options and price points.

“It’s confusing for jewelers to get into selling silver,” Ebrahimian said, noting that there were thousands of designs at JANY alone. “[Portofino] is a starting point.”

Steve Berkowitz of Sterling Reputation said the company’s new rose-gold plated sterling silver line was doing well at the show.

“Business is better this year than last year,” he said, “especially after a very brisk opening day.”

Delphine Leymarie, founder and owner of her jewelry brand by the same name, makes pieces in both sterling silver and gold, but said that silver has been the more asked for metal at the show.

“There’s a big difference in the price point,” she said, adding that she has started to make gold pieces in smaller versions to help make it more affordable.

Leymarie, who hand carves all of her jewelry, said she recently begun to incorporate precious and semi-precious stones into her collection to fill a “need” in the market. Black diamonds, onyx, turquoise and sapphires are some gems found in her designs.

The show has been going “very well” for Metalsmiths Sterling, according to lead designer Peter Konidas.

“The quality of buyer is very good,” he said.

Metalsmiths offers many sterling designs with semi-precious stones such as tourmaline, labradorite and turquoise, which Konidas said has been a major attraction for buyers.

“Before, they just wanted silver,” he said of retailers. “Now, they want branded, quality silver with quality-cut stones. They want the whole package.”

In addition to quality, Konidas said he has also noticed buyers looking for heavy, weighted silver jewelry.

“They’re looking for substantial pieces,” he said.

Metalsmiths is also introducing larger cufflinks to the brand’s collection, a result, Konidas said, of wider cufflinks on men’s shirts.

“Men don’t really wear jewelry, the have a nice watch and cufflinks,” he said, “with the larger cufflinks, they become more of a statement piece.”

What’s Your Sign? jewelry launched this year at JA New York, “the next generation of customizable jewelry,” sales executive Kelly Dillon said.

The brand offers consumers silver or 18-karat gold pendant jewelry in the shape of their astrological signs or the color of their birthstones, to be worn on either necklaces or bracelets. A new jewelry venture, Dillon said most orders placed at the show have been for the silver version.

“With the price of gold so high, a lot of people are going with silver,” she said. “But because we’re based in New York, we’re close enough for many retailers for gold custom orders.”

By stocking the silver version of the collection, Dillon added, retailers won’t have to carry so much money in inventory and can still have the service by calling in gold orders.