PROVIDENCE -- Jewelry designers came from around New England and farther away yesterday to take in the city's fall colors.

They weren't so much seeking inspiration from the early-fall foliage as they were in fingering the strings of deep-purple amethyst, pale-orange citrine and jade-green opal beads and other gemstones lying in piles on display tables inside the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Designers, jewelry retailers and others are in the city this week for a trade show hosted by the Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America, the Providence-based group that represents more than 1,000 jewelry companies around the country.

MJSA hosts shows and training sessions and represents the industry on trade matters and legislative issues. This year, it revived its Providence show five years after the last one was held in the city.

Business was strong from the get-go, exhibitors said yesterday.

"We weren't even prepared in the morning," said Kuntal Shah, of Aanshi Gems Inc., of New York City. "When the doors opened, people came in and started buying."

The MJSA event is mainly intended to serve the jewelry industry in New England, with about 100 exhibitors and 1,000 attendees registered. The show is also serving as a meeting session for executives from a number of trade associations, who are coordinating trade-show educational programs.

The Providence show, which continues today, has drawn people from far outside the region, according to Johnna Beckman, an MJSA spokeswoman.

"That's something that surprised us, seeing people coming from so far away," Beckman said.

Kimberly Wolcutt, of Dallas, is one of the attendees. The jewelry designer spoke yesterday about why she had come to the show.

"I found all of my vendors at this show, so it's very valuable to me," she said.

Wolcutt began designing and manufacturing jewelry 18 years ago. Over the years, she's spent a lot of time tracking down supplies for her business, which now employs 4 full-time workers and 10 contractors.

"This little mecca up here, 18 years ago, was a well-kept secret," Wolcutt said.

Wolcutt attended previous association shows in Providence and said she was exasperated by the show's demise -- and pleased by its revival.

It was harder to find and meet suppliers after the association ended its Providence show, she said.

"I've missed it," she said. "How can [suppliers] expect to hold our attention if we can't see their product?"

For designers, she said, materials are best seen up close rather than in a catalog.

"You can see it on a flat piece of paper. [But] you really have to come up here and pull your colors and your stones and your shapes," she said.

And when these designers and manufacturers get one hand on the right product, they're using the other to spend money.

"They're making orders and buying over the counter," Shah said.

pgrimald@projo.com / (401) 277-7356