The scoop behind Marcello Hernandez’s ‘unique’ pin at Met Gala
We know at least one Miami store that’s getting a lot of love before Mother’s Day: Sammy Joyeria in Little Havana.
That’s because the iconic jewelry shop at 1833 SW Eighth St. got a mention on the world stage Monday night.
Hometown hero Marcello Hernandez shouted out Sammy while breaking down his outfit to Vogue magazine at the Met Gala in NYC.
“My mom made me this,” the “Saturday Night Live” comedian said, pointing to a brooch on the lapel of his Thom Brown suit.
Reached on Friday, shop owner Julio Lima told the Miami Herald that their phones have been ringing off the hook ever since. The businessman, who has owned Sammy with his wife, Martha, since 1990 (it relocated to a new location on Calle Ocho two years ago), gave us the accessory’s backstory.
Hernandez’s mother, Isabel Cancela, a longtime friend, came in last Wednesday to create something “unique and special” for her baby boy, Lima said.
The Cuban native brought with her a large, military style safety pin, as well as a round larimar, a Dominican blue stone symbolizing peace and calm. Perusing the displays, Cancela picked out a 14K gold, guardian-angel charm as well as an azabache, a black stone Cubans wear to ward off the evil eye. Lima gifted her the latter two items and assembled all three trinkets in a line to hang from the original pin. Want something similar? It will set you back about $400, the jeweler said.
“She meant for it to be a ‘hater blocker,’” Lima explained, laughing. “It worked.”
Something else watching over Hernandez these days? Ana Batlle Cabral, whom the Belen Jesuit grad has been dating about a year. The stunning, not to mention way accomplished architect happens to be Dominican, like Hernandez’s dad.
Lima says he was more than happy to help out Hernandez on the red carpet and is very proud of his success.
“He is amazing,” he said. “He has worked very hard for this. We have been praying for him a while.”
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 1:55 PM.
