FinancialsSep 02, 2021
Signet’s Q2 Sales Double Year-Over-YearSurveysSep 22, 2021
Jewelry Sales Surge Expected to Continue Through the Holidays
Mastercard’s SpendingPulse survey said early shopping, bigger price tags and digital experiences will be the hallmarks of holiday 2021.
Mastercard’s SpendingPulse survey predicts jewelry sales will grow 59 percent year-over-year this holiday season. The prediction shouldn’t surprise anyone in the fine jewelry industry, with diamond jewelry sales strong and business at recent trade shows robust. Pictured here are 18-karat gold and diamond pendants from designer Sara Weinstock spotted at the Couture show.
New York—Mastercard’s SpendingPulse survey predicts that the surge in jewelry sales that started in 2020 will continue through the 2021 holiday season.
U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive and gas) are expected to grow 7 percent between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, the company said in a news release issued last week, with jewelry expected to be one of the top performers.
SpendingPulse has jewelry sales growing 59 percent year-over-year and 53 percent with compared with the 2019 holiday season, pre-pandemic.
The only category SpendingPulse forecasts to post stronger sales than jewelry is luxury (excluding jewelry), with sales nearly doubling year-over-year and growing 56 percent when compared with pre-pandemic levels.
The SpendingPulse prediction should come as no surprise to those who follow the fine jewelry industry.
Sales have been strong since mid-2020, with money normally spent on vacations, dining out, going out and traveling diverted to jewelry.
The industry’s two biggest mining companies, De Beers and Alrosa, have remarked continually on the strength of diamond jewelry sales in the U.S., and exhibitors at recent jewelry trade shows, including JA New York and the Las Vegas shows, said attendees came ready and needing to buy.
Related stories will be right here …
U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive and gas) are expected to grow 7 percent between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, the company said in a news release issued last week, with jewelry expected to be one of the top performers.
SpendingPulse has jewelry sales growing 59 percent year-over-year and 53 percent with compared with the 2019 holiday season, pre-pandemic.
The only category SpendingPulse forecasts to post stronger sales than jewelry is luxury (excluding jewelry), with sales nearly doubling year-over-year and growing 56 percent when compared with pre-pandemic levels.
The SpendingPulse prediction should come as no surprise to those who follow the fine jewelry industry.
Sales have been strong since mid-2020, with money normally spent on vacations, dining out, going out and traveling diverted to jewelry.
The industry’s two biggest mining companies, De Beers and Alrosa, have remarked continually on the strength of diamond jewelry sales in the U.S., and exhibitors at recent jewelry trade shows, including JA New York and the Las Vegas shows, said attendees came ready and needing to buy.
SpendingPulse also shed some light on when and where consumers are expected to shop this holidays season.
The company anticipates that consumers will spend 8 percent more online this holiday season than they did last year. Online sales are expected to be up a whopping 59 percent when compared with the 2019 holiday season.
But that doesn’t mean main streets and malls will be empty, as in-store shopping is expected to continue to recover, increasing 7 percent year-over-year.
Consumers are also expected to start shopping early again this year, lured by omnichannel promotions offered by retailers facing supply chain and labor shortage issues. This will be especially true in electronics, apparel and for department stores, SpendingPulse predicts.
In addition, both retailers and consumers will continue to use and embrace technologies that make shopping easier and more seamless, like buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS) and contactless payments.
SpendingPulse also expects consumers to splurge this season, thanks to high savings ratings and government stimulus checks, with jewelry and luxury expected to benefit.
“Over the last six months, the luxury retail and jewelry sectors have been experiencing some of the strongest YOY and YO2Y growth; that is anticipated to continue through the holidays,” the company said.
“This holiday season will be defined by early shopping, bigger price tags and digital experiences,” Steve Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and chair of Saks Inc., said in the release.
“Over the past two years, retailers have learned a lot about what shoppers want and need, bringing us into an exciting new age of retail resilience. Retailers have been preparing for this moment and will find innovative ways to deliver on what’s bound to be the biggest holiday shopping season yet.”
More on Surveys
The Latest
CollectionsOct 08, 2026
Brent Neale’s New Collection Goes ‘Back to Basics’It revisits the brand’s most requested silhouettes, from "Pillow"-set necklaces and bracelets to "Signature"-set rings and earrings.
SourcingOct 08, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair Heads Back to BrooklynThe trade-only event includes buying opportunities as well as educational sessions on artisanal mining, the new Paraíba source, and more.
Events & AwardsOct 08, 2026
Pattons Fine Jewelry Sweeps Local Design ContestAra Chanakian, a jeweler at Pattons, took home top honors in every category at Jewelers of Louisiana’s annual jewelry design competition.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
AuctionsOct 08, 2026
Reba McEntire’s Jewelry, Watches Head to Julien’s AuctionsThe live charity benefit sale in Nashville will also feature gowns, boots, and other memorabilia from the country music legend.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Supplier BulletinOct 08, 2026
Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Helps Jewelers Turn Custom Design into a Hands-On Selling ExperienceSponsored by Overnight Mountings
Policies & IssuesOct 07, 2026
The Plumb Club Amplifies Its Voice as Geopolitical Pressures MountThe supplier organization recently joined JA and JVC to have more input on political issues affecting the jewelry industry.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
Blue Nile, Royal Asscher Collection Highlights Natural Diamond BeautyBlue Nile, a Signet Jewelers-owned brand, is now Royal Asscher’s exclusive licensed retailer in North America.
CollectionsOct 07, 2026
4 Standout Pieces in Audemars Piguet’s First High Jewelry Collection “Royal Oak” pays homage to the brand’s most popular watch model using 18-karat gold as well as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires.
MajorsOct 07, 2026
Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEOAs part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
SourcingOct 07, 2026
AGTA Extends Deadline for 2026 Spectrum Awards EntriesParticipants now have until Oct. 14 to complete their submissions.
Policies & IssuesOct 06, 2026
6 Charged in Connection to String of New Jersey Smash-and-GrabsThe alleged thieves used crow bars and sledgehammers to smash into jewelry stores across the state.
ColumnistsOct 06, 2026
Sherry Smith: Is the Consumer Really Trading Up?Ahead of the holidays, Smith urges jewelers to take a hard look at who’s buying jewelry, what they’re purchasing, and who’s stopped buying.
SourcingOct 06, 2026
DDG Taps Influencers for ‘My Diamond Does Good’ CampaignIn the new consumer-facing campaign, four fashion and lifestyle creators share the stories behind their natural diamond pieces.
MajorsOct 06, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names COO, CMOFGI President John Orrico is also leaving the company after more than 13 years.
Events & AwardsOct 06, 2026
JIS Fall Returns to MiamiThe 2026 edition will feature presentations on alternative materials and design trends, as well as pop-up activations on the show floor.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
De Beers to Take Full Ownership of Gahcho KuéIt is the last fully operational diamond mine in Canada following the recent closures of Ekati and Diavik.
AuctionsOct 05, 2026
The Star Cats of the Sandy Lerner AuctionThese jewels stood out at Bonhams’ sale of the cat-loving tech entrepreneur’s collection of objects depicting the feline form.
CollectionsOct 05, 2026
Sorellina Writes Another Love Letter for ‘Postscript’ CollectionThe fine jewelry brand has expanded the collection that debuted at Couture with four new designs based on its most popular styles.
SourcingOct 05, 2026
Bruce Bridges Joins CIBJO BoardThe AGTA president was elected for a two-year term on the board of directors.
SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
