WatchesDec 14, 2021
Patek Philippe Nautilus with Tiffany Blue Dial Sells for $6.5 MillionTrendsJan 19, 2022
A Yellow Diamond Ring Is the Most Expensive Item Ever Sold on The RealReal
Plus, more insights from the luxury reseller’s annual consignment report.
Jewelry from Tiffany & Co. has an interesting relationship with The RealReal. According to the company’s annual consignment trend report, the average resale price was up 23 percent last year, but among an older demographic (Gen X), rather than the LVMH-owned brand’s coveted younger targets like Gen Z. Pictured are bracelets from the new “Tiffany Knot” collection.
San Francisco—Luxury consignment company The RealReal has released its annual report highlighting the biggest trends in the secondhand market.
Comparing January-November 2021 to January-November 2020, The RealReal pointed out that every demographic’s participation in luxury resale increased in 2021. This led to nearly every brand The RealReal stocks increasing in value.
Of The RealReal’s 24 million customers, whether consigners or shoppers, the largest share (36 percent) are millennials, closely followed by Gen X (33 percent), then baby boomers (22 percent), Gen Z (5 percent), and, finally, the Silent Generation (4 percent).
With the current focus on 1990s and 2000s fashion, different generations are taking advantage of the resale market to find pieces that are on-trend.
Just as logos are trending in clothing, shoes, and bags, jewelry is feeling the effect of the branding craze.
Tiffany & Co.’s “Return to Tiffany” collection saw its resale value increase 14 percent last year, with millennials selling the pieces and Gen X snatching them up.
Overall, the average sale price for Tiffany jewelry rose 23 percent. The RealReal noted that despite the LVMH-owned brand’s attempt to lure a younger customer with projects like its Supreme collaboration, Gen X remains the biggest buyer and seller.
The biggest increase in year-over-year average sale price was for Tiffany’s Schlumberger collection (36 percent), followed by the HardWear collection (up 28 percent), and the Elsa Peretti collection (26 percent).
Last year, The RealReal sold its highest priced Tiffany jewel yet—a 21.98-carat diamond and platinum “Victoria Necklace” purchased for $83,000.
But that wasn’t the most expensive jewel The RealReal sold in 2021. That honor went to an unbranded yellow diamond solitaire ring. Purchased for $350,000, it’s the most expensive item The RealReal has ever sold in any category.
Buyers’ desire for rare, unique and limited-edition items is particularly ardent in the jewelry and watches sector. In fact, vintage jewelry and watch values are outpacing the value of new pieces, sometimes for two to three times the price, The RealReal said in its report.
An Audemars Piguet “Royal Oak” self-winding chronograph sold for $143,000 last year, while a pair of Cartier diamond stud earrings fetched $42,500.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen demand shift from statement jewelry and watches that pop to unique, vintage pieces that are rich in character.” —Steffi Lee, The RealReal
Of all jewelry and watch brands stocked on The RealReal, Rolex recorded the biggest increase in value, with a 16 percent average increase year-over-year and some styles selling for up to three times their retail value.
Other category bestsellers, including costume designs, are vintage Chanel necklaces, which sell for up to 697 percent of their retail value, and vintage Tiffany clip-on earrings, which go for up to 381 percent of their retail value.
Unsurprisingly, Patek Philippe “Nautilus” timepieces earn up to 258 percent of their retail value, Rolex “Submariner Date” watches for up to 262 percent.
Fine Jewelry Editorial Manager Steffi Lee said: “Over the past year, we’ve seen demand shift from statement jewelry and watches that pop to unique, vintage pieces that are rich in character. These pieces are a quieter, and more versatile, way to stand out from the crowd.”
Observing the resale market at a macro level, The RealReal’s report noted that supply chain constraints and consumers’ desire for more sustainable shopping helped luxury consignment soar in 2021, driving up values.
“Resale has undeniably gone mainstream,” said The RealReal President Rati Sahi Levesque. “When we unpack the trends among our 24-plus million members driving the year’s greatest value gains, they connect back to the handoff happening between generations, the desire for unique pieces that are authentic to personal style and changing shopping behaviors driving more buyers and consignors to luxury resale.”
The full report is available online.
More on Trends
The Latest
SourcingAug 12, 2025
Gemfields Sells Fabergé for $50MAcquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.
Policies & IssuesAug 12, 2025
Higher Tariff on Chinese Imports Paused for 90 Days, Trump SaysPresident Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.
CollectionsAug 12, 2025
Jacquie Aiche’s New Collection Harnesses the Energy of the ThunderbirdThe “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
ColumnistsAug 12, 2025
Creative Connecting: How to Take a Better HeadshotColumnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.
Weekly QuizAug 08, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeAug 11, 2025
Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado JewelerPeter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.
IndependentsAug 11, 2025
Lisa Bridge to Depart Ben Bridge JewelerThe retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench JewelersThe Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2025
Bethenny Frankel to Give Keynote at CBG’s Experience ShowThe Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.
EditorsAug 11, 2025
The Colors Expected to Be On-Trend in a Couple YearsAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.
FinancialsAug 08, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 3% as Engagement Ring Sales RiseThe company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.
Events & AwardsAug 08, 2025
GJEPC’s Jewellers for Hope Celebrates 10 Years of FundraisingThe organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.
WatchesAug 07, 2025
Bulova’s New Collection Honors Tony BennettThe first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
Lab-GrownAug 07, 2025
Chatham Releases Catalog for Loose Lab-Grown GemstonesThe catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.
TechnologyAug 07, 2025
Rembrandt Charms Debuts New Website, Bird CharmsThe company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.
Policies & IssuesAug 06, 2025
Tariff on India to Rise to 50%, Trump Says An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.
MajorsAug 06, 2025
Claire’s Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy AgainThe jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.
IndependentsAug 06, 2025
Smith & Son Jewelers to Close 107-Year-Old Location Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.
CollectionsAug 06, 2025
Zahn-Z Swims With Whales in ‘Beluga’ CollectionDesigner Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.
CrimeAug 05, 2025
Report: Suspect Arrested in 1992 Murder of Miami JewelerOmar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.
CollectionsAug 05, 2025
Mignon Faget Commemorates 20th Anniversary of Hurricane KatrinaThe New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.
ColumnistsAug 05, 2025
The PR Adviser: Affiliate Marketing Is the Cost of CoverageLilian Raji explains why joining an affiliate network is essential for brands seeking placements in U.S. consumer publications.
Events & AwardsAug 05, 2025
JA Announces Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship WinnersThe organization has awarded a total of $42,000 through its scholarship programs this year.
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging DesignersThe winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright BaublesAs summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in QueensMoshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities ManagerXavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.
