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.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Trends
The Latest
FinancialsJul 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Lead the Way for LVMH in H1LVMH’s jewelry and watch brands outperformed the company’s other divisions in an environment the company described as “disrupted.”
CollectionsJul 28, 2026
Lionheart’s New Collection Unites Spiritual Iconography“Sacred Heart” features symbols like crosses, angel wings, the Star of David, and the evil eye as a representation of coexistence.
Events & AwardsJul 28, 2026
The Edge Funding 2 Scholarships Via 24 Karat Club SEUS The scholarships will go to early-career professionals looking to study gemology, bench work and jewelry design, or store operations.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
SurveysJul 27, 2026
Jewelry Leads Luxury Market Amid Stabilization, Bain SaysBain & Company delved into the trends shaping the luxury market, the impact of AI, and more in its recent study.
Weekly QuizJul 23, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingJul 27, 2026
‘Rubies’ Goes on Display at Harvard MuseumThe exhibition reveals the gemology, geology, and cultural history of the iconic red gemstone.
Policies & IssuesJul 24, 2026
New Trump Tariffs: What They Mean for Jewelry The new sweeping slate of tariffs impacts 60 countries, including India, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates.
Brought to you by
Building the Future of Jewelry Retail: DCA Expands Education, Leadership Development, and Workforce SolutionsDCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.
PodcastsJul 23, 2026
Episode 7: Reinhold Jewelers on the Power of RelationshipsMildred Marcano Abrams and Yael Reinhold join the podcast to talk community connections, holiday plans, and preserving Reinhold’s legacy.
SourcingJul 23, 2026
De Beers’ Production Jumps 88 Percent in Q2 Production also was up in the first half of 2026 but is expected to “substantially” decrease in H2 as two key mines undergo maintenance.
CollectionsJul 23, 2026
Silvia Furmanovich’s New Collection Travels Back to the 1920s“Art Deco” fuses ancestral techniques, rare materials, and modern perspectives as a tribute to the optimism and curiosity of the movement.
IndependentsJul 23, 2026
Sissy's Log Cabin Opens Casino StoreThe jeweler’s newest store is inside Arkansas’ Saracen Casino Resort.
WatchesJul 23, 2026
Movado Inks Licensing Deal With Kate Spade New YorkThe watch company will design, manufacture, and distribute Kate Spade New York watches.
Policies & IssuesJul 22, 2026
Trump to Put 50% Tariff on Canadian Goods The higher tax is set to go into effect in August and will apply to loose polished diamonds as well as precious and base metals jewelry.
CollectionsJul 22, 2026
Monica Rich Kosann’s High Jewelry Is FruitfulThe “Enchanted Garden” series features a cherry, lemon, and pear that each hold a little secret inside.
IndependentsJul 22, 2026
Liljenquist Beckstead Opens Rolex New BoutiqueIt’s located in Tysons Galleria, an upscale shopping center in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Events & AwardsJul 22, 2026
NY Now Returns in August Under New OwnershipThe show, recently acquired by Rockview Management Group, will be held at New York City’s Javits Center from Aug. 2-4.
ColumnistsJul 21, 2026
Sherry Smith: Shattering the Illusion of the ‘Either/Or’ Diamond MarketSmith offers retailers guidance on creating an environment where natural and lab-grown diamonds can both thrive.
Events & AwardsJul 21, 2026
Apollo Funds Completes Emerald AcquisitionFormer Emerald President and CEO Hervé Sedky has transitioned to the role of senior advisor.
CollectionsJul 21, 2026
Graff’s New Butterfly High Jewelry Brooches MetamorphosizeThe 12-piece capsule collection transforms from brooches to pendants.
SourcingJul 21, 2026
Anglo Reportedly Selects Gareth Penny’s Consortium as Top Bidder for De BeersA Botswana government official told lawmakers Anglo has selected The Global Diamond Consortium, an entity chaired by Penny, to buy De Beers.
Policies & IssuesJul 20, 2026
Tariffs on Brazil to Increase But Rough Gemstones ExemptThe new tariff, imposed after a Trump administration study, is 25 percent and will stack on top of existing tariffs.
CollectionsJul 20, 2026
Vhernier Transforms ‘Freccia’ Collection Into High JewelryThe collection from 2014 has been reinterpreted into high jewelry with its signature triangular-shaped elements.
MajorsJul 20, 2026
Krista Collins Walters Promoted to Publisher of InstoreShe will also take on the role of vice president of jewelry for SmartWork Media, a newly created position.
Events & AwardsJul 20, 2026
TJS Accepting Speaker Proposals for 2027 EventOrganizers are looking for presentations on topics like manufacturing, technology and research, bench work, gemstones, and sustainability.
CollectionsJul 17, 2026
HOWL Taps Shailene Woodley for ‘Home Sweet Home’ CampaignWoodley is seen in the campaign wearing our Piece of the Week, the “Frida” collar featuring 13 pieces of hand-carved Venetian glass.
SourcingJul 17, 2026
U.K. Woman Pays £5 for £15K Diamond Ring at Car Boot SaleA WeBuyVintage jewelry expert uncovered how much the flea market find was actually worth.
