Major Jewelers (Mostly) Optimistic About the Holiday Season
From Signet Jewelers to Macy’s, here’s how the biggest jewelry sellers are feeling about the most wonderful time of the year.

From Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, 200.4 million consumers went shopping, according to the National Retail Federation, exceeding the organization’s expectation of 182 million and surpassing last year’s total of 196.7 million shoppers.
Still, economic pressures and geopolitical tensions could make for a not-so-merry season.
Here’s how a few of the major jewelry sellers are feeling about the holidays.
Signet Jewelers: Confident about brighter days ahead
Signet Jewelers posted double-digit declines in its recent third quarter as engagement ring sales slowed.
On an earnings call, CEO Virginia Drosos said fine jewelry is “experiencing its second COVID,” referencing the industry’s initial struggles during the early days of the pandemic, but remains confident a rebound is ahead.
The jewelry giant noted an uptick in the number of engagement rings sold through Black Friday weekend.
Over Black Friday weekend, jewelry under $1,000 was popular, with the Banter by Piercing Pagoda banner doing particularly well.
Brilliant Earth: Planning on a profitable quarter
Brilliant Earth posted muted sales growth in its third quarter, also noting a decline in bridal sales.
The retailer lowered its fiscal outlook to “reflect the current normalizing jewelry industry conditions.”
Still, CEO Beth Gerstein ended its recent earnings call on a positive note.
“The bulk of the season lies ahead and we believe that we are well-positioned to deliver another profitable fourth quarter with the largest quarterly sales in our history,” she said.
Movado: Cautious amid uncertainties
Movado Group also had a rough third quarter, seeing a double-digit drop in sales as it continued to struggle in its largest markets, the United States and Europe.
In light of the “uncertain” retail environment, the company lowered its fiscal-year guidance.
On a recent earnings call, Movado CEO Efraim Grinberg noted that while the company has seen trends improve in recent weeks, due in part to its new Movado marketing initiatives, it is still facing a challenging market in the U.S. and Europe.
“As we proceed through the important holiday quarter, we are taking a cautious view while supporting important marketing initiatives to ensure that our brands get stronger while we navigate the uncertain retail climate and steer clear of the excessive promotional environment,” he said.
The company will also be airing new television commercials on cable networks and YouTube TV.
Macy’s: Still a ‘gift-giving destination’
Macy’s posted declining revenue in its recent third quarter, noting a drop in both brick-and-mortar and online sales.
The storied retailer has been struggling in the face of online competition and reportedly has received a $5.8 billion buyout offer.
Macy’s took the No. 7 spot on National Jeweler’s 2022 “$100 Millon Supersellers” list, with an estimated $1.7 billion in jewelry and watch sales.
In a press release about its results, CEO Jeff Gennette touted Macy’s “better-than-expected top- and bottom-line third quarter results” and said the retailer was “entering the holiday period in a healthy inventory position.”
“Our portfolio of nameplates are leading gift-giving destinations across the value spectrum offering exclusive products. We have refined our gift assortment, simplified our promotions, and improved our shopping experience,” he said.
Target: Catering to price-conscious shoppers
Target posted a 5 percent dip in comparable sales in its third quarter with discretionary categories driving the decline.
The company sits at No. 11 on National Jeweler’s 2022 $100 Million Supersellers list, with jewelry and watch sales of $617 million.
On an earnings call, CEO Brian Cornell highlighted the pressures being faced by consumers, noting that while inflation rates have moderated prices in key categories are still up significantly compared with 2020.
Food prices for families have increased 25 to 30 percent, while baby food and formula is up 30 percent. Energy prices are also up.
“As a result, this holiday season, we’re focusing on highlighting the amazing value we’ve always provided in our end caps, promotions, and the price points we feature in our marketing. As we built our plans for this holiday season, we maintained our cautious inventory positioning in markdown-sensitive categories,” said Cornell.
While Target is “cautious” in its near-term outlook, it’s “playing the long game,” by investing in its stores, supply chain, team, digital capabilities, and its assortment to “provide the newness, value and convenience our guests want for this holiday season and beyond.”
“At the heart of it all is our focus on being our guests’ happy place and delivering the joyful shopping experience that makes Target, Target.”
The Latest

The ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.

The two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.


The auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.

The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

The event, set for June 13-15, will feature educational presentations and guided visits to the state’s sapphire mines.

After the black enamel band became a best-seller for the brand, it has now launched an enamel ring personalization program.

The Austin, Texas, jeweler’s new 11,000-square-foot store is set to open this summer.

The rapper and singer-songwriter will perform at Tao Beach on June 8.

“Conversations with Chris Ploof” covers tips for men buying wedding bands, behind-the-scenes footage of Ploof in his studio, and more.

As lab-grown diamond brands pop up across India, academics are researching how to grow demand outside of the jewelry industry.

The “Rush Hour” campaign stars Zoë Kravitz in bold, wearable pieces designed to make a statement in the workplace.

Breitling is reviving Gallet, which was founded in 1826 and is known for making watches used in the early days of long-distance travel.

Dubbed the “Mediterranean Blue,” this “remarkably rare” diamond will be part of Sotheby’s May jewelry auction in Geneva.

The American Gem Society now offers a Jewelry Evaluation Advisor designation as well as an updated Certified Sales Associate designation.

Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz created more than 75 new pieces for the residency, which will be on display at Trove’s store in New York through April.

Smith explores why a qualified candidate might still not be right for the job.

The company and its marketing agency, Loudr, were recognized for the “Make You Dance” marketing campaign.

The “Series8” and “Attesa” collections will be grouped under Citizen Premier.

David Fager, a former systems engineer at the retailer, was promoted to the role.

From retailers to designers and the media, the fine jewelry industry recognized one another’s work and looked to the future.

Eleanor H. Yeh is the recipient of the eighth annual Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design.

Joseph Cavalcante takes on the dual role as the Spanish jewelry brand looks to expand further into the U.S. market.

The trade show has also upgraded its venue to the Caesars Forum Conference Center.