Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
E-mail, e-mail on the wall, who's the smartest one of all?
Like yours, probably, my inbox has been swamped by retail holiday e-mails the past few weeks. Most are from my favorite retailers for personal consumption, while others are from companies I like to watch professionally for trending. Free shipping, the...
Like yours, probably, my inbox has been swamped by retail holiday e-mails the past few weeks. Most are from my favorite retailers for personal consumption, while others are from companies I like to watch professionally for trending.
Free shipping, the leg up for savvy marketers over the past few holiday seasons, isn't cutting it this year. Consumers are like water flowing downhill. They'll naturally find the quickest route of least resistance. Many, if not most, I assume, have established favorite retailers based on the locus of price and selection, with secondary aspects like shipping having become expected service requirements.
My list of online stores is international. And in one case, I receive free shipping year-round from England for product at much cheaper prices than I can find here at home. Guess where I'm shopping?
So the marketers have been battling on a new field this year, where they need to establish themselves on the higher ground, especially given the economic circumstances. And now, with a week and a half until Christmas, we've entered the critical phase. For many, the retailing season will be won or lost over the next nine days.
Bam. Walmart hit my inbox this morning with a compelling list of "unbelievable online specials." And I have to say, while I've become somewhat jaded by claims, this one roped me in. The claim was just too powerful in combination with the timing--true even though I've finished all my holiday shopping (theoretically).
Increasingly, online retailing is maturing to place the field of competition squarely where it's been for traditional retailing for years--a question of who can offer the best product at the best prices and marketed the best.
The other thing that hit me was that Walmart prioritized three categories that, I assume, it believes would have maximum above-the-fold impact on potential shoppers. These were electronics, toys and "great gifts," which was illustrated graphically by a "wine lover's bundle."
Clicking through on that final catch-all category, I found an 0.45-carat total weight pair of diamond stud earrings buried toward the end--an ignominious showing for jewelry, and this from the largest seller of fine jewelry on the planet. Not very encouraging as a cultural statement about the allure of our product.
The Latest

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.


The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

The jewelry and accessories retailer plans to close 18 stores as part of the proceedings.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.