SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
MajorsSep 04, 2020
Amazon Moves Into Wearables With Halo
The retail giant’s latest gadget collects and analyzes information on temperature, heart rate and other health data.
The Amazon Halo’s band, available in fabric and silicone, comes in 15 colors.
Seattle—Amazon’s new gadget is giving the retail titan a foothold in the fitness wearables space.
The Amazon Halo is a mix between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker, minus the screen or notifications.
A small band worn around the wrist uses sensors to collect health data, like temperature and heart rate, and sends it to the Halo app.
For access to all of the features, customers will need to purchase a Halo membership.
An early access promotional price of $64.99 gets customers the band and six months of a Halo membership. It would otherwise be $99.99.
After the initial period, the membership renews automatically for $3.99 per month.
Those without a membership have access to the basics, including step counts, sleep time and heart rate. Using the app, customers can get insight into their activity, sleep cycle, weight and body fat percentage.
The “Tone” feature analyzes the energy and positivity in your voice using machine learning, offering tips to improve communication with others.
For example, a stressful work call leads to negative communication with family members, showing the impact of stress on your emotional state, Amazon explained.
The “Labs” feature provides workouts and fitness challenges to help customers reach their health goals.
Some of these workouts and challenges are created by Amazon, while others are from partners including the American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic, Headspace and Orangetheory Fitness.
The water resistant band is available in sizes small, medium, and large and in three color variations: a black fabric band with an onyx-color sensor capsule, a blush fabric band with a rose gold-color sensor capsule, and a silver band with a silver-color sensor capsule.
Additional fabric bands are available in six colors, including Denim, Hummingbird, Mint Edge, Olive, Unicorn, and Volcano. The early access price for the fabric bands is $19.99.
Silicone sport bands are also available, in nine colors: Ash, Black, Dark Mint, Domino, Lavender, Pink Slate, Seafoam, Sunset and White. The early access price for the fabric bands is $15.99.
The Halo’s battery fully charges in less than 90 minutes and lasts up to seven days.
With privacy concerns mounting, Amazon said it has implemented multiple layers of privacy and security to keep personal data safe and within the customer’s control.
Health data is encrypted, both in transit and in the cloud, and customers can download or delete it at any time using the app.
Body scan images are only seen by the customer and are automatically deleted from the cloud after processing.
Tone
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
creates a personal voice profile by capturing snippets of speech. These are analyzed locally on the customer’s phone and then automatically deleted after processing.
No one, including the customer, ever hears them, said Amazon.
The Amazon Halo is available on the Amazon website.
No one, including the customer, ever hears them, said Amazon.
The Amazon Halo is available on the Amazon website.
More on Majors
The Latest
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
Weekly QuizAug 07, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
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.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
Events & AwardsAug 11, 2026
NAJA Announces Lineup For 2026 Fall Virtual ConferenceThe mid-year conference for jewelry and watch appraisers will take place Sept. 5-6 on Zoom.
TechnologyAug 10, 2026
Colorado Jeweler Launches Customization Tool He Built HimselfHonest Hands Ring Co. Founder Benjamin Bosworth shared his thoughts on jewelry technology and why AI can never replace the human element.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
QVC Exits Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Names New Interim CEOQVC Group President and CEO David Rawlinson is temporarily being replaced by a familiar face, former QVC CEO Mike George.
CollectionsAug 10, 2026
State Property Puts a Ripple in the ‘The Voyager’ CollectionThe brand also added two one-of-a-kind brown diamond pieces to the “Sanssouci” series of its “Gardens” collection.
MajorsAug 10, 2026
And IJO’s 2026 Vendor of the Year Is … Ostbye took home top vendor honors at the Independent Jewelers Organization’s show, held last month in Kentucky.
Supplier BulletinAug 07, 2026
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsSponsored by Stratus Estate Buyers
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Retail Veteran Pam Cloud Appointed President of Blue NileCloud, who will officially join Blue Nile on Monday, spent 26 years at Tiffany & Co. and founded jewelry brand Roseate.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Pandora Appoints Paulo Garcia as New CFO Garcia will take over from the company’s current CFO, Anders Boyer, who is retiring at the end of November.
MajorsAug 07, 2026
Etsy to Lay Off 12% of WorkforceEtsy CEO Kruti Patel Goyal explained why the company is letting go more than 200 employees as its performance improves.
TrendsAug 07, 2026
Look Ahead with Syna’s Binoculars PendantThe “Star Gazer” pendant, our Piece of the Week, is Syna’s tribute to curiosity and the discovery of something new.
CrimeAug 06, 2026
Lalique Museum to Remain Closed Following $5M HeistMuseum officials are looking to the public to help cover the “exceptional” costs involved in recovering from the July 5 smash-and-grab.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
Claire’s Revamps Piercing Services for Second Time in Three Years The overhaul includes enhanced employee safety training and trendy earring styles, including lab-grown diamond studs.
FinancialsAug 06, 2026
Brilliant Earth’s Q2 Sales Up 6%, Driven by High-Income ShoppersThe retailer said it had its biggest Mother’s Day ever, with strong demand for higher-priced jewelry.
TrendsAug 06, 2026
New Book on Handcrafted American Objects Highlights Jewelry“Handwork: Handcrafted Objects that Made America” features historic and contemporary works, including a Diné squash blossom necklace.
MajorsAug 06, 2026
AJA East Coast Names Ani Khachian as First Female President-ElectThe Armenian Jewelers Association’s East Coast chapter has also elected its 2026–2027 board of directors.
MajorsAug 05, 2026
Private Equity Firm Wants to Buy 100+ JCPenney StoresOnyx Partners has submitted a second offer to buy the department stores after its first offer fell through last year.
IndependentsAug 05, 2026
Atlanta Jeweler Introduces $10K MartiniSolomon Brothers Jewelers has partnered with local cocktail bar Roaring Social on a new martini garnished with a tennis necklace.
IndependentsAug 05, 2026
Another Member of the Siegel Family Joins Hamilton Jewelers Benjamin Siegel, son of President and CEO Hank Siegel, started working for the family business this week.
