Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
TechnologyJul 12, 2017
Amazon’s 2017 Prime Day Was Its Biggest Sales Day Yet
The 30-hour-long event broke records again, surpassing both Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the e-tailer.
Seattle--Sales on Amazon Prime Day 2017, which officially kicked off Monday evening, surpassed Black Friday and Cyber Monday to make it the biggest sales day in company history, the e-tailer said Wednesday morning.
This year, Amazon made Prime Day bigger and broader in an effort to pull more consumers into its Prime membership.
It was 30 hours long, versus 24 last year, and offered in three additional countries--China, India and Mexico--bringing the total reach of the sales event to 13 nations worldwide.
It seems like the move was the right one, as sales this year were up by more than 60 percent when compared with the same 30-hour period last year, Amazon reported.
The company said year-over-year sales growth for small businesses and entrepreneurs who sell on the e-commerce site was even more than that.
While Amazon hasn’t provided specific sales figures for the day, Business Insider reported last week that JP Morgan analysts were estimating Amazon could rake in $1 billion on Prime Day, representing a 55 percent increase over last year.
What Amazon did report is that “tens of millions of Prime members made a purchase on Prime Day 2017,” representing more than a 50 percent increase on the prior year. Additionally, more new members joined Prime than on any other single day in the e-tailer’s history (again, exact numbers weren’t revealed.)
Overall, the most popular purchase was the Echo Dot, Amazon’s audio-enabled speaker that can act as a personal home assistant (its price dropped $15 on Prime Day to $34.99.) In fact, Prime members purchased seven times more Amazon Echo devices globally than on Prime Day 2016.
Excluding Amazon devices, the top sellers in the U.S. were a multi-use programmable pressure cooker and a DNA test.
Interestingly, the pressure cooker also was a top seller in Canada, along with an eight-pack of rechargeable AA batteries.
Meanwhile, in the U.K. the best-selling products were a smart plug that works with Alexa and the Sony Playstation 4, and in France and Belgium they bought up PlayStation Plus memberships and the complete set of “Game of Thrones,” seasons 1 through 6, on Blu-Ray.
In the U.S., the most popular themes to shop by were Home Chefs, Techies and For the Home.
Amazon started Prime Day, a day of deep website-wide discounts open only to those who sign for the e-tailer’s Prime membership, in 2015.
The day has grown in sales every year
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
but also has evolved in terms of quality of experience for shoppers.
The first year brought so many complaints from consumers that the hashtag #PrimeDayFail was popping up everywhere. Last year, there were some complaints about issues with adding items to carts.
This year, though, things appeared to go more smoothly, with fewer complaints circulating the Twittersphere.
The first year brought so many complaints from consumers that the hashtag #PrimeDayFail was popping up everywhere. Last year, there were some complaints about issues with adding items to carts.
This year, though, things appeared to go more smoothly, with fewer complaints circulating the Twittersphere.
More on Technology
The Latest
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
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.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
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.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
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.
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.
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.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
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.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
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.
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.
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.
