SourcingOct 02, 2026
De Beers, National Geographic Society Renew Okavango Eternal Partnership The partnership, a pledge to protect Africa’s Okavango River Basin, has been extended for an additional five years.
TechnologyDec 02, 2019
Mobile Shopping Emerges as an Early Holiday Winner
Nearly three-quarters of traffic on retail websites came from mobile devices on Black Friday, and 56 percent of all online orders were placed on a mobile device.
New York—Black Friday, as National Jeweler has learned over years of interviewing retailers at the start of the holiday season, is not usually a big day for independent jewelers.
It’s more of a day in which consumers hit the big-box stores for deals on flat-screen TVs and other electronic gadgets, a trend underscored by what consumers were buzzing about on social media over the weekend.
According to a blog published Saturday by cloud computing and software company Salesforce, the five brands with the most mentions on social media on Black Friday were: PlayStation, Nintendo, Apple, Xbox and Google.
The five most-talked-about retailers were: Amazon, Walmart, Target, Gamestop and Best Buy.
Still, there are insights retailers can glean from the weekend following Thanksgiving, which marks the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.
According to Salesforce, 73 percent of all traffic on retail websites came from mobile devices on Black Friday, and more than half (56 percent) of all online orders were placed on a mobile device.
The company said the day “solidified the device’s position as a true driver of digital traffic and orders.”
Social media also performed strongly, with 8 percent of all mobile retail traffic coming from a social media channel.
In addition, 4 percent of mobile orders were generated by a referral from social media, with the greatest percentage of those happening the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Salesforce said: “Social media’s influence will continue to grow as younger generations gain greater purchasing power.”
Overall, Salesforce said consumers spent $7.2 billion online on Black Friday, up 14 percent from last year.
But, that doesn’t mean the season is over before it starts for brick-and-mortar retailers, particularly those with unique products to offer.
Retail Dive reported Sunday that while in-store foot traffic was down over the weekend, the conversion rate was up, meaning that more consumers who came into stores left with a bag in their hands (after, in many cases, having researched online beforehand).
The keys for physical retailers to draw customers in this holiday season include offering consumers an in-store experience and product they can’t find at the big chains, and aligning the in-store and online experiences—websites need to be mobile-friendly, easy to navigate and offer features such as buy online, pick up in store.
Consumers might not buy jewelry on their phones but they will be looking at product there, whether it’s on a
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
retailer’s website or via its social media feeds.
According to the Holiday Purchase Intentions Survey published by NPD Group in October, more than half of all holiday purchases will be done in stores this holiday season, and 20 percent of online purchases will be picked up in stores, giving retailers the opportunity to sell online shoppers additional product.
About 17 percent of consumers doing pre-purchase research online will use social media, with strength of brand and product reviews most likely to positively influence a purchase and, interestingly, celebrities most likely to do the opposite.
NPD’s survey also heralded the rise of mobile shopping this season, predicting that 25 percent of consumers who shop online will do so from their smartphones, up from 19 percent two years ago.
Later this week, National Jeweler will publish interviews with jewelers regarding their views on the holiday ahead—how much they expect to sell, which products they anticipate will be the top sellers this year and how much traffic they generated on Small Business Saturday, both in-store and online.
If you would like to be interviewed, please email Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff at michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com
More on Technology
The Latest
MajorsOct 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New $150M Manufacturing Facility in VietnamThe new facility, its first outside of Thailand, will boost its manufacturing capacity by 50 percent.
TrendsOct 02, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30th Anniversary With Heart PendantThe special-edition “Dream” pendant, our Piece of the Week, was created to mark Hearts On Fire’s 30-year milestone with 30 diamonds.
Brought to you by
Meet Gemology’s Next Generation Microscope: GIA® Gemolite® NXT Professional EditionExperience gemstones with greater precision and comfort than ever before.
CrimeOct 01, 2026
Police Looking for 4 Suspects in $600K Smash-and-Grab RobberyDubai Jewelers in Springfield, Virginia, was once again the target of an armed robbery.
Weekly QuizOct 01, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SurveysOct 01, 2026
Rolex Ranks Among Most Recommended Brands in US, Survey Says YouGov’s 2026 U.S. Most Recommended Brands report’s out, and a fast-fashion giant is sitting at No. 1 while Rolex is just shy of the top 5.
SourcingOct 01, 2026
Columbia Gem House Opens ‘Cutting Toward Change’ FundraiserProceeds from its jewelry raffle will benefit an organization working in India to combat silicosis, a lung disease affecting stone cutters.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Carolina Hurricanes’ Championship Ring Reveals Hidden Hockey Puck PendantThe rings, crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills, celebrate the hockey team’s Stanley Cup win with design elements that honor its traditions.
TrendsOct 01, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Color Range This roundup of birthstone jewelry for October features vibrant tourmalines and opals with personality.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Botswana’s President, De Beers CEO Say Diamond Demand Is RecoveringPresident Duma Boko spoke at back-to-back events in the city last week, touting Botswana’s stability and the diamond “bounceback.”
CollectionsSep 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman’s Holiday Book Is ‘A Living Archive’ The catalog showcases 112 new, one-of-a-kind pieces amid highlights from the jeweler’s historic archive.
SourcingSep 30, 2026
Gemfields Posts $98.5M Loss, Writes Down Value of Ruby MineIts Montepuez Ruby Mining operation in Mozambique, which is not yielding enough high-quality rubies, has taken a $125 million hit.
SurveysSep 30, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls to 12-Year Low in SeptemberThose surveyed were worried about the present and the future, with write-in responses mentioning high oil and gas prices.
Events & AwardsSep 30, 2026
Jewelers of America, JA New York to Host Networking EventThe event will take place on the evening of Oct. 26 in New York City.
IndependentsSep 29, 2026
Christy Bromberg, Longtime Gift Buyer for Underwood Jewelers, Dies at 68She is remembered for her joie de vivre, upbeat personality, genuine interest in other people, and love of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
Dionne Warwick’s Jewelry Goes Up for AuctionOnline bidding is open now for Julien’s sale of items owned by the “Walk On By” singer, whose final album comes out this fall.
Events & AwardsSep 29, 2026
Matt Stuller to Receive 2027 Gem Award for Lifetime AchievementThe founder and executive chairman of Stuller Inc. is being honored for his impact on the jewelry industry at the 25th annual Gem Awards.
ColumnistsSep 29, 2026
Your Holiday Marketing Has a Bridal Blind SpotDecember is the most popular month to propose, and jewelers need to keep that in mind when planning their holiday marketing.
AuctionsSep 29, 2026
If You Love Cats, This Jewelry Auction Is for YouCat ladies of the jewelry world, unite. Sandy Lerner’s collection of cat jewelry and other objects is going up for auction Wednesday.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
De Beers London Drops Water-Inspired High Jewelry Collection“Vibrations” features several firsts for De Beers’ high jewelry, including the use of chalcedony and diamonds sourced from artisanal miners.
CollectionsSep 28, 2026
Jessica McCormack Turns to Classic Motif for New CollectionThe “Bows” collection features three interpretations of the bow motif designed with Georgian and Victorian influences.
Events & AwardsSep 28, 2026
Guy Borenstein, Troy Underwood Among the Professionals Honored at AGS Conclave 2026The American Gem Society recognized industry members, one Guild, and a law enforcement official for their contributions to jewelry.
FinancialsSep 28, 2026
Instappraise, Jewelers Mutual Look to Simplify Jewelry InsuranceThrough a new system integration, customers can now receive instant personal jewelry insurance quotes at the time of appraisal.
WatchesSep 25, 2026
Smaller Rolex Watches Showing Strength on Secondary Market, Data ShowsFive of the 10 fastest-appreciating Rolex models on Bob’s Watches were Datejust 31 or Lady Datejust watches.
MajorsSep 25, 2026
Sherwood Family Buys Back Daniel’s Jewelers from Private EquityThe Sherwood family and AJS Creations CEO Tejas Shah purchased the jewelry chain back from Palladium Equity Partners.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2026
Brilliant Earth Collabs with Elizabeth Taylor Estate on Jewelry Collection“The Elizabeth Taylor Collection” uses lab-grown diamonds and gemstones in contemporary designs inspired by the icon.
