TrendsNov 06, 2026
Pat Pruitt’s DragonFly Earrings Take Flight on Election NightGroundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.
EditorsNov 09, 2012
The storms have passed
Thursday (Nov. 8) was the first day back in the office for most of the National Jeweler team following Superstorm Sandy, and we are doing our best to try to get back into the groove.
It is difficult though, with so many people here still so out of sync. Many are homeless and in need of basic supplies while others who have a home remain without power amid temperatures that have been dropping into the 20s and 30s at night. Our publisher, Whitney Sielaff, is among those who, at least as of Friday, remained without power at his home in a rural area of western New Jersey.As those in the Northeast work to piece their lives back together, time marches on. The election is over and, as hard as it is to believe, Thanksgiving is only about two weeks from now, which means the holiday shopping season is basically here.
So, what impact will the two major “storms,” Hurricane Sandy and the U.S. presidential election, have on the upcoming holiday season? Though there is much speculation, the answer that seems to rings clearest is: probably not too much.
Prior to the election, Unity Marketing President Pam Danziger issued a press release stating that Republican challenger Mitt Romney would be better for business if elected because wealthy consumers feel that he is on their side. Conversely, they feel the Obama administration “is coming straight for them” with increased taxes, regulations and health-care costs.
Interestingly, the day before the election, Danziger’s marketing firm issued a press release stating that wealthy consumers are feeling better about the economy and more confident about their futures, and actually spent significantly more money in the third quarter than they did in the second quarter.
So, I felt it my patriotic duty to circle back to Danziger and ask her what she expected for the fourth quarter, with the understanding of course that this third-quarter enthusiasm enveloped the country’s richest citizens before Obama won re-election on Nov. 6. (Though, one could argue, anyone that had the good sense to listen to The New York Times numbers guru Nate Silver knew Obama was going to win well beforehand.)
What Danziger said basically is that she doesn’t have any fourth-quarter predictions, that it is “anybody’s guess.” She said was “very surprised” by the positive perspective expressed in the third-quarter survey.
Danziger also noted that apparently many “business people and pundits” agree that a Romney presidency would have been better for business as the stock market took a nosedive on Nov. 7, a point that has been made elsewhere.
Danziger’s
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
perspective on Romney vs. Obama was interesting to me, especially since most of the jewelers I spoke with in the run-up to the election said that while business might stall before the big day, it returns to normal afterward no matter who wins. People will get back to shopping regardless if their candidate won or lost; they just like to know the outcome.
And in his holiday forecast, longtime industry analyst Ken Gassman predicted some “lingering negative impact, especially as the losers,” (Romney and the Republicans, in this case) he wrote, “lick their wounds.”
But he expects that retail sales will return to normal about four to six weeks after the election, meaning some time in early December.
As for Sandy’s impact on the holiday season, Gassman said his guess right now is that jewelry sales in the aggregate U.S. won’t be affected that much, just as they didn’t decline as much as expected following 9/11.
He still doing some Silver-like number-crunching to determine what Sandy might mean for retailers in the Northeast, though, so it’s definitely something we’ll be revisiting here in the coming weeks.
And in his holiday forecast, longtime industry analyst Ken Gassman predicted some “lingering negative impact, especially as the losers,” (Romney and the Republicans, in this case) he wrote, “lick their wounds.”
But he expects that retail sales will return to normal about four to six weeks after the election, meaning some time in early December.
As for Sandy’s impact on the holiday season, Gassman said his guess right now is that jewelry sales in the aggregate U.S. won’t be affected that much, just as they didn’t decline as much as expected following 9/11.
He still doing some Silver-like number-crunching to determine what Sandy might mean for retailers in the Northeast, though, so it’s definitely something we’ll be revisiting here in the coming weeks.
More on Editors
The Latest
MajorsNov 06, 2026
SNL’s Colin Jost Finds the Perfect Gift in Kay Jewelers’ Holiday AdJost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.
Supplier BulletinNov 05, 2026
Winning With GCAL 8X®: What’s Working at the CounterSponsored by GCAL by Sarine
Brought to you by
How Overnight Mountings’ Bridal Builder Makes Custom Engagement Ring Design Easier to SellWith customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.
SurveysNov 05, 2026
What Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearFrom shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.
Weekly QuizNov 05, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsNov 05, 2026
Judi Powers, Russell Jones Unleash Joy With New CollaborationThe designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.
FinancialsNov 05, 2026
Brilliant Earth Continued to Resonate With High-Income Shoppers in Q3Its non-bridal fine jewelry remains the star of the show, recently launching new collections inspired by Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Goodall.
Brought to you by
A Diamond Is Forever Launches 2026 Holiday Campaign Championing Natural DiamondsA Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.
MajorsNov 05, 2026
Ariana Grande Stars In Swarovski’s Holiday Campaign“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.
GradingNov 05, 2026
GIA to Offer Next-Day Holiday ServicesThe lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.
CrimeNov 04, 2026
$250K+ in Undeclared Cartier Jewelry Seized at Philadelphia AirportA Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.
FinancialsNov 04, 2026
Pandora’s Q3 Sales Up 7% Amid Focus on DesignNew collections and relevant marketing pushed the company forward, while Pandora’s lab-grown diamond sales continue to lag.
Events & AwardsNov 04, 2026
NYC Jewelry Week 2026 Is the Largest Edition YetThe citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.
MajorsNov 04, 2026
Bergdorf Goodman Names New PresidentLanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.
AuctionsNov 03, 2026
Infinity Gauntlet Set With 170+ Carats of Colored Gemstones Up for AuctionA replica of one of the most powerful objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the glove is heading to auction next month in Abu Dhabi.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Longtime Jewelry Marketer Arthur Klein Dies at 89Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.
IndependentsNov 03, 2026
Zadok Jewelers Toasts To 50 Years With Diamond Bracelet GiveawayTo enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
David Yurman Gem Awards Grant Opens 2027 ApplicationsThe grant recipient will be awarded $50,000 as well as mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman and other industry executives.
Events & AwardsNov 03, 2026
NAJA, Instappraise Name 2026 Scholarship WinnersThe winners include a non-NAJA member seeking training, a member beginning NAJA courses, and a member becoming a Certified Master Appraiser.
AuctionsNov 02, 2026
197-Carat ‘Romanov Sapphire’ Heads to Sotheby’s GenevaThe rare jewel, which has links to Russia’s Romanov dynasty, is estimated to fetch up to $2 million.
CrimeNov 02, 2026
Customs Seizes More Than 400 Fake Audemars Piguet WatchesIt is one of several seizures of counterfeit jewelry and watches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Louisville this year.
MajorsNov 02, 2026
Lawrence Bock, Caryl Capeci, Amanda Coleman-Phelps Join JA Board Jewelers of America announced the additions to its board of directors following its annual general meeting, held last week.
CollectionsNov 02, 2026
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi, Heller Jewelers Expand ‘Always Dream’ CollectionThe jewelry collection supports Yamaguchi’s Always Dream foundation, which provides reading and educational resources to families in need.
Events & AwardsOct 30, 2026
Illuminating Carved Paraiba Pendant, Suite of Moonstones Wow at Spectrum AwardsSpectrum’s “Best of Show” honors went to a 101-carat Paraiba carved to look like Medusa that has a magnet-activated LED light.
TrendsOct 30, 2026
Edina Kiss’ Pendants Say ‘Eye’m Watching You’Our Halloween Pieces of the Week are four “Eye” pendants, each set with colorful gemstones.
MajorsOct 30, 2026
The RealReal Hires Former eBay Exec as New Chief Merchandising OfficerAlexis Hoopes expanded eBay’s “Authenticity Guarantee” program during her tenure.
WatchesOct 29, 2026
Bucherer Opens Rolex Boutique in Washington StateThe Rolex-owned retailer’s new 4,700-square-foot store’s façade honors the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen forests.
