This year’s honorees include a Midwest retailer and two multi-store independents, one in New York and the other in New England.
Love but not necessarily marriage
I don’t know why but I’ve always been fascinated with demographics and the differences among the generations: what were the cultural influences that shaped the ideals of those in their 60s versus those in their 20s and 30s.

As I learned in doing the story, researchers anticipate 2.2 million weddings this year, 2 percent more than there were in 2013.
The marriage rate, overall, declined immediately following the recession but now seems to be bouncing back to pre-recession levels, though it’s still not what it was in the late 1970s through the early aughts, when there were as many as 2.5 million marriages a year, U.S. Census Bureau data shows.
Certainly, many marriages during this time frame is attributable to the fact that this is when many of the baby boomers, the large post-World War II generation born between 1946 and 1964, would have been getting married.
But this begs the question, what happened to all of their kids, the generation known as the Millennials or the Echo Boomers? Following many of their parents’ marriages in the 1980s, many members of this generation are now their 20s and even early 30s. What’s keeping them from tying the knot?
Among the easy answers, as I am sure you have read before, are the recession, which caused people to delay marriage because of financial uncertainty, and the increase in co-habitation among young people, which has become more socially acceptable.
It’s almost interesting to note, however, that young people today--not just members of the Millennial Generation but of those above it, Generation X, of which I am a (very young) member--take marriage very seriously.
Last March, the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia published a report called “Knot Yet” examining the benefits and the downsides to what they term “delayed” marriage in the United States. (In the interest of full disclosure, I will mention that this report was sponsored by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and also explores the increasing number of children born out of wedlock.)
In the report, they got into the rising average marriage age in the United States, which now stands at about 28 for men and 25 for women, and the whys behind it, noting that, “Marriage has shifted from being the cornerstone to the capstone of adult life. No longer the foundation on which young adults build their prospects for future prosperity and happiness, marriage now comes only after they have
They also view marriage as more than just: I’ve reached this age therefore I must now select a husband or wife and move on to the next phase of my life.
They want to get married--they don’t view the institution as outdated--but they are looking for that ideal person to marry, a soul mate if you will. If they haven’t found him or her yet, so be it.
As one 37-year-old male friend of mine, who falls squarely into Generation X, put it: “I want to make sure it’s right and not rush into anything and honestly don’t think I’ve even felt close (to finding the right person) ... Why rush into something [because] people think you should be married by a certain age ... And then get divorced or, like most of my friends, just [be unhappy].”
He said “no way” when I asked him if getting married is something he felt like he had to do. “Getting married to get married, that’s not fair to either person or the families.”
A woman 10 years his junior who lives in an entirely different part of the country expressed a similar sentiment. “I think a lot of my friends are making absolutely sure they are with the right person by spending more than a few years together before deciding to get married,” she said.
Retailers, I would be curious for some of your input on this, as I am wondering how much it varies by region.
Are the couples you are seeing today older in general? If so, how does that impact their ring choice? And, are they a different shopper with different expectations and attitudes about the entire ring buying/marriage process as a whole?
The Latest

As an homage to iconic crochet blankets, the necklace features the nostalgic motif through a kaleidoscope of cabochon-cut stones.

Discover the dozen up-and-coming brands exhibiting in the Design Atelier for the first time.

When investing in your jewelry business, it's important not to overlook the most crucial element of success: the sales associates.

The “Royal Ruby” Collection is a quintet of untreated rubies curated by collector Jack Abraham.


The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

Two existing executives have been given new roles.

More shoppers are walking out without buying. Here’s how smart jewelers can bring them back—and the tool they need to do it right.

Meredith Tiderington, an electrical engineering student, was selected for the award.

It will quit assigning the stones specific color and clarity grades in favor of applying “new descriptive terminology.”

From design trends to sustainability, here’s a roundup of can’t-miss education sessions at JCK Las Vegas.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance offers advice for those attending the annual trade shows.

Her new role is director of strategic initiatives.

The designer is embracing bold pieces with weight to them in “AU79,” a collection she celebrated with a creative launch party.

On an earnings call, CEO J.K. Symancyk discussed what’s working for the company and how it’s preparing for the potential impact of tariffs.

The index partially rebounded after months of decline, due in part to the U.S.-China deal to temporarily reduce import tariffs.

The actress stars in the latest campaign set in Venice, Italy, and is set to participate in other creative initiatives for the jeweler.

The company has joined other labs, including GIA and Lotus Gemology, in adopting the Chinese term for "jadeite jade."

The large stone will be offered at its June sale along with a selection of secondary-type rubies from a new area of the Montepuez mine.

Located in Bangkok, the laboratory is Gemological Science International’s 14th location worldwide.

Those born in June have a myriad of options for their birthstone jewelry.

The diamond industry veteran has been named its senior sales executive.

The company plans to raise the prices of select watches to offset the impact of tariffs.

Between tariffs and the sky-high cost of gold, designers enter this year’s Las Vegas shows with a lot of questions and few answers.

Designed by founder Renato and his daughter Serena Cipullo, it showcases a flame motif representing unity and the power of gathering.

However, the tariffs remain in effect in the short term, as an appeals court has stayed the U.S. Court of International Trade’s decision.

The pop icon is one step closer to launching her “B Tiny” jewelry collection, a collection she first began posting about last fall.