Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.
Current Jewelry Trends: Holiday 2019 Edition
Enamel, collarbone dusters and heart motifs are sure bets for jewelers beyond the fine jewelry basics this holiday season.

New York—Stocking up for the busiest time of the year—the winter holidays—retail jewelers have their tried-and-true fine jewelry staples ready to go: the diamond studs, the simple pendant, the stacking rings.
But where to direct design-conscious consumers buying something for themselves, or the gift-giving spouse who has exhausted the jewelry staples over the years?
National Jeweler has rounded up three trends that are fashion-forward and trending but totally timeless.
A heart motif is hardly new, but its latest iteration is different from hearts past in that it’s no longer sickly sweet but modern and cool.
Designers are applying their own signatures to the heart to make them uniquely and recognizably theirs.
Irene Neuwirth uses flat gold in a brushed finish to showcase exquisite gemstones, making each iteration one of a kind. Arman Sarkisyan, meanwhile, incorporates his signature hand-engraving and mix of 22-karat gold and oxidized sterling silver to craft heart-shaped lockets.
Yeprem’s take on hearts is totally true to the brand, rendered in a maximalist array of diamonds for a red-carpet worthy pendant, while emerging brand Imperfect Grace’s textured signet is a perfect everyday fine jewelry staple.
A statement earring is a natural next step for the fine jewelry lover who already has her bases covered with studs and hoops.
Several designers have been embracing the collarbone duster—think shoulder dusters but even a little longer; the style is surprisingly wearable and flattering.
The styles currently available range from earthy to classic to bold. The former is best encapsulated in Pippa Small’s opal style, appealing to the gemstone or color lover. Mizuki’s pearl iteration or Lalaounis’ sleek gold drops are timeless and appropriate for all ages.
Kim Mee Hye’s evolving play of shapes, scale and finishes result in the statement earring ideal for the art lover and jewelry connoisseur while Lydia Courteille’s latest collector’s item, in blue titanium, is as head-turning as any fan would expect.
The resurgence of enamel in the last five years has exhibited considerable staying power, showing a demand from consumers. More contemporary designers are jumping on the bandwagon, livening up their best-selling styles in new colors or coming up with new ranges devoted to the material altogether.
This is a great trend in which to invest in some classic styles, like Melissa Kaye’s sophisticated hoop earrings or an easy-to-wear Bleecker and Prince enamel pendant from
Or invest in a truly special enamel work of art, like Dezso by Sara Beltran’s glass enamel and diamond ring or Selim Mouzannar’s spectacular enamel collar.
The Latest

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.


The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.

José Gaztelu has been promoted to the role, which has been vacant since last year.

It has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.

The owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.

The company announced the change alongside its Q1 results, which showed that the jewelry brand’s year is off to a shaky start.

The retailer will cut 16 percent of its corporate workforce as part of its plan to exit bankruptcy.

Of the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.

Megan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.

Following decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.

The museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.

The new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.

The “Eclipse” jewelry collection captures the fleeting moment where light and shadow align though onyx, diamonds, and freshwater pearls.

Buying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.























