The National Retail Federation expects retail sales growth to return to pre-pandemic levels as consumers continue to face inflation.
Market roundup: What buyers wanted in Miami
If the recently concluded trade shows in Miami are any indication, trendy diamond fashion jewelry will continue to be the hot item in the coming holiday season and beyond.
Miami--If the Miami trade shows were any indication, trendy diamond fashion jewelry will continue to be the hot item in the coming holiday season and beyond.
Last week, the city played host to the Centurion South Beach show as well as the Jewelers International Showcase (JIS) Miami event, which was the first JIS show since Reed Exhibitions acquired the group and also included, for the first time, a Luxury component.
According to a number of exhibitors at both shows, wearable diamond and gold fashion pieces at affordable price points were the top items retailers wanted.
Debbie Hakimian at Doves by Doron Paloma, which had booths at both shows, said that trendy diamond fashion jewelry at good price points and pieces that can be layered “have been hot for a while and continued to be.” She also noted that for the first time in a while people were asking for chunky rings and large earrings.
Meanwhile, KC Design’s Tiffany Sabo said that the brand continues to see geometric shapes do well in jewelry, a trend that doesn’t show any sign of slowing. For the show, some of the brand’s best-selling designs were the geometric diamond pave fashion pieces that allow for everyday wear and layering.
Designer Frederic Sage has seen the uptick in interest in diamond and gold jewelry as well and has added such pieces to his collection--but with his own twist to give his customers an everyday, wearable look that’s a little different. Additionally, Sage said that said that his bridal line was doing well, with more people looking for “alternative halos” as well as mixed metals.
For Gabriel & Co., retailers generally were looking to spend between $500 and $1,500 and again were looking for wearable diamond pieces, with the team pointing out a specific diamond pave and 14-karat white gold spiral bangle as the piece that was getting the most attention from buyers during JIS.
Bridal also sold well at the shows for many exhibitors, which is not surprising given the time of year.
Shah Diamonds said that oval stones have been coming back, and emerald cuts are moving back into play as princess cuts lose popularity. Hank Stepowski at A. Jaffe, meanwhile, said that they were noticing that their simpler, clean bands were doing well for millennial brides.
While white metals still are the top choice, yellow gold continues to trend upward
Large, chunky yellow gold pieces also seemed to be popular.
Retailer feedback led the Tanya Farah brand to extend its line to include matte gold chain necklaces and bracelets as well as stackable gold rings that were selling fast with buyers at the show. At the same time, they launched new pieces with opals because people were looking for more color, the brand’s Tiana Conyers told National Jeweler.
Even as the economy and retail sales were sluggish in the first half of the year, there seemed to be some optimism about the holiday season.
Doves’ Hakimian said that, “Summer has been slow for retailers across the country, but everyone seemed hopeful for a good Christmas season.”
So far, analyst predictions for the holiday months are optimistic, though not overly so. The general consensus is that it will be a solid but not great holiday season.
The National Retail Federation retail sales to increase 4 percent year-over-year in November and December, just as it did last year. And industry analyst Ken Gassman has characterized himself as cautiously optimistic about the upcoming holiday season because consumers seem ready to spend again.
The Latest

The 4-carat, old mine brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring was co-designed by Willis and New York City-based brand Karina Noel.

Rio Tinto unearthed the diamond at its Diavik mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The multisensory experience, open April 8-13, will feature the brand’s silver creations among dream-like scenes of natural landscapes.


The virtual event will take place April 7 at 3 p.m.

The pieces in “Animali Tarallo” portray animals from stingrays to elephants through portraits and interpretations of their patterns.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Parent company Saks Global said the iconic location will be open through the holiday season as it decides what to do with the space.

Ronald Winston, son of Harry Winston, donated the diamonds to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.

The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

Lotus Gemology founder Richard W. Hughes has translated Heinrich Fischer’s 1880 book “Nephrit und Jadeit” from its original German.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

The Congress is scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Brasilia, Brazil.

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.