EditorsSep 15, 2025
Skipping the Necklace, Embracing Snakes: The Best Jewelry From the 2025 Emmy AwardsAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco shares eight of her favorite jewelry looks from the 77th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, held Sunday night.
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
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
SurveysSep 15, 2025
Resilient Shoppers to Boost Holiday Retail Sales, Says DeloitteIt’s predicting a rise in retail sales this holiday season despite economic uncertainty and elevated inflation.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
Gemfields Achieves $32M at High-Quality Emerald AuctionIt included the sale of the 11,685-carat “Imboo” emerald that was recently discovered at Kagem.
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment ProgramWith their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.
SourcingSep 15, 2025
AGTA Elects 8 Members to Board of Directors The newly elected directors will officially take office in February 2026 and will be introduced at the organization’s membership meeting.
Weekly QuizSep 12, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsSep 12, 2025
Out & About: Mining Sapphires in Rock Creek, MontanaAssociate Editor Lauren McLemore headed out West for a visit to Potentate Mining’s operation hosted by gemstone wholesaler Parlé Gems.
TrendsSep 12, 2025
Piece of the Week: Arunashi’s Fordite and Rhodolite EarringsFordite is a man-made material created from the layers of dried enamel paint that dripped onto the floors of automotive factories.
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
Events & AwardsSep 12, 2025
Al Gilbertson Wins 2025 Robert M. Shipley AwardGilbertson has worked as a researcher, jeweler, lapidary artist, appraiser, and business owner throughout his decades in the industry.
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-ShopLocated in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for ThatThe new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to AccountAs the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. HeadphonesJacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New YorkThe industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship WinnersThe nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in AustinThe Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s UmbrellaThe two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron JewelsThe single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.
Events & AwardsSep 08, 2025
27 Can’t-Miss Converge Sessions, Events From sunrise yoga to tariffs talks, these are some events to check out at the upcoming inaugural event.
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.
