TrendsOct 03, 2025
Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco Tie the Knot Wearing Diamonds, White MetalsGomez’s jewelry included Tiffany & Co. drop-style earrings while Blanco stacked diamonds from Jacob & Co. on his wrist.
FinancialsFeb 10, 2015
Blue Nile goes brick-and-mortar
The Seattle-based e-tailer plans to open a standalone store in one of the country’s “top malls” where customers can see and try on its rings, though they will still have to buy them online.
Seattle--Blue Nile is moving its showcase experiment from Nordstrom into its own storefront.
CEO Harvey Kanter announced during the company’s earnings call Tuesday morning that the Seattle-based e-tailer would be opening a standalone showcase store in one of the country’s “top malls,” though he declined to say specifically when and where.
The store will mirror the brick-and-mortar presence Blue Nile launched in recent years in two Nordstrom locations: Customers can see and try on rings from Blue Nile’s inventory and consult with one of its employees, but won’t be able to walk out of the store with a purchase. Any buying that happens in the store will be done on a tablet computer via Blue Nile’s website, and the ring will be delivered just as it is when customers order online.
“Like the Nordstrom test this also is a test from which we will learn and leverage to grow,” he said.
Though Kanter called the showcase experience in Nordstrom a “success” during Tuesday’s call, other remarks he made indicated that Blue Nile did not get everything it wanted out of the in-store experiment.
When asked by an analyst later in the call about the Nordstrom test, Kanter allowed that the bridal salon where Blue Nile’s showcase was located was not the highest traffic area. He said having its own freestanding store in a leading mall where there’s more foot traffic will provide Blue Nile with a “materially bigger” opportunity to drive brick-and-mortar shoppers onto its website and grow its revenue base.
He said Blue Nile will not keep the showcases in either Nordstrom store.
Blue Nile is not the first online-only retailer to experiment with having a brick-and-mortar presence. Amazon has done the same, as has Boston-based Gemvara.
RELATED CONTENT: What’s ailing the Internet giants
Kanter’s announcement came as the e-tailer reported disappointing fourth quarter sales.
Net sales were up 8 percent year-over-year to $157.4 million, though $5.9 million of that was due to the fiscal fourth quarter having an extra week this year. Taking out those sales, fourth quarter revenue grew only 4 percent year-over-year.
Fourth quarter net income was down slightly, from $4.9 million to $4.8 million.
“This quarter’s results are below our expectations, as the general slowdown that affected the industry also affected our performance,” Kanter said during the call.
Despite what he termed a “challenging” quarter for the jewelry industry, Blue Nile
reported record engagement ring sales in the U.S. in Q4. They increased 8 percent to $85 million, $2.9 million of which came in that additional week.
Non-engagement ring sales in the U.S. were up 6 percent to $48.8 million, $1.8 million of which were in the additional week.
International sales for the fourth quarter were up 16 percent on a constant-exchange-rate basis and including the additional week. Kanter said on the call that China is Blue Nile’s largest market outside the U.S., and that the company is opening a fulfillment center in Canada.
For the full fiscal year ended Jan. 4, Blue Nile’s net sales were up 5 percent, from $450.0 to $473.5 million. Net income declined year-over-year from $10.9 to $9.7 million.
In the second quarter Blue Nile, which already has exclusive lines with fashion designers Monique Lhuillier and Zac Posen, plans to add another exclusive line with a brand ambassador, though Kanter did not provide any more details on who he, or she, is.
More on Financials
The Latest
GradingOct 03, 2025
Grading Lab HRD Antwerp Names New CEODiamond industry banking veteran Paul De Wachter will take on the role in January 2026.
TrendsOct 03, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kallati’s Pink Sapphire RingTaylor Swift flaunts an Elizabeth Taylor-esque gemstone in promo for her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
CollectionsOct 02, 2025
Boucheron Debuts Cuffs Crafted With 3D-Printed SandIts “Quantre Sand” capsule was made using a 3D sand printing technique borrowed from the automotive and aeronautics industries.
Weekly QuizOct 02, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CrimeOct 02, 2025
$1M in Jewelry Stolen in Northern California Smash and Grab Four individuals have been charged in the “takeover-style” robbery of Heller Jewelers last month, and additional charges are expected.
MajorsOct 02, 2025
Neil Lane Jewelry Exhibition Coming to Toledo Museum of Art“Radiance and Reverie” will showcase more than 150 jewels from Lane’s personal collection by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and more.
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.
TrendsOct 02, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: October’s Colorful ShowThe month’s birthstones, tourmaline and opal, complement the palette of autumn.
ColumnistsOct 01, 2025
Peter Smith: Why Vendor Success Starts With Self-ReflectionSmith shares the importance of looking at your company with openness and honesty to identify opportunities you may be missing.
EditorsOct 01, 2025
Playing Favorites: The Best Jewelry From VicenzaoroAssociate Editor Natalie Francisco visited Italy to spot jewelry trends at the September Vicenzaoro show and share her top finds.
SurveysOct 01, 2025
Consumer Confidence Hits 5-Month Low in September Respondents were concerned about job availability and rising prices.
SourcingOct 01, 2025
Gemfields’ H1 Revenue Falls 47%Its latest interim financials revealed a challenging first half due in part to production troubles at its mines.
MajorsSep 30, 2025
Pandora CEO to Retire in 2026, Hand Reins to CMO Alexander Lacik has led Pandora since 2019. Berta de Pablos-Barbier will succeed him, the first woman to head the company.
CrimeSep 30, 2025
2 Suspects Charged in $300K Sleight-of-Hand Jewelry Store ScamTwo men allegedly used counterfeit bills to purchase luxury watches and jewelry from a North Carolina jeweler.
CollectionsSep 30, 2025
Billie Eilish, Finneas Partner with John HardyThe “Lovestruck” collection, designed with the Academy and Grammy award-winning siblings, is the brand’s first lab-grown diamond offering.
IndependentsSep 30, 2025
Spinelli Kilcollin Announces Residency in DallasThe brand, celebrating its 15th anniversary, has popped up at Market, a luxury fashion destination in Highland Park Village.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Nina Pugliese, Longtime Henne Jewelers Employee, Dies at 65She was remembered as a creative and generous woman of faith, who also had a sweet tooth.
TrendsSep 29, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Ear FocusMove over neck mess, the ear story is the way to make a layering statement today.
IndependentsSep 29, 2025
Mark Henry Jewelry to Debut in CanadaThe New York-based brand is set to launch a limited-time offering for the holiday season at Holt Renfrew in Toronto.
MajorsSep 29, 2025
Overnight Releases New Bridal CatalogThe “Volume 7” bridal catalog features best-selling engagement rings, trending styles, and a new section highlighting anniversary bands.
SurveysSep 26, 2025
Online Shopping, Influencers to Drive Holiday Spending, Mastercard SaysHoliday sales growth is expected to slow as consumers grapple with inflation and tariff-related uncertainty.
Events & AwardsSep 26, 2025
Winners of Austin Jewelry Design Contest Announced Jamie Turner Designs is among the winners of the local “Austin Shines” contest, hosted by Eliza Page, a jewelry store in Austin, Texas.
TrendsSep 26, 2025
Piece of the Week: Kwit Jewelry’s Square Signet Pinky RingThe red and azure colorway is one of many fun enamel pairings offered, bringing whimsy to the classic style of a monogramed signet ring.
Policies & IssuesSep 25, 2025
JA CEO Provides Tariff Update Following Annual Fly-InA trade deal with Switzerland seems probable, but reaching an agreement with India remains a challenge, David Bonaparte said.
SourcingSep 25, 2025
2 African Countries Aim to Take Stake in De Beers Botswana’s president said his country wants a controlling share, while Angola envisions multiple countries holding minority stakes.
Lab-GrownSep 25, 2025
Kira Jewels Expands Lab-Grown Diamond ProductionThe manufacturer is adding 1,400 chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactors to its growing facility in India.
