Product Debuts
If you’ve followed new looks emerging from the Las Vegas trade shows, you may agree that jewelry merchandisers are doing their jobs well. That’s because what’s trending is also what’s showing up in new collections, giving retailers timely options to choose for this year’s holiday sales.
Imperial
Color, trends, talismans, linear necklaces and bracelets, silver and vermeil fashion looks, and more, were among the offerings. High gold prices are paving the way for oversize sterling designs such as the Lux Silver collection from ODI.
“Big, bold looks with chunky silver mixed with sections of diamond pavé and link styles did especially well,” explains Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development. “A lot of customers requested these styles in vermeil, which is not surprising considering the cost of gold.”
In her Men’s Shield Pendant collection, looks include lions and fleur-de-lis among others in matte-finished gold or sterling silver, sometimes with blackened effects. In Paris 1901’s men’s collection dubbed ETHOS, which debuted last year, sales were four times greater than in 2023. “Men’s jewelry was one of the biggest inquiries we had,” says Sam Hupp, vice president of sales. Paris 1901 is a division of Prime Art & Jewel. “There is a tremendous appetite for precious metal men’s jewelry. Retailers are moving away from steel and brass … looking for a higher ticket to move their clients into to make better use of the sale. A men’s steel ring is worth 30 margin dollars, but a men’s silver ring could be worth 200 margin dollars.”
Asian Star Company Limited
More debuts for Paris 1901 include its Monte Luna lab-grown diamond fashion line and M by Monte Luna, a demi-fine lab-grown diamond line of fashion jewelry.
A point that all merchants must keep in mind, no matter the metal or design? The growth of the self-purchasing market for fashion-forward looks. It’s happening now, says Eric Wadia, vice president of marketing and corporate communications at Asian Star Company, Ltd.
“This shift presents a lucrative opportunity for retailers as more consumers are inclined to buy jewelry for personal enjoyment and expression,” he says.
To meet those needs, Wadia unveiled value-oriented cluster designs for natural diamonds, beaded metal styles with diamonds, modern pearl jewelry, and gemstone and diamond sets.
Original Designs / ODI
And given just how hot colored gemstone sales are, new offerings in those were available from both manmade gem maker Chatham and ODI. The latter’s Precious Crush designs featured—you guessed it—crushed gemstones encased in clear resin.
“Colors are bright and have a lot of sparkle,” says Fletcher. “Different gems can be combined to represent flags and sports teams.”
Two new collections from Chatham, meanwhile, cater to a higher-end clientele. The first features classic looks like tennis necklaces in 14k gold, and the second is made in 18k gold with bold cuts of its beautiful lab-grown gemstones like emeralds and diamonds.
“Both were met with incredible enthusiasm from retailers,” says Monica McDaniel, vice president of marketing.
Non-jewelry makers had their own special offerings. Consider The Kingswood Company, a producer of jewelry cleaner. It unveiled a new retail fixture program comprising freestanding units with more space for merchandising a jewelry care line than classic countertop fixtures.
The Kingswood Company
“Three options are available in different footprints, each with unique features to integrate into a variety of sophisticated retail environments,” explains Heather Brown, vice president of content and editorial. “The fixtures are available to both private-label customers and those who stock the CLEAN+CARE® product line.”
After six months of use during a testing period, an Ohio-based merchant saw “a marked increase in jewelry care product sales,” shares Brown. “Essentially, the system is a silent salesperson, it is its own category—not an afterthought.”