At press time, tariffs were looming as the fourth quarter was drawing near, but shopper feedback from the JCK Las Vegas fair suggest that holiday sales may be brisk despite the uncertainty. At the show, many exhibitors had high hopes for fall sales based on clients’—and peers’—optimism.

“Overall, we think we’ll see a good amount of sales from October onward and that the season will be a strong one,” says Aadesh Zaveri, owner of Treliss Worldwide Inc.

Treliss Worldwide

To accomplish holiday goals, most merchants are looking for goods that are priced well while still being in line with current product trends. These include karat gold—despite the price of it—vermeil designs, charms, lab-grown gems, specialty items, and more.

A unique offering from the Royal Chain Group includes stretch bangle bracelets in karat gold.

“They’ve been a major hit, and we expect the momentum to continue,” notes Phillip Gabriel Maroof, creative director and designer.

The ongoing popularity of karat gold, the price of which hovered at $3,500 per ounce mid-summer, continues to surprise. Gold as a category was good for Ostbye in 2024, and the firm expects it to sell well this year, too.

“For the holidays we are expecting to see yellow gold fashion sell extremely well, including hoop earrings, scattered diamonds, and textured metal,” says Theresa Namie, merchandise manager. Another request among her clients? “Bezel settings in yellow gold.”

Maroof sees the same momentum for the precious metal and is beefing up its charm inventory and accessories this year. Think necklaces with charm holders, charm holders that attach to existing pieces, and “plenty of charms in gold and gemstones as part of this series,” he says.

Vermeil jewelry was another Vegas hit.

 HK Designs

“Big, bold, and gold … vermeil was a winner at JCK due to the lux look at a much lower retail than solid gold,” says Valerie Fletcher, vice president of design and product development for ODI. The most sought-after styles included link chains, bracelets with diamond accents, hoops with Omega backs, earrings with fluted and ribbed textures, and flexible wrap tennis bracelets and wire bangles. “ODI is continuing to grow these categories through the holiday,” she adds.

Namie, too, is seeing interest in vermeil jewelry, particularly when set with lab-grown diamonds. “These will sell easily during the holiday,” she notes.

Diamond fashion pieces with natural or lab-grown diamonds are perennial favorites in the U.S. Treliss Worldwide Inc., specializes in this category and expects lab demand to outshine naturals. At retail, $499 and down is a sweet spot for sales.

“There’s been a shift to 60% to 70% of our sales featuring lab because the American consumer is buying more affordable price points,” he says.

Goldstar Jewellery is banking on a big push for lab-grown this holiday season.

“[Lab-created diamonds] were cautiously promoted in 2024, but we feel that in 2025 there will be a huge push for value-driven, large lab diamond looks at a great price point,” observes Jessica Zerega, marketing director.

For gifting, their lab-grown diamond sweet spot is $999 and under for fashion goods. In the bridal arena, center stones continue to grow in size.

“Three-carat centers are the new must-haves,” she adds. “Because center stone sizes are increasing drastically, we are seeing a lot less use of halos around the stones. But hidden halos and subtle gallery details are a way to make these engagement rings sparkle all the way around.”

Chatham

At Chatham, none of this lab-grown gem news comes as a surprise; Chatham has specialized in this area for more than 86 years. The brand’s latest offerings include petite colored stone jewelry additions to layer and stack with its larger Legacy collection designs. Styles include modest sizes of small lab-grown gemstone chain bracelets, cluster studs, and huggie hoop earrings.

“These smaller fine-jewelry pieces are perfect for the woman who has everything,” notes Monica McDaniel, vice president and marketing director. “They’re also excellent gifts for young women who are new to jewelry.”