Forecasting agencies are already predicting increased holiday spending this year, which is welcome news to many merchants. Anecdotally, sales this year have been erratic because it is an election year, an event that historically leaves many shoppers in a state of uncertainty until a new president is elected.

Holiday sales increases may rise only slightly—between 2%–3%—and will be further impacted by a shorter season “with only 27 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” confirms Reuters. Plus, consumers have lower personal savings now and are still facing high prices for many consumer goods, which are “21.2% more expensive since the pandemic-induced recession began in February 2020,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Then there’s the record-high price of gold, which affects everyone in fine jewelry.

LALI Jewels

These facts have led many jewelry manufacturers to offer value-oriented price points of less than $2,000 retail and looks like cluster styles that present a big bang for a consumer’s buck. In fact, cluster gemstone designs are among Shefi Diamonds’ holiday designs. Marketing Director, Surbhi Jain, says the brand is also anticipating healthy sales in textured gold and gemstone looks, all of which have been performing well for the firm thus far this year.

“These new offerings have resonated well with our customers,” she explains. “Price points between $299 and $999 have also shown strong sales performance. Products within this range tend to resonate well with customers and move quickly.”

According to LALI Jewelry’s PeriLynn Glasner, design and marketing director, her merchants are bracing for heightened sales thanks to “new customer types from trunk shows and targeted marketing efforts.”

Glasner also anticipates moving more wintry colors (read: blue) this year as opposed to last, which were warmer hues. Also top of mind? Gemstones in a variety of colors and shapes. “These have become increasingly popular lately,” she says.

   Chatham

Meanwhile, color is the only category on the minds of clients for Chatham, a maker of lab-grown gemstones.

“We’re expecting to sell modern, unique, and fashion forward lab-grown color gemstone and lab-grown diamond fashion designs this holiday season,” explains Monica McDaniel, vice president of marketing. “These color and diamond fashion styles offer classic designs with modern twists. For example, some of these fine-jewelry pieces feature our exclusive gemstone cuts: the Onion, Flame, Elongated Baguette, and Century cuts. Additionally, we’ve incorporated fancy-cut diamonds into our color and diamond fashion collections for the first time. They add unique and luxurious details that will make the pieces stand out to holiday shoppers.”

Another silhouette on Chatham’s short list of hot sellers is the hexagon. See it in the maker’s Legacy Collection in lab-grown blue spinel.

Ostbye

Ostbye anticipates selling plenty of two-tone styles and sentimental designs including birthstones, initials, and symbols like hearts and crosses.

“These historically have done well for the holidays and will most likely be the same for this year,” reveals Theresa Namie, merchandise manager.

New for 2024 are engravable disc birthstone pendants and a hidden halo bridal ring.

“It’s available for different shapes and sizes of diamonds,” she continues. “We also did some fun paperclip layering necklaces with dangle earrings.”