Merry Christmas to all who celebrate! This column will not run next week. I wish everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous, and safe 2021! Here’s to a much better new year, when we all meet and reconnect in person.
This week in Diamond Shavings: A family feud engulfs Swarovski. Amazon delays its annual hike in seller fees. Kelly Clarkson bought jewelry while blacked out. All below.
JCK’s 2020 holiday commercial roundup.
Independent jewelers up 7% so far in December.
Some Signet banners have seen double-digit increase in engagement ring sales.
Steve Dennis: A “bifurcated Christmas for retail.”
– Retail traffic stronger in some areas than in others.
– How retailers are dealing with procrastinating shoppers.
– Survey: Consumers spending less this year.
Will the e-commerce boom be a bust this season?
Luxury acquisitions may soon resume.
Growing number of consumers buying luxury goods for the first time.
Congress passes stimulus with $284 billion for businesses and revival of PPP loans.
The best jewelry quotes of the year.
– Jewelry and watch auctions that made news this year.
– The “year of Chapter 11.”
– Beth Bernstein looks back at 2020’s big jewelry stories.
A family feud engulfs Swarovski.
Edahn Golan: What it took to survive in 2020.
De Beers plans to be “prudent” next year.
Indian bourse poised to reallow trading in lab-grown diamonds.
GIA to cut back on Antwerp business.
Former De Beers marketing director Jeremy Pudney dies.
InStore salesperson Fran Zimniuch dies.
– His publication pays tribute.
Watertown, N.Y., jeweler Harold Rothschild dies.
24 Karat Club elects Bobby Kempler chairman.
Nehal Modi, former Samuels CEO, charged in diamond deal.
Israeli investors eye Zimbabwe diamonds.
What does 2021 look like for gold prices?
Amazon delays annual rise in seller fees.
– Amazon wins by steamrolling rivals and partners (subscription required).
Google gets sued, FTC issues orders to social media companies.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram tells the story of M.B. Zale.
Inside Melanie Casey’s “thriving indie jewelry empire.”
The heartwarming story behind Pete Buttigieg’s Skagen watch.
Ariana Grande’s engagement ring is kind of large.
– The “sweet detail” everyone missed.
– A brief history of the pearl engagement ring.
Cosmopolitan reviews the history of the tennis bracelet.
Kelly Clarkson bought jewelry while blacked out.
Donor dropped diamond ring in Salvation Army kettle.
This was a fun interview with a book blog.
From the Blog
JCK’s 2020 Holiday Commercial Roundup
From the Podcast
The Jewelry District, Episode 34: Guest Matt Stuller
Have a safe and healthy weekend.
– Email: rbates – at – jckonline.com.
– Twitter: @robbatesjck
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