1. ForecastsIt’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas—and this ­Christmas is ­beginning to look pretty good. In ­September, ­ShopperTrak, which analyzes retail foot traffic, predicted sales would rise 3.3 percent, a notch below 2011’s 3.7 percent. Still, the company said, “retailers have reason to be optimistic about this season,” adding that, by its count, sales have risen in 34 of the past 35 months. As for ­jewelers, JCK found them stocking up and hoping for the best: Bruce Butler, owner of Deister & Butler in Elmira, N.Y., thinks colored stones and silver will be his strong sellers. But St. Petersburg, Fla., retailer Bruce Watters sees “some sales resistance and hesitancy among customers,” which he attributes to the high price of gold.2. EmmysIt looks like that unfortunate trend of actresses eschewing award-show jewelry has passed—and not a moment too soon.