We asked five retailers to share their favorite jewelry of 2020, what clients are buying, and what they’ll be stocking the rest of the year.

 

Beth Kato

Store manager, bridal buyer, and diamond specialist
Continental Diamond
Minneapolis

 

“Stacking rings are huge right now for wedding bands. Different metals, mixing and matching, is really, really hot. You can change them up based on what you feel like that day. They can also constantly add bands to the story.”

(Top) 14k gold mounting, milgrain band, and diamond eternity and anniversary bands; $768–$1,674; stuller.com

“Stretchy bracelets are very easy. They’re durable, flexible, and versatile. Platini or Fope make them. They are mainly gold but can be gold with diamonds or ceramic, too. You can mix them and create a personalized look.”

“Inside-out hoop earrings are still hot, hot, hot. They’re a classic.”

“Colors are making a surge, and rubies, sapphires, and emeralds were successful over the holidays. People are layering the jeweled necklaces in different lengths to create different looks and textures.”

“Omega’s James Bond watch has been huge for us.”

 

Kelly Wade Fry

Owner
Kelly Wade Jewelers
San Antonio

“Since the pandemic, eternity diamond bands have been selling for anniversary celebrations. We sold seven in May, mostly 2 to 6 carats.”

“Fope stretchy bracelets are elegant, comfortable, and easy—and it fits into the all-gold trend. I’m obsessed with them.”

“We’re really having popularity with exotic stones, and nobody does prettier tourmalines than Erica Courtney.”

“We can hardly keep diamond bangles from Uneek in the store. They’re dainty, they’re not overpowering, and they’re affordable for the masses.”

“Oval diamonds have been very trendy this year, and we’re doing well with William Levine.”

 

Dana Friedman

Owner
Petite G Jewelers
Indianapolis

“Everything is going very dainty. Little necklaces with tiny stones, two or three on the neck.”

“We take Victorian antique brooches and convert them to bracelets and necklaces.”

“Tiny little hoop earrings, paper-clip chains, petite studs, ear climbers, and daggers. They’re so popular, we had been hosting piercing parties before the shutdown.”

“We’re selling everything from hatpins to bugs, Edwardian period and some deco. Converting hatpins to bars is brilliant.”

“Everything from drawstring beads by Lena Skadegard to ceramic and gold stretch bracelets by Roberto Demeglio.”

 

Cyrus Shennum

Co-owner
Bell and Bird
Austin, Texas

“Colored stone engagement rings. People are more aware about alternative materials. They’re asking for morganites, soft sapphires, and pastels—a softer color palette.”

“Stacked little necklace chains. Most people want something that they can customize and give them individual style.”

“People want simple engagement rings, not so much pavé or halo. In fact, they say, ‘I don’t want halos, I’ve seen too many of them.’ ”

“Manufactured jewelry is dainty and simple, so antique jewelry is the one area where you can be bold. You can’t easily manufacture bold designs [like Victorian-era earrings].”

“People are drawn to our B&B Designs—replicas of jewelry from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries that have passed through our hands.”

 

Marisa Perry

Owner
Marisa Perry Atelier
New York City

“As for earrings, only diamond studs and diamond hoops are selling. The latter is pretty pricey, but women want them if they can get them.”

“People are going for slim yellow necklaces with tiny little stones that they can layer and personalize. It’s dainty everything these days.”

“Three-stone engagement rings are hot. You can have a variety of center stones like round, emerald, or oval with many different side stones like tapered baguettes, half moon, tapered bullet, trapezoids, or pear-shape diamonds with the wider part of the pear touching the center stone.”

“Plain yellow gold thin bands with a solitaire diamond. I know. It’s very simple. But they’re flying off the shelves. That is the hot ring and mostly what I’m selling. Almost everybody is buying a bigger wedding band or a different band—i.e., not a set. This is a 2020 trend. I haven’t seen that in 17 years that I’ve owned my business.”

“People are buying lariat bracelets in yellow gold and with diamonds. If they had wings they’d be flying out the door. They’re only a few hundred dollars, they can be stacked, and they fit any wrist.”

(Shennum: Nabeel Pervaiz)