Jewelry Hot List

Last was the year of new jewelry for Apples of Gold, with the addition of over 600 new, unique jewelry pieces. Below are some of the “hot seller” highlights from our newest fine jewelry pieces:

Black Diamond Rings became a hit for Apples of Gold with our Art Deco Black Diamond Ring and so we added several new designer pieces to our popular black diamond jewelry collection, including a Benchmark Black and White Diamond Eternity Band, 1 Carat Black and White Diamond Cross Pendant, as well as our all black diamond solid gold cross pendant for men.

Of course, we love our blue diamond jewelry too!

By far, our best selling blue diamond ring was our 0.93 Carat Blue and White Diamond Swirl Ring. Our popular blue diamond jewelry pieces was expanded to include our best selling 0.93 Carat blue and white diamond swirl ring. We added many other blue diamond rings to our blue diamond jewelry collection as well that turned quite a few heads.

Wedding Bands have always been at the heart of our jewelry line and Paisley Wedding Bands have always been at the top of our list. Our Paisley Collection was expanded with a new deeply engraved paisley wedding band in 14k white gold, 14k yellow gold, and our most popular paisley release: the 14k rose gold paisley wedding band.

It was our goal to added many new unique personalized jewelry pieces to our collection, and we met our initial goals!   The most popular being our Personalized Gemstone Circle Pendant, the Engravable Boy Gemstone Pendant and Engravable Girl Gemstone Pendant, our Personalized Gemstone Baby Shoe Pendant, and Personalized Gemstone Heart Pendant.

We also introduced a new line of Personalized Disney Jewelry, and new gold name pendants.

Benchmark Wedding Bands - A high-end wedding ring brand which includes a Lifetime Warranty and Lifetime Re-Sizing Policy. We plan on adding many new Benchmark styles in 2009.

Official Disney Jewelry – featuring popular Disney characters such as Tinkerbell Jewelry, Mickey Mouse Jewelry, Winnie the Pooh Jewelry, and more! Our Personalized Disney Jewelry collection also proved very popular and all very affordable!

Read more about our Disney Jewelry line: Disney Jewelry for an Imaginative Holiday, A Man Named Walt, and our official Disney Jewelry Release.

We plan on adding more popular Disney characters in 2009.

Apples of Gold’s most popular cross, The Polished Solid Gold Cross Pendant also saw a new addition, including: 18K Gold Cross Pendant, an 18K White Gold Cross Pendant,  and a Men’s Platinum Cross Pendant.

This cross is fully solid gold and finished on both sides (not hollow), measuring approx. 1 1/4″ tall x 1″ across and 2.5mm thick. Although originally crafted for men, both men and women enjoy this beautiful, expression of Christian faith.

This amazing cross was followed by the release of our 18K Gold Onyx Cross Pendant.

What is better than your own writing or the handwriting of your beloved, engraved onto a wedding band? Apples of Gold Jewelry created the concept of engraving your own writing onto a gold band with our new Personalized Handwritten Wedding Bands in 14k gold yellow, 14k white gold, and 14k rose gold.

Simply scan your handwriting onto your computer and email it to us! We’ll do the rest!

Our unique Victorian-Style Three Stone Diamond Ring became a hot seller in 2008 and as platinum prices dropped, we decided it was the perfect time to offer a Victorian-Style 1 Carat Three Stone Diamond Ring in Platinum also. Also available as a three stone 1 carat diamond engagement ring in 14k white gold or a 1/2 Carat Platinum Three Stone Diamond Engagement Ring.

We look forward to 2009 as we expect to add more items than we did in 2008! We expect to double our production in 2009, with 500 new jewelry pieces being added in the 1st Quarter alone. Yes, we plan on keeping the Apples of Gold Jewelry elves very busy through 2009!

2008 Jewelry Survey

Holiday shoppers may not be spending with reckless abandon this holiday season, but they will be spending. An interesting jewelry survey by National Jeweler, explains the psyche of the 2008 jewelry enthusiast.

Online spending grow only 1% in October 2008 compared to spending in 2007, the lowest monthly rate of growth since Comscore began “measuring the digital world” in 2001.

The good news is, jewelry, especially gold jewelry, is still on jewelry shopper’s list, according jewelry industry news magazine, National Jeweler. According to their October 2008 survey, 51% of those surveyed plan on still buying fine jewelry this holiday season.

One has to ask whether National Review surveyed their subscriber base of jewelry enthusiasts to come up with a majority of shoppers wanting jewelry this year. Still, the results are educational to say the least, with gold jewelry remaining on the top of jewelery shoppers lists (50% of respondents). This was followed by silver jewelry (38%) and diamond jewelry (35%). Other survey choices included gemstone jewelry (21%), fine watches (14%), and pearl jewelry (12%).

Many jewelers were surprised to hear that gold jewelry ranked #1 among jewelry shoppers, given the precious metals higher than average prices over the last several years. Some jewelers, Apples of Gold Jewelry, among them, has also noticed a resurgence in yellow gold among its customers. White gold, of course, had been the industry leader from some time.

Although most surveyed say they prefer shopping at independent jewelers, Internet jewelers ranked high relative to discount jewelers, warehouse clubs, and television shopping. Internet jewelry stores rose from 9% of those surveyed to 13% compared to the previous year. Price considerations and increased reliability among internet jewelers has played a factor in this steadily growing surge.

Given the “gloomy” and unpredictable economic fears facing Americans this year, respondents considered price and value the #1 factor influencing their decisions (42% ), followed by personal taste (37%), and the opinion or suggestion of a “significant other” (22%).

While the majority of those shopping jewelry plan on buying jewelry less than $100 (21%), this was followed by $100-$500 (16%), and by those who say they will spend $500-$1,000 (9%). 6% of shoppers surveyed said they will buy Jewelry over $1,000.

Aside from price, shoppers overwhelmingly said they want personal attention when shopping. What jewelery shoppers did not seem to care much about was: what celebrities are wearing (2%), what they see in magazines (3%), internet ads (3%), and TV ads (5%)–in other words, consumers want to be influenced by their own tastes, considerations, and qualities.

The Best Bangles for Fall

Bangles are one of biggest jewelry trends this fall and winter season. The virtues of the humble bangle are impressive: they can do everything from dressing up jeans and a t-shirt to adding interest to a formal gown. They can also be worn by women of all ages. From hipster teens to distinguished ladies who lunch, there are the perfect sets of bangles for all walks of life and all occasions. Here is our guide to the best fall bangles:

The Everyday Bangle

Plain yellow gold, rose gold and white gold bangles are the perfect everyday accessories. The fashion-forward set wears their bangles pushed high up the arm in a stationary position. Either choose to pair four to six of thin bangles together, or choose one or two wide bangles to wear for the best look.

Everyday bangles are best kept simple in design, as simplicity allows them to be worn with a wide range of outfits. This allows maximum use and versatility from your pretty investment. For women looking for a twist on traditional bangles, try rose gold bangles or bangles with a hammered pattern.

The Statement Bangle

Beside a basic set of bangles, which is a jewelry box necessity, the other popular style of bangle to wear is a statement bangle. These are lovely, intricate pieces of jewelry that make an outfit instantly stylish. Though they can be worn with just about anything, a great yellow gold statement bangle pairs beautifully with a colorful dress.

The Dressy Bangle

Bangles are not exclusively an every-day jewelry item. Elegant bangles with diamonds and other precious stones are an ideal compliment for formal dresses and other evening wear. Simply wear one on a wrist for an understated look, or pair two diamond bangles together to add drama to an ensemble.