PodcastsJan 12, 2026
The latest poscasttest
MajorsApr 11, 2019
US Jewelry, Watch Spending Rose 7% Last Year
That’s according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which reports Americans spent $82.53 billion on jewelry and watches in 2018.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that American consumer spending on jewelry and watches was up 7 percent in 2018, continuing a trend over the past few years. Pictured here is a 13.05-carat oval ruby ring accented with diamonds and set in platinum from Jeff Bilgore.
Washington—Americans spent more than $80 billion on jewelry and watches last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, a 7 percent increase over 2017.
Each year, the BEA, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, releases an index estimating how much consumers spend on various products, from jewelry and watches to items like household goods and appliances, food, or clothing and footwear.
According to the bureau’s figures for 2018, spending on jewelry and watches (both fine and costume) totaled $82.53 billion, up from the $76.9 billion reported in 2017.
Of the 2018 total, $68.58 billion, more than 80 percent of total spending in the category, went to jewelry.
Last year, the BEA revised its data on jewelry and watch sales all the way back to 2008, shaving off billions of sales and, analyst Edahn Golan noted, painting a more accurate picture of the size of the market.
However, the changes didn’t alter the pattern of spending on jewelry and watches over the past 10 years. The year 2016 was still a record year, topped in 2017 when jewelry and watch spending reached nearly $77 billion.
The BEA’s 2018 data dovetails with what National Jeweler found in its analysis of the 2018 State of the Majors, which showed that more than half of the industry’s largest companies reported year-over-year sales gains.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Majors
The Latest
Weekly QuizOct 03, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
PodcastsJan 12, 2026
Introducing My Next Question, the PodcastA monthly podcast series for jewelry professionals
Brought to you by
Navigating Cybersecurity: Essential Guidance for JewelersFrom protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
PodcastsNov 27, 2025
Test Podcast With VideoTest Podcast With Video. New interview with Ada Lovelace.
PodcastsNov 25, 2025
Test New Podcast PostAbstract for tests. New Podcast interview with John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morison.
ColumnistsOct 09, 2024
Peter Smith: 7 Things to Know When Selling LuxuryAhead of the holiday season, Smith delves into the often subconscious reasons people buy luxury products for themselves or their loved ones.
AuctionsOct 09, 2024
Rolex Worn on Apollo 14 Mission Up for SaleThe GMT-Master “Pepsi” belonging to astronaut Edgar Mitchell is a standout in RR Auction’s online “Space Auction,” going on now.
MajorsOct 09, 2024
PGI Launches New Virtual Sales TrainingRetail sales associates can access the video series on mobile to refresh their selling skills.
Policies & IssuesOct 09, 2024
GJNRF: Reaching Out, Rebuilding Futures For 25 years, India’s Gem & Jewellery National Relief Foundation has provided aid in the wake of war, natural disasters, and global crises.
AuctionsOct 08, 2024
Sotheby’s Selling Jewelry That Belonged to a Bulgarian TsarThe November auction will feature a collection of jewels owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Rio Tinto Begins New Phase of Production That Will Extend Diavik’s LifeCommercial production has begun underground at the Canadian diamond mine’s A21 pipe.
SurveysOct 08, 2024
What to Know About Online Shopping This Holiday SeasonDeloitte and Adobe Analytics shared their insights on the season, from the retail sales forecast to the role of generative AI.
CollectionsOct 08, 2024
Sylvie Adds New Men’s BandsThe Texas-based jeweler collaborated with luxury clothing brand Uncommon Man on men’s bands designed with European influences.
SourcingOct 08, 2024
Is Current Diamond Industry Turbulence Shaping a ‘New Normal’? Industry players have found ways to cope with market conditions while working to reshape themselves in the face of emerging realities.
SourcingOct 07, 2024
Rio Tinto to Offer 76 Diamonds in 2024 Beyond Rare Tender The sales event, in its second year, features a selection of rare diamonds from the miner’s Argyle and Diavik diamond mines.
CollectionsOct 07, 2024
Olympian Kristi Yamaguchi Partners With Heller Jewelers on New CollectionA portion of the proceeds from the “Always Dream” collection will go to Yamaguchi's foundation, supporting early childhood literacy.
SurveysOct 07, 2024
Hill & Co.’s New ‘Business of Jewelry Report’ Is OutThe first in what is slated to be a series of in-depth reports from the consulting company, it focuses on shortening supply chains.
