The report involved the online retailer’s in-house experts analyzing the site’s web traffic, searches and sales.
The jewelry trends noted by 1stDibs in its report, along with the views of several experts who shared their insights with National Jeweler, give the industry an idea of what to expect to see at this year’s Couture, JCK Las Vegas and Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show.
According to 1stDibs, bows and snakes are the top motifs for 2023, with chokers, tennis bracelets, signet rings and statement pearl pieces also on trend.
The online retailer describes bows as a “timeless and enduring motif,” and interest in ribbon jewelry has increased recently, with 91 percent more bow items uploaded to the site in 2023 than in 2022.
Snake-shaped jewelry is also extremely popular, with searches up 15 percent year-over-year.
This gold and diamond “Tennessee Torque” colorway comes from designer Jade Ruzzo, who will be exhibiting at Couture as part of For Future Reference, Villa 310.
This ring from Assael embodies two trends noted in the 1stDibs report: bows and statement pearl pieces. The 18-karat yellow gold ring features angel skin coral set with diamonds (price upon request). Assael will be exhibiting at the Couture show in booth #113.
Jenna Blake “Morse Code” choker in 18 karat yellow gold with turquoise, coral, emeralds, pearls and diamonds (price upon request). Jenna Blake Jewelry is exhibiting at the Couture Show, Booth #407.
1stDibs reports that tennis bracelets are on trend, and industry experts say tennis necklaces are on trend too. Pictured here is a diamond tennis bracelet from Picchiotti’s “Xpandable” collection. Picchiotti will be exhibiting at Couture’s booth #219.
In terms of what styles of jewelry consumers were looking for on the site, chokers and tennis bracelets topped the list on 1stDibs in 2023, with orders up 21 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Signet rings were noted as an item that saw a notable increase in searches, increasing 13 percent in December 2023 compared to the previous six months.
Statement pearl jewelry is also popular, with a 7 percent increase in customers ordering pearl jewelry worth more than $10,000 since 2022, 1stDibs noted.
A look back at the top-selling gemstones of 2023 is worth noting because it can tell retailers what consumers are looking for in today’s market.
These “Feather” earrings are set with multicolored sapphires and amethysts ($14,000) by designer Emily P. Wheeler, who is exhibiting at Couture’s booth #506.
Last year, rubies and sapphires became more popular, dropping emeralds from first to third in sales on the site.
Severine Ferrari, founder of Engagement 101, also notes that green tourmaline is becoming more common in fashion jewelry, partly due to growing interest in gemstones outside the “big three.”
In 2023, yellow gold and white gold took the top two spots as the most popular metals on 1stDibs, together accounting for 37% of purchases.
Sterling silver came in third, followed by rose gold and platinum.
Trends like bows and snakes come and go, but pieces created by the most well-known brands and designers will always be popular among collectors.
1stDibs noted that the best-selling luxury jewelry collections on its site in 2023 were Tiffany & Co.’s “Atlas,” Cartier’s “Love,” Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra,” Bvlgari’s “Serpenti” and David Yurman’s “Cable.”
While many consumers are looking for brand new jewelry, others prefer to wear jewelry with a rich history.
1stDibs’ collection of antique and vintage jewelry spans several centuries, from the Middle Ages to the 1980s, but it was reported that collectors were most frequently searching for bold, modernist jewelry from the ’40s and ’70s last year.
The “Chris” engagement ring from Sylvie Jewelry’s nature-inspired “Turila” collection is crafted in yellow gold with the brand’s “Legacy Shell” profile and two white marquise-shaped diamonds set in petals ($2,620 in 14 karat gold semi-mount; $2,930 in 18 karat gold, center stone not included). In addition to the two bridal collections the brand launched earlier this year, Sylvie Jewelry will be unveiling eight fine jewelry collections and a line of men’s wedding bands at the Luxury/JCK Las Vegas show. The brand is exhibiting at LUX903.
Bridal brand Kirk Cara will be showcasing its new nature-inspired “Dahlia” collection for the first time in full at Luxury/JCKV Las Vegas. Kirk Cara is exhibiting at LUX800.
1stDibs also reported on engagement ring trends for 2023.
Orders for Art Deco rings are expected to increase by 49 percent in 2023, followed by contemporary ring orders at 38 percent.
The top stone cuts for engagement rings in 2023 were round brilliant, oval, emerald, old European and cushion.
Ferrari, who will be taking part in a panel discussion on wedding jewelry trends at the JCK show in Las Vegas on Friday, also noted the popularity of marquise and pear-shaped diamonds, as well as eternity bands.
She said men and women are buying eternity rings not only for anniversaries and weddings, but also as an alternative to more traditional one-, two- or three-stone engagement rings.
Current overall trends in bridal jewelry (both the wedding jewelry and the jewelry worn by wedding attendees on the wedding day) range from more feminine designs like floral patterns, to a “gangster wife aesthetic” of large earrings and necklaces, to laid-back, gender-neutral designs that are minimalist yet chic.
