2025 brought real momentum — not just for us at Wholesale Jewelry Website, but for the fashion jewelry industry as a whole. It was a year defined by strong results, evolving consumer tastes, and the resilience of jewelry as a category.
At Wholesale Jewelry Website, we pushed to an all-time record, more than doubling last year’s results with a 120% increase. That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects the strength of the market, the trust our clients place in us, the strength of our partnerships, and the hard work of our team every single day.
What made 2025 especially meaningful was how clearly industry-wide trends showed up in real purchasing behavior — from bestselling categories to the finishes, styles, and components customers reordered again and again
Market Momentum: Jewelry Continues to Outperform
Across the broader fashion landscape, jewelry remained one of the most resilient and fastest-growing segments in 2025. Global reports estimate the industry surpassed $348 billion, fueled by consumer demand for personalization, durability, and meaningful design.
In the U.S., jewelry revenue continued to grow even as consumers became more selective — signaling a shift toward fewer, better purchases. This mindset strongly favored versatile pieces that could be worn daily, layered easily, or customized for personal meaning
What the Data Told Us: 2025 Performance Insights
Our internal performance data revealed clear winners — offering valuable guidance for retailers planning assortments and displays in 2026.
Product Category Trends
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Necklaces dominated overall sales, with Paperclip Chain styles emerging as the clear customer favorite thanks to their modern silhouette and endless styling flexibility.
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Rings gained serious momentum, climbing 72% in the final weeks of the year, driven by demand for stackable and customizable designs.
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Earrings experienced explosive growth, skyrocketing 601% year-over-year.
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Bestsellers included bow studs and white enamel heart studs, signaling a strong return of feminine, playful details.
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Style, Material & Finish Trends That Defined 2025
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18K Gold PVD finishes dominated more than 90% of bestsellers, making gold-toned jewelry the top priority for inventory planning.
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Stainless steel (natural finish) remained a strong secondary option, valued for its clean look and durability.
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Black and rainbow PVD finishes proved to be niche but consistent sellers — ideal for trend-forward or alternative assortments.
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Paperclip chains were the breakout design of 2025, performing across necklaces, bracelets, and anklets.
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Stainless steel remained the core material, trusted for its affordability, tarnish resistance, and longevity — especially important for everyday wear and customization.
The “Charm Bar” Opportunity: Customization Drives Sales
One of the biggest opportunities revealed in 2025 data was the continued dominance of charms.
By order volume, charms consistently topped the bestseller list, including:
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Bow charms
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Birthstone charms
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Shell charms
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Cross charms
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Initial charms
This performance highlights a major retail opportunity: Charm Bar displays. Allowing customers to build custom necklaces, bracelets, or anklets in-store encourages higher basket sizes, repeat visits, and emotional connection to each piece. Read more about How to Start Your Own Charm Bar Business.
Retailers who leaned into customization saw stronger engagement — and the data shows this trend is only gaining momentum.
Findings & Supplies Are Gold
Behind the scenes, findings and supplies quietly drove massive order volume in 2025.
Top repeat-purchase items included:
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Carabiners
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Chain by the foot (especially paperclip styles)
Stacking Rings: The Key To Personalization
Multiple stacking ring styles appeared among top sellers throughout the year, including:
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Beaded rings
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Cross rings
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Birthstone rings
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Flat circle rings
This signals a clear consumer behavior shift: customers want to layer. Retailers should merchandise stacking rings together or offer curated sets to encourage multi-piece purchases rather than single-item sales.
The Earring Explosion
With earrings up 601% year-over-year, this category deserves special attention heading into 2026.
Strong-performing styles included:
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Huggie hoops
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Studs (especially bow and heart designs)
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Statement earrings
Retailers should plan for deep earring assortments — offering a balance of everyday basics and trend-driven statement pieces to capture a wider audience.
What Customers Came Back for Again & Again
Repeat purchases tell the real story of what retailers rely on most. In 2025, the most frequently reordered products included:
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Jump rings and findings
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Paperclip chain by the foot
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Birthstone and initial charms
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Blank rings for engraving and customization
These items support flexible selling strategies and allow retailers to adapt quickly to customer demand.
Gold Prices & the Smart Shift Toward 18K Gold PVD in 2026
As we head into 2026, one macro trend is impossible to ignore: the continued rise in the price of solid gold. With gold trading at historically high levels, both retailers and consumers are becoming more value-conscious — without wanting to compromise on appearance, wearability, or perceived quality.
This environment has created a powerful opportunity for 18K Gold PVD stainless steel jewelry and other quality solid gold alternatives.
Throughout 2025, our data already showed that 18K Gold PVD dominated more than 90% of bestsellers — and that preference is only expected to strengthen in the year ahead. Gold PVD delivers the warm, elevated look customers love, paired with the durability and affordability of stainless steel. For everyday wear, layering, and customization, it offers a compelling alternative to solid gold at a fraction of the cost.
For retailers, this shift unlocks several advantages:
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Higher margins without pricing customers out
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Broader accessibility, especially for gifting and trend-driven purchases
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Confidence in durability, ideal for daily wear and high-turnover items
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Scalable assortments, from charms and chains to rings and earrings
As gold prices remain elevated, consumers are signaling clear preferences: they want pieces that look luxurious, wear beautifully, and fit into real life. 18K Gold PVD stainless steel checks every box — making it one of the strongest material signals for 2026.
For retailers planning ahead, the takeaway is clear:
Lean into gold-toned, stainless steel collections that offer longevity, flexibility, and value. It’s not just a trend — it’s a smart response to where the market is headed next.
What This Means for 2026
The data makes it clear. For maximum sales potential in 2026, retailers should prioritize:
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Gold-toned paperclip chains
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Customizable charm options
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Stackable rings
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Trendy huggie hoops and stud earrings
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Findings and supplies for repeat purchasing
We’re heading into the new year with strong momentum — and we’re excited to share that in Q1 of 2026, we’ll be moving into a larger distribution center, allowing us to expand inventory, ship faster, and continue supporting our partners at a higher level.
Thank you for being part of an incredible year. Whether you’re building your first collection or scaling your business, we’re proud to grow alongside you.
Here’s to an even stronger, more stylish 2026!
