Rachael Taylor at Professional Jeweller has written an article looking back at 2011 and asking what lessons can be learned from the year to drive business forward in 2012.

She notes in point 8 that pearls are in!

“Over the past couple of years pearls have enjoyed a resurgence as the fashion industry embraced faux pearls on everything from clothing and hair clips to jewellery and Lady Gaga’s face”… “the jewellery industry is influenced by fashion and as a result younger shoppers who have liked the look of a £5 string of plastic pearls have upgraded to cultured pearls. Pearl companies such as Jersey Pearl, which has enjoyed phenomenal business growth since opening its wholesale division two years ago, have reported increasing demand from retailers. And that demand is not just for classic strings of pearls but also for everything from 1920s-inspired Art Deco earrings to Tahitian pearls set on diamond encrusted gold bands. While pearls have always formed an important part of a jewellery retailer’s offer it seems that the once reserve of retired ladies is now opening up jewellery shops to a younger demographic with money to spend.”

http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-10531-10-things-the-jewellery-industry-learned-from-2011/