The United States is easily the largest jewelry market on earth. Americans spend around 50 billion dollars a year on jewelry, which is almost one-third of total global sales. Though the industry is highly fragmented, we know that women buy and receive far more jewelry than men. The market for men is relegated mostly to watches and the occasional bracelet or necklace. Few guys have anything that might be called a collection.
By comparison, most women have jewelry collections that include common articles of personal adornment, such as earrings, broaches, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and pendants. The size of the collection often depends on the age, wealth, and marital status of the woman. Since jewelry is a popular gift on birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries, a married woman is more likely to have a larger, more impressive selection of bijouterie than a single woman.
No matter her marital status or financial situation, the average woman spends several hundred dollars each year on artistic ornaments. According to customer surveys, when she buys for herself, the average jewelry shopper is far more likely to buy everyday jewelry. In other words, she wants something she can wear to work or outside of the home, instead of opulent accessories that are reserved for special occasions. Jewelry lovers are always on the lookout for a bon march, especially during the holidays. This is the time of the year when many of the major department stores hold jewelry clearance sales that offer shoppers deep discounts on demotic accessories. These sales are rarely advertised, since jewelry seldom goes on sale. Therefore, marketing is unnecessary. The stores know that when they slash prices up to fifty percent, shoppers will come out of the woodwork to buy whatever is available.
What to expect?
No matter their color, carat, clarity or cut, precious gems have value. In other words, they are rarely offered at deep discounts during clearance sales. Precious metals like gold and platinum may be put on sale, but do not expect enormous savings. Remember, these sales are held to reduce inventory to make room for new products. But the stores will never sell something that has inherent value far below its retail price. With that said, it is possible to find a lot everyday jewelry at huge cost savings at these sales.
Jewelry that is made of silver and lower grades of gold is readily available at clearance sales. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings can be purchased for a fraction of their retail price. That is why shoppers come from far and wide whenever a store schedules one of these sales.
How to Find Them?
Regular clearance sales are held at the end of each season or at the end of each month, but that is not the case with jewelry sales. The thrifty shopper really has to do her homework in order to find one. On occasion, these sales are advertised on the internet, since it is less expensive to tout them electronically than to actually print up a circular. Most shoppers are willing to drive for hours, if the cost savings are substantial.
Caveat Emptor
When shopping for
clearance jewelry at a regular brick and mortar store, most sales are final. It doesnt even matter if the accessory is damaged, broken or fake, the store will not refund your money. All shoppers should keep this in mind and not be blinded by the discounts and savings. The best advice we can give you is to ask a lot of questions before you buy anything. For instance, ask to see the stamp that indicates the quality of the metal. Most genuine gold and silver jewelry has a stamp on it somewhere. If it does not, it is probably best to walk away.
And if the article was purportedly made by a name-brand designer, the same rule applies. Designers almost always put their names on an article somewhere. If there is no name, it may mean that the item is counterfeit. At the very least you should be highly suspicious. As a general rule, it is best to steer clear of jewelry that cannot be authenticated.
In spite of these concerns, jewelry clearance sales are a fast, fun and affordable way to expand any collection.
