What Gen Z Wants Now: The Holiday Jewelry Hits Retailers Can’t Miss

If you’re looking to seduce younger clients this season, having the right mix of inventory is key. Members of Gen Z, the group born between 1997 and 2012, are keen on fine jewelry, but the style and price have to be right.

That’s where Andrea LeDay, fine jewelry product manager at Stuller in Lafayette, La., comes in. We asked LeDay about which jewelry styles are resonating with Gen Z shoppers this holiday. From charm necklaces to stacking rings, initial pendants to diamond staples, the pieces highlighted below are all available for last-minute orders. And keep in mind: The prices quoted in the captions are retail (triple key).

Bubble Initial Necklace

“Gen Z likes to personalize things and this lets them do that at the perfect price point, which ranges based on the initial. It’s been a really popular style for gifting. It reminds me of Hailey Bieber’s initial pendant, but hers is diamond-studded.”

Bubble initial 18-inch necklace in 14k yellow gold, $1,225

Charm Necklace

“Charms and charm necklaces have become such a big thing with Gen Z. Everyone’s trying to make their own statement with them. We carry a circle charm necklace that has a little opening almost like a bale and you can add multiple charms if you want. It’s got a more utility look with a paperclip chain, which is very popular as well.”

Circle charm 18-inch necklace in 14k yellow gold, $2,006

Charms

“At JCK Las Vegas, we launched a charm collection with cutesy, youthful charms but also classic styles that people could wear for longer. One that did really well was a lime wedge—it’s a fun look with peridots in 14k gold but has a charm bale so you can clip it on to a chain, if you want. The lime wedge took off. I think it resonates with Gen Z’s fun, youthful energy.

Lime wedge charm/pendant in 14k yellow gold with peridots, $849

“The other one that did well for us was a cute, diamond-accented 14k gold dog tag charm that you can engrave. It has a clicky bale and you can mix and match it with other charms to make your own story. Gen Z really appreciates these personal elements—it could be your initial, your child’s, or your puppy’s.”

Engravable dog tag charm/pendant in 14k yellow gold with 0.17 ct. t.w. diamonds, $1,202

Birthstone Rings

“Earlier this year, we launched a stackable birthstone ring that’s done really well for us. It comes in a variety of price ranges. And we just expanded into sterling silver and 10k for a better price point. You can pick your birthstone, or you can just make it a very petite diamond ring. People use them for milestone rings—for when they get married and want to add their husband’s birthstone to their stack. People have stacked their birthstones, their spouse’s birthstone, their kids’ birthstones. You can wear four of them if you want to. Or wear just one as a self-purchase gift when you get your first job.”

Birthstone/milestone/stacking ring in 14k yellow gold with Mozambique garnets, $1,351

Diamond Staples

“At the end of the day, people love classic jewelry like basic diamond studs. It’s so tried and tested. And because of the price point of lab-grown, I see people buying them more for their kids. You can’t go wrong with plain diamond studs or a plain solitaire pendant. They can be passed down. And because we offer so many different sizes, you could have a 4 to 5 mm stone that fits that teenager perfectly.”

18-inch necklace in 14k white gold with 1 ct. lab-grown diamond, $2,176

Top: Stuller’s birthstone stacking rings can be sold as milestone rings.