BREAKING: Tiffany & Co. is the jewelry brand most frequently purchased by wealthy women over the past five years, according to a survey conducted by The Luxury Institute. How wealthy, you ask? The women polled in the Institute's survey had a minimum annual income of $200,000 and a minimum net worth of $5 million. (The runners-up were David Yurman and Cartier.)
That's a lotta cheddar -- and it could buy a lotta bling. While Tiffany's style and quality are undeniable, women revealed they prefer the brand and other luxury retailers because of the impeccable customer service they provide. According to Luxury Institute CEO Milton Pedraza:
"Relationship selling is not something exclusive to markets like high-end automobiles, real estate and wealth management services. Even in luxury jewelry and fashion, relationships cultivated by trust and an understanding of customer preferences can help boost both the frequency and size of sales."
We can attest to the difference a good salesperson makes, whether you're shopping for a $20 bra or for a $43,000 ring. If a woman's at the top of the marketplace, it makes sense that she'll seek out the best experience possible when shopping.
And wealthy women are loyal, it turns out. Women's Wear Daily points out that 17 percent of them have a preferred salesperson at each luxury brand. Survey runner-up Cartier had the highest percentage of customer-salesperson relationships (40 percent), and Tiffany's share was a healthy 25 percent.
After Tiffany & Co., Cartier and David Yurman, WWD reports, wealthy women's most shopped-at jewelry brands were Judith Ripka, Mikimoto, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bulgari, Asprey, Harry Winston and Piaget. Which jewelry store would make you drop the most dough?
Bling worthy of Tiffany's:
