Blue Nile recently released its annual Exceptional Gifts List, the largest purchases of engagement rings and luxury jewelry made in early holiday shopping.

 

Topping the list is a $170,000 five-carat diamond solitaire, followed by an $114,000 three-carat diamond engagement ring purchased on Cyber Monday, the Monday following Thanksgiving.

 

“Whether it's a plasma TV, an Xbox 360, video iPod or a diamond, more and more consumers are spending their holiday budgets on one exceptional gift," said Blue Nile Diamond and Jewelry Expert John Baird. "We've seen significant increases in sales of very high-ticket items during the first three quarters of the year and have expanded our selection of gifts over $20,000 accordingly.”

 

Many of the gifts on the list come from Blue Nile's Extraordinary Gifts Collection, which was originally launched for the 2004 holiday season. This year the collection has been expanded from a dozen to 50 products, whose prices range up to $70,000, up from the maximum price of $27,000 a year ago.

 

Blue Nile's Annual Exceptional Gifts List

 

    Top-10 Holiday Engagement Ring Gifts

    (1) $170,000, Five-Carat Emerald-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (2) $114,000, Three-Carat Round-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (3) $86,000, Five-Carat Radiant-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (4) $82,000, Four-Carat Oval-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (5) $67,000, Three-Carat Round-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (6) $66,000, Four-Carat Princess-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (7) $61,000, Three-Carat Round-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (8) $58,000, Four-Carat Asscher-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (9) $54,000, Four-Carat Round-Cut Diamond Solitaire

    (10) $53,000, Four-Carat Heart-Cut Diamond Solitaire

 

    Top-10 Holiday Jewelry Gifts

    (1) $78,000, Five-Carat Total Weight Round-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

    (2) $64,000, Five-Carat Total Weight Round-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

    (3) $48,000, Four-Carat Total Weight Round-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

    (4) $42,000, Eleven-Carat Total Weight Signature Collection Diamond  

         Tennis Bracelet

    (5) $38,000, Two-Carat Asscher-Cut Diamond Solitaire Pendant

    (6) $37,000, Five-Carat Total Weight Pear-Cut Diamond Drop Earrings

    (7) $34,000, Two-Carat Round-Cut Diamond Solitaire Pendant

    (8) $34,000, Three-Carat Total Weight Round-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

    (9) $26,000, Three-Carat Total Weight Round-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

    (10) $25,000, Two-Carat Total Weight Round-Cut Diamond Stud Earrings

 

In the first three quarters of 2005, Blue Nile has seen transactions of more than $20,000 increase 72 percent over the same period last year. More than 20 percent of company revenues come from purchases of $15,000 or more.