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Just how this WASP revisited look translates into fine jewelry sales is sometimes a tricky proposition. The strength is in classic, traditional styles which can seem a bit stodgy to some. But in the heyday of the look, when style icons such as Babe Paley, Gloria Guinness, Slim Keith, or CZ Guest personified the look of quiet elegance, it also was the heyday of master jewelers who pushed the envelope, often combining precious and non-precious materials, adding fun, color, and scale to otherwise commonplace pieces. Among the chief arbiters of this look were Verdura, Seaman Schepps, Jean Schlumberger, David Webb, and Raymond Yard. And their jewelry idioms are relevant today.

Whether they are Jackie Kennedy style strands or Babe Paley’s baroque South Sea pearl brooches, pearls are the very personification of the WASP style. That’s good news especially given the strength of colored pearls—from grays to browns to goldens—that are already popular with consumers and which add a new twist to classic styles. There’s likely to be further change in jewelry classifications, too. The hoop is alive and well but in new metals (rose gold and blackened styles) and the button earring is ripe for a return thanks to lady-like looks.

While there’s plenty of time to plan what’s coming up for 2008, there’s no time to wait to start selling resort and pre-spring looks, even amid heavy duty holiday selling when diamond jewelry is key.