Tracking the season sales for 2010, MVI Marketing Ltd.’s Jewelry Consumer Opinion Council Panel outlined that a post-Holiday study conducted from December 30, 2010 through January 4, 2011, revealed two thirds of the 1,006 respondents saying business conditions were the same or improved over 2009. Around one-third said business conditions will be better in the next 12 months, 18 percent respondents felt this is the right time to purchase jewellery. Twenty-three percent respondents mentioned that the next 12 months would be the prime jewellery purchasing months, both up from 2009 findings. %% Twenty-five percent respondents purchased fine jewellery or watch gift this Holiday Season, which indicated a 3 percent rise from 2009. Respondents who did not purchase fine jewellery did not show budget as a constraint.%% The 2010 report also shows a shift in retail channel preference. Last year, department store and mass market retailers led the race, while 2010 shows a slight decline in department store shoppers with an 8 percent increase in purchases from local, independent retailers.%% The self-purchases of fine jewellery rose and at higher price points. Also, throughout the 2010 Holiday Season, half of those who made a fine jewelry or watch purchase bought for themselves, up from 42 percent in 2009. While in 2009, only 4 percent of selfpurchasers spent more than $1,000, the 2010 report showed 15 percent of self-purchasers spending more than $1,000.