By Beth Braverman



Randolph, N.J.—All that glitters is steel for luxury watch retailers.

Despite yellow gold’s turn in the fashion spotlight, consumers still want white metal when it comes to mid-range luxury wristwatches, retailers tell
National Jeweler
.

Sales of stainless steel watches within the $1,500-$9,999 price point jumped 22 percent from August 2005 to August 2006, creating a $1.2 billion market, according to information from the Luxury Goods Index (LGI), which tracks sales data from 6,800 retailers across the country.

“Steel has really picked up, and at this point, it is, by far, the biggest category in size and volume,” LGI Chief Operating Officer Andrew Talbert says.