Blue Nile and Zale Corp. are among the top jewelry e-tailers, according to Internet Retailer`s 2007 edition of the "Top 500 Guide," which features a comprehensive analysis of America`s 500 largest retail Web sites ranked by 2006 online sales.

Other jewelry e-tailers featured on the list include Amazon.com, eLuxury.com (launched by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey), Fortunoff, Fossil, J.C. Penney, Jewelry Television, Kohl`s, Macy`s, Nordstrom, QVC, Ross-Simons, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sears Holding Corp., Shop NBC, Target, The Neiman Marcus Group, Tiffany and Co. and Wal-Mart.

"We continue to work hard at creating a unique online shopping experience and fostering a sense of community among our customers," Jewelry Television Senior Vice President of E-Commerce James Thome said in a press release. "Our customers appreciate the vast amount of jewelry, gemstones and information available at Jtv.com and the flexibility and security the site offers."

According to Internet Retailer, Amazon.com takes top honors with $10.7 billion in 2006 online sales volume, and Sears places seventh with $2.3 billion.

In 2006, 17 e-tailers recorded online sales of $1 billion or more, compared with 14 in 2005, the guide says.

In addition, the Top 500 e-tailers increased their online sales by 21 percent in 2006 to $83.6 billion of the nation`s $136.2 billion in online sales.

A total of 224 (45 percent) of the Top 500 e-tail businesses are owned by pure-players (or Internet-only retailers); 145 (29 percent) by store-based retail chains; 89 (18 percent) by catalog and direct-marketing firms; and 42 (8 percent) by consumer-branded manufacturers. Because they control an even larger share of the biggest sites, retail chains accounted for 41 percent of 2006 online sales, while pure-players accounted for 31 percent, catalogers, 14 percent and manufacturers, 14 percent.

Twelve of the 14 merchandise categories tracked in the Top 500 registered double-digit online sales growth in 2006. E-tailers in the largest category by number of merchants–apparel and accessories–continue to show that shoppers have no qualms buying these goods online.

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