Budget
Budget jewellery occupies an important place in the UK market, catering to cost-conscious consumers without compromising on style or demand for trend-led pieces. For retailers, wholesalers, and designers, this segment presents unique opportunities and challenges—from managing slim margins to sourcing affordable materials and meeting high-volume demands.
Jewellery Focus delivers in-depth coverage of the budget jewellery sector, featuring news on supplier innovations, pricing strategies, consumer buying trends, and regulatory considerations affecting production and imports. Our editorial also explores how brands and independents can balance value with quality to remain competitive in this fast-moving market.
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Sep- 2022 -23 SeptemberEconomy
Chancellor announces sweeping tax cuts in first mini-budget
Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has today (23 September) announced a ream of tax cuts alongside a £60bn energy support package as part of the new government’s first mini-budget. Setting out his aims for economic growth, Kwarteng said that he wants the economy to increase by 2.5% annually in the medium-term, through…
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Jul- 2022 -20 JulyFeatures
How are gemstones reinventing the jewellery industry
Gemstones have been a popular choice for jewellery for centuries, and their popularity does not seem to be waning. Gemstones are currently experiencing a bit of a renaissance in the jewellery industry. Thanks to new technologies and design trends, gemstones are being used in innovative ways that are changing the…
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Jun- 2022 -20 JuneAppointments
Hayes & Lake appoints new head of sales
Hayes and Lake, the new laboratory grown diamond brand launched by Diamnet, has appointed David Hartley as its new head of sales. Hartley’s career in the industry spans across 25 years, including with online retailer Hearts on Fire, and his new role focuses on the move from natural mined diamonds…
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May- 2022 -10 MayEconomy
Cost of living crisis begins to hamper consumer spending
Spending on essential items dropped to 18.1% in April, compared to 17.4% in March, as inflation and rising living costs are starting to impact the retail sector. Research from Barclaycard found this was largely due to spending on fuel falling from a record 26.1% increase last month to 23% in…
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Apr- 2022 -4 AprilRetailers
NAJ appoints new principal officer
Ben Massey, current director of marketing and communications at the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), has been appointed to the new position of principal officer with immediate effect as he transitions to CEO in 2023. Following the departure of previous CEO Simon Forrester in 2020, the NAJ underwent a management…
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Mar- 2022 -23 MarchEconomy
De Beers unveils ‘advanced’ diamond recovery vessel
The world’s most advanced diamond recovery vessel, the Benguela Gem, has today been officially unveiled in Namibia at an inauguration ceremony attended by President Hage Geingob, Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo and De Beers Group CEO, Bruce Cleaver. The vessel will commence operations from next week, well ahead…
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Feb- 2022 -18 FebruaryRetailers
Retail sales up 1.9% in January 2022
Retail sales volumes rose by 1.9% in January 2022 following a fall of 4.0% in December 2021, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. It also revealed sales volumes were 3.6% above their pre-coronavirus (Covid-19) February 2020 levels. Non-food stores sales rose by 3.4% as home…
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8 FebruaryNews
Consumer spending slows in January
Consumer card spending rose by only 7.4% in January compared to the same period in 2020, marking the smallest uplift since April 2021, as spending was dampened by ongoing Plan B restrictions, inflation, and rising energy costs. Data from Barclaycard found that spending on essential items grew by 10.4%, the…
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Jan- 2022 -6 JanuaryFeatures
Guide to designing bespoke jewellery for your clients
Bespoke jewellery is uniquely designed for your client, with your input. Our customers want to create their own pieces, and partners want to design an extra special engagement ring for their loved one or create an original gift for an anniversary or birthday. The bespoke design process means our customers…
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Oct- 2021 -27 OctoberEconomy
Chancellor unveils 50% rates discount for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a 50% discount on business rates for the hospitality, retail and leisure sectors (up to £110,000), equating to a business tax cut worth £1.7bn, the biggest single-year rates cut for firms in over 30 years. Unveiling his latest Budget in the Commons today (27 October),…
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