Investment

Investment is a crucial theme in the jewellery trade, influencing business growth, supply chain resilience, and consumer demand for high-value pieces. For UK jewellers, manufacturers, and distributors, understanding investment trends—whether in precious metals, gemstones, or brand development—is essential. Jewellery Focus offers in-depth coverage of financial developments across the sector, including company funding, acquisitions, market analysis, and insights into consumer behaviour around jewellery as an investment asset. Our reporting supports professionals seeking to navigate the financial dynamics shaping the industry.

Jul- 2021 -

20 July

Retailers

Hemma Visavadia

Gembridge raises £368k in funding

Gembridge has announced that it has raised $500,000 (£368,000) from professional investors in a second fully funded round of Convertible Note financing. The funds pave the way for further developments that will enable the group to process up to $1bn (£735m) in transactions each year. This is the second time…
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Jun- 2021 -

29 June

Retailers

Hemma Visavadia

Beaverbrooks relocates to Centre:mk

Beaverbrooks has revealed that it will be relocating its store in Milton Keynes to a larger one inside centre:mk, a retail destination, at the end of summer. The store will offer a selection of diamonds, jewellery and watches, and luxury and designer brands including Omega, Breitling and Tag Heuer. Kevin…
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21 June

Retailers

Harry Deacon

Laings reveals £10m investment plan

Laings, an independent jewellery business, has announced a £10m two-year expansion plan to strengthen the group’s presence across the UK. The funds will be used for a number of projects, including the transformation of Laings’ showrooms and workshops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Southampton, and Cardiff. Moreover, the company revealed that it…
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Apr- 2021 -

28 April

Retailers

Hemma Visavadia

Betts Group strengthens senior team with wedding ring expert

Betts Group has appointed Peter Green to the national business development team to expand the group’s wedding ring business. Green brings with him more than four decades of industry experience. He will be responsible for the sales of the group’s responsibly sourced bullion and investment products. In his new role,…
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Mar- 2021 -

15 March

Retailers

Harry Deacon

VNJ secures £150,000 funding package

V N Jewellery (VNJ), an online jewellery retailer, has secured a £150,000 funding package from Maven Capital Partners’ Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF). Based in Aylesbury, the firm’s team comprises Hai Ngan Knight and Jeremy Knight, who act as managing director and finance director respectively. VNJ will use the investment…
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11 March

Designers

Harry Deacon

Taylor & Heart secures £500k GLIF loan

Taylor and Hart, a bespoke jewellery designer, has secured a £500,000 loan funding from the Greater London Investment Fund (GLIF). The cash injection includes £250,000 in conjunction with the government backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). Founded in 2011, Taylor and Hart offers individual engagement ring designs to its…
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Feb- 2021 -

9 February

Retailers

Patrick O'Donnell

Notonthehighstreet acquired by US investment firm

Notonthehighstreet has been acquired by Great Hill Partners, an American investment firm. The online gift retailer was founded in 2006 by Holly Tucker and Sophie Cornish, employs more than 150 and manages a marketplace of more than 5,000 small businesses selling more than 250,000 products. The business has seen a…
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4 February

Retailers

Heather Sandlin

‘Robust’ online sales offset store closures at Watches of Switzerland

Watches of Switzerland has welcomed a period of strong trading in its third quarter ended 24 January 2021, with group revenue up by 6.6% to £272.6m despite the ongoing pandemic. This was bolstered by a “robust” e-commerce performance in the UK, which offset continued store closures throughout the period. UK…
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1 February

Economy

Laura McGuire

BRC chief calls for rates extension as vacancies rise by 13%

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has urged the government to extend business rates relief beyond April as the number of retail stores lying vacant rose to 13.7% in Q4 2020. The plea follows figures published by the consortium which show that all retail locations saw…
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Dec- 2020 -

15 December

Q&A Sessions

Patrick O'Donnell

Interview: Jennifer Georgeson, founder and CEO of So Just Shop

So Just Shop is a jewellery, accessory and homeware marketplace working directly with women-led artisans from some of the most vulnerable communities around the globe. Jewellery Focus sat down with the business’ founder and CEO, Jennifer Georgeson, to discuss empowering women, sustainability in business and navigating the difficulties resulting from…
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