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.
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Oct- 2020 -1 OctoberFeatures
The new ‘conscious consumer’ and how brands can impress them
Locking down the world for months was bound to leave a lasting legacy on society. One of the most positive outcomes is the increased awareness of our impact on the environment. Carbon emissions fell drastically, the water in Venice ran clear and wild animals began to roam in locked-down cities[1].…
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Sep- 2020 -14 SeptemberCoronavirus
700,000 jobs at risk as end of furlough scheme draws near
Over 700,000 employees are at risk of being made redundant in the second half of 2020, research from Institute for Employment Studies (IES) has revealed. IES estimates that some 650 thousand redundancies are expected in the second half of 2020, with 445 thousand redundancies in the three months between July…
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10 SeptemberCurrent Affairs
Government launches new ‘bounce back’ plan for retailers
A new series of measures has been announced by the UK Government to support businesses in the consumer and retail industries during the Covid-19 pandemic. The plans, announced by Minister for exports Graham Stuart, will offer immediate support to businesses by ensuring specialists provide advice on online retail and international…
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4 SeptemberRetailers
Signet Jewellers swings to loss in Q2
Signet Jewellers, the parent company of H.Samuel and Ernest Jones, swung to a loss of $81.7m (£62m) in its second quarter of trading, down from a loss of $36.1 (£27.4m) the year before. Total sales also fell by 34.9% to $888m (£623m) in the quarter ended August 1, 2020. Meanwhile,…
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Aug- 2020 -24 AugustEconomy
Record economic growth anticipated for Q3
The UK is reportedly on track for a record economic resurgence during the third quarter of the year, following sharp declines in GDP at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Q2. According to the Financial Times (FT), City of London economists have predicted a 14.3% rise in GDP for…
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7 AugustRetailers
Usdaw warns business rates increase could risk more jobs
Retail trade union Usdaw has expressed “major concerns” over reports that the government is considering increasing business rates for premises with a rateable value over £51,000. The news comes as reports suggest Rishi Sunak is considering increasing business rates in an effort to boost the UK economy. Instead, Usdaw is…
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Jul- 2020 -28 JulyCoronavirus
LVMH profit plunges in half-year results
LVMH has announced that revenue in the first half of 2020 tumbled 27% to €18.4bn (£16.8bn) against the year prior. The luxury group, which owns Bulgari and Chaumet, reported that revenue in its watches and jewellery division plummeted by 39% to €1.32bn (£1.2bn) in the period. According to the group,…
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27 JulyCurrent Affairs
Price of gold reaches ‘record’ high
The price of gold reached a “record high” of $1,943 (£1,513) per ounce this morning (27 July), amid increasing tensions in the US and China trade row. The price rise of 2.2% saw gold overtake its previous record that was recorded in the wake of Black Monday in September 2011.…
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20 JulyDesigners
De Beers invests in Gemist
De Beers has invested in Gemist, an online jeweller that allows customers to create their own customised jewellery through its website The site also enables customers to try on their designed pieces at home before confirming the purchase. Customers are provided with an array of stones, metal and settings to…
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13 JulyEvents
TH March shortlisted for award
TH March, a leading insurer in the jewellery and watch industry, has been shortlisted in the 2020 UK Broker Awards. The group has now been confirmed as a finalist under the ‘training’ category, which “recognises the investment they have made in nurturing and maintaining the technical and people skills of…
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