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.
-
Aug- 2016 -12 AugustEconomy
Western investors drive gold demand to near-record high
Western investors have driven the demand for gold to a near-record high, according to a new report from the World Gold Council (WGC). Global gold demand reached 2,335 tonnes (t) in the first half of 2016 – a record for the first half of a year and 16% higher than…
Read More » -
Jul- 2016 -26 JulyEconomy
Natwest and RBS to consider charging businesses to hold money
Natwest and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are mulling applying negative interest rates to business accounts and have warned this could mean charging businesses to hold deposits. In a letter to just under 1.3 million commercial and business customers, the banks said very low interest rates globally “could result…
Read More » -
21 JulyDesigners
Swatch reports 54% plunge in profits
Swatch Group remains upbeat about the second half of the year, despite reporting a plunge in profits and sales in its first-half trading update. The Switzerland-based company, which owns brands such as Calvin Klein, Blancpain, Tissot, Longines, Omega and Breguet, reported a 54% fall in operating profit in the first…
Read More » -
15 JulyCurrent Affairs
Hatton Garden BID given green light
The businesses of Hatton Garden have voted overwhelmingly in favour of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID) to deliver improvements across the area. Some 79% of businesses voted yes at the ballot (83% by rateable value), endorsing the £2.5m investment plan set out earlier this year by the Hatton garden…
Read More » -
13 JulyManufacturers
Rio Tinto to sell world’s first red diamond coin
Mining firm Rio Tinto has unveiled what is believed to be the world’s first coin to feature a rare red diamond. Known as ‘The Kimberley Treasure’ and for sale at AU$1 million (£574,000), the collectable piece has been crafted from one kilogram of 99.99% fine gold and features a radiant-cut…
Read More » -
12 JulyEconomy
BRC: Jewellery and watch sales grow in June
Jewellery and watch sales continued to grow in June, according to the latest Retail Sales Monitor from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG. The monthly research found jewellery and watches to be the third best performing sector, out of 12, as both like-for-like and total sales increased in the…
Read More » -
11 JulyManufacturers
De Beers CEO highlights importance of partnerships
The new chief executive officer of De Beers, Bruce Cleaver, has highlighted the importance of relationships with the company’s partners, saying they are the “cornerstone of the business”. In a blog for the company’s website, Cleaver, who was recently appointed to the position, said: “De Beers holds a unique position…
Read More » -
6 JulyEconomy
Shop prices fall for 38th consecutive month
Shop prices fell 2% in June, the 38th consecutive decline and a deepening from the 1.8% price fall recorded in May. That’s according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen Shop Price Index, which revealed the fall was lower than the 12-month average decline of 1.8%. Non-food deflation…
Read More » -
Jun- 2016 -8 JuneCurrent Affairs
Royal Mint to sell gold bars into pensions for first time
The Royal Mint, which supplies all of the UK’s coinage, is to offer investors the chance to own gold bars within their pensions for the first time. The plans will see the Royal Mint offer private individuals and pension scheme providers access to buy and manage gold held within their…
Read More » -
May- 2016 -19 MayRetailers
Mappin & Webb to rebrand following “significant investment”
Fine jewellery retailer Mappin & Webb is set to undergo a re-brand this summer following “significant” investment from parent group Aurum Holdings. The 240-year-old brand will re-launch in June, with a high-profile marketing campaign, new-look stores and a highlighted product range to highlight its positioning to a broader and younger…
Read More »
