US Jewelry Sector Shrinks Again in Q1

The decline in the US jewelry sector continues, with yet another drop in the number of retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses.
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The decline in the US jewelry sector continues, with yet another drop in the number of retail, wholesale and manufacturing businesses.

The total number fell by 3.4 per cent – just under 800 businesses – to 22,330 year-on-year, according to the latest update from the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), which provides commercial credit information. The figures take account of both closures and new business openings.

The figure for the previous quarter, Q4 2024, was -3.2 per cent, and for Q3 2024 it was -3.3 per cent, indicating a steady rate of decline.

The biggest fall in Q1 2025 was among jewelry manufacturers, down 4.6 per cent to 2,119. The number of retailers fell 3.5 per cent, down to 16,959 and the number of wholesalers fell 2.5 per cent to 3,252.

JBT reported the opening of 68 new retail jewelers in the US during Q1.

Source: IDEX

Revenue Down, Stores Closed at Chow Sang Sang

Chow Sang Sang

Chow Sang Sang suffered a net loss of 74 of its 1,032 stores last year, amid weak demand, record-high gold prices and an economic slowdown in China, as well as Hong Kong and Macau.

China’s third biggest jewelry retailer (by revenue) saw sales for the year to 31 December 2024 fall by 15 per cent to HKD 21.18bn ($2.72bn).

Same-store sales were down 38 per cent on the mainland and 24 per cent in Hong Kong and Macau, primarily due to a drop in diamond demand. Profit slid 20 per cent to HKD 805.6m ($103.6m).

Chow Sang Sang did not rule out further store closures. “Under the present economic climate, it would be prudent to continue our physical store network consolidation,” it said its Annual Results.

“In 2024, uncertain economic conditions coupled with record-high gold price exerted significant pressure on jewellery demand in both Mainland China, and the Hong Kong and Macau markets, resulting in a 15 per cent year-on-year decline in turnover.

“Continuing our efforts to consolidate the store networks, we opened 48 and closed 122 stores, mostly in Mainland China.”

Source: IDEX

Jewelry Buyers Still Desire In-Store Experience

Online or Jewellery store

Consumers still prefer speaking with jewelers before making a purchase, despite the recent rise in online purchases, a survey has found.

Some 64% of people who bought jewelry visited a store to consult with an expert while deciding what to buy, according to a study released last week by Jewelers of America (JA). That’s 26% more than for other luxury items, the trade body’s online survey of 2,019 consumers showed.

Consumers who talk to a jeweler during the research process are also more likely to buy from a local store rather than online, the organization added.

“For consumers, seeing is believing, and they still rely on the expertise and knowledge of their jeweler,” said David Bonaparte, CEO of JA. “The jewelry shopping experience is different from other luxury purchases, and even in the rise of e-commerce, customers increasingly prioritize the in-store shopping experience.”

Even so, the brick-and-mortar trade is fearful of the impact of online sellers. In a separate JA survey of 257 of its members, spanning retailers and suppliers, 39% of jewelry retailers considered e-commerce to be their biggest competition.

However, only 34% of retailers surveyed actually have an online sales platform. At the same time, jewelers are working on improving their in-store experience by ensuring they have well-trained sales staff and high-quality customer service, the trade association added.

Jewelry self-purchasing is more popular for precious-metal products, JA found, with 56% of consumers considering gold jewelry to be a good choice as something to buy for oneself. Some 40% put sterling-silver jewelry in this category, while pieces containing diamonds and gemstones were more likely to be a candidate for gifting. Overall, 50% of consumers thought fine jewelry had sentimental value and helped to mark special occasions, JA said.

Source: diamonds.net