Amy Curran

💎 Tip of the Day: Shift Your Focus to Natural Diamonds In 2024, retailers should prioritize training their associates in the art of selling natural diamonds. Understanding the unique selling propositions of natural diamonds and highlighting their rarity is crucial. Showcase natural diamonds first, emphasizing their value, even if customers inquire about lab-grown options. Reserve lab-grown diamonds as a last resort, discreetly kept in the back, and presented only after thoroughly explaining the value of natural diamonds. 💍 #DiamondSales #RetailTips #NaturalDiamonds #MeganTellsAll

14

2 Comments

This is an interesting interview with Al Cook. The is an excellent summary from which i quote : New trajectory for lab-grown diamonds And what of the lab-grown diamond market? Al believes the U.S. market is at an inflection point. “We’ve had a year where lab-grown diamonds made real inroads into the diamond markets,” he says. “I think we’ve reached peak lab-grown in the United States. We’ll still see the volumes come up, but we’ll see the value come dramatically down.” As evidence, he points out that the price of lab-grown stones has dropped 90-95% from five to six years ago. Now he says that you can buy 10 to 20 lab-grown diamonds for the equivalent of one natural diamond, and that price gap will continue to widen. Victoria wonders what this means for De Beers’ Lightbox brand. “We see Lightbox as a terrific way of demonstrating the differentiations between natural diamonds and lab-grown diamonds,” Al says. “We’re seeing the whole lab-grown diamond business become a low-cost, low-revenue business.” He says to expect news on Lightbox prices soon. My takeaway : Al is still spinning the idea that the cannibalization of mined diamond sales by LGD has peaked and we are at an inflection point. I believe Al is talking about the US market. He basically admits that Lightbox intended

1

2 Comments

A small 1.3% rise in sales at US jewelers in April. The increase in revenue was fully spurred by a 2.5% increase in the average consumer expenditure per unit purchased. A few of the figures: Natural diamond jewelry sales rose 1%, Prices of LGD-set DERs declined, Loose LGD was 57% of loose diamond sales, but just 25% of revenue. Here is an issue: LG prices are down, but gross margins and unit sales are up. What does it impact gross profits? We took a look at that and have some findings. https://lnkd.in/dDw4s8MQ

38

17 Comments

Why Lab Grown Diamonds? Lab grown diamonds have the SAME chemical, optical, and physical properties as mined diamonds. The only difference is their origin. Don’t let other jeweler’s fool you. GIA grades lab grown diamonds the same way they do mined diamonds; using the 4 C’s. These diamonds are being created at a faster rate and in higher quality allowing the consumer to purchase beautiful diamonds at a fraction of the price! 💍

8

1 Comment

🌟 Unlock the True Value of Gemstones with Spokes Jewelry Services! 🌟 At Spokes Jewelry Services, we understand the intricate dance between cost, quality, and customization when it comes to sourcing gemstones. One of the most significant decisions in the jewelry manufacturing process is choosing between finished gemstones and rough gemstones for custom cutting. While buying finished gemstones might seem convenient, it often comes at a premium cost. On the other hand, purchasing rough gemstones and cutting them in-house not only reduces costs but also allows for unparalleled customization. This approach does come with its own set of challenges, including potential weight loss during cutting and the precision required in gram-to-carat calculations. However, the rewards of a perfectly cut, unique gemstone tailored to your brand’s vision are truly invaluable. One of the world’s gemstone capitals, Bangkok, offers a wealth of rough gemstones. Having lived here since 2006, I've built an extensive network and earned my certification from GIA right here in this vibrant city. With access to top-quality rough gemstones, like rose and clear quartz, we leverage our local connections to source the best materials. By custom cutting these stones in-house, we can ensure exceptional quality and a distinctive edge for your brand. The process involves meticulous planning and precision, but the result is a gemstone that stands out in both brilliance and uniqueness. To illustrate, here's the formula for calculating rough gemstones from the kilo level down to carats: 1 kilogram = 1000 grams = 5000 carats This means that careful consideration and precise cutting techniques are paramount to maximizing yield and maintaining quality. With over a decade of experience in the heart of Bangkok’s gemstone industry, I am passionate about helping brands navigate and thrive in the world of fine jewelry manufacturing. My extensive network and deep industry knowledge enable us to transform any brand’s manufacturing process into a smoother, more enjoyable, and profitable journey. In our latest video, I’ll showcase the transformation of two rough stones—rose and clear quartz—into stunning finished gemstones, illustrating the magic and value of custom cutting. Join us and discover how Spokes Jewelry Services can elevate your brand to new heights! 💎✨ #JewelryManufacturing #Gemstones #Bangkok #CustomCutting #FineJewelry #SpokesJewelryServices

6

The latest data from Tenoris: US specialty jewelers experienced a 2.1% decrease in jewelry sales, with a 3.5% decline in units sold compared to the previous year, driven by weak demand for natural diamonds. Based on data from over 2,000 US jewelry retailers, the cost of goods sold decreased by 3.2% year over year, contributing to an increase in overall gross margins to 50% in the first half of 2024. Despite this, revenue from finished jewelry and diamond sales softened by 0.6% during the same period, while the average retail price of items sold saw a modest 0.7% increase. For a more detailed view of market trends and performance, check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dw-8Gtnf

24

1 Comment

Synthetics will dominate bridal in 2024 and the collapse in 2025 when brides figure out they have been ripped off. Synthetic diamonds will go the way of CZ. Retailers who sell synthetic diamond engagement rings for huge profits will have to answer to brides who see their thousand dollar engagement rings offered for sale at WalMart for hundreds or even tens of dollars. Real natural diamonds will return as the ultimate gift of commitment because they are valuable as is the marital relationship. Millennial women in their thirties are not interested in tinder experiences. They want stable long term relationships and the opportunity to have children with men they love. Men also want loyalty, love and commitment. The synthetic engagement ring trend will blow away as will the jewelers selling them. Marriage is not a one night stand. Engagement rings are not costume jewelry.

126

61 Comments

‘The Complete Guide to Effective Jewelry Display’ This is the eighteenth installment of a twenty two part series to highlight the secret sauce of this book written by Larry Johnson. It’s a summary to help me stay sharp and share ideas that might be helpful to you. I may use direct quotes for clarity. Section 19, Maintenance The environment inside a showcase or window is very hostile. Displays are generally made of inexpensive lightweight components. Care should be taken to rotate the displays so that not the same elements are taking the brunt of the abuse. Cleaning If you have suede, the following suggestion will be effective. Mix half a cap full of cleaning detergent and cold water. No bleach or whitening agent please. Rub the area with a cotton cloth rinse the area, cold water, and let the material air dry. If you have leatherette, small amount of liquid soap in water and rub on with a cotten cloth. Clean with cold water and allow to air dry. As I have mentioned before this book was written in 2006. A new material from Fyfield called linea is being used in displays. These types of displays with this material have been cleaned with success using a degreaser called Simple Green. Spray it on wait 30 seconds and wipe it off. It takes everything off but ballpoint pen. There is a chapter on refurbishment at the end of this section. It contains four paragraphs that when summed up led me to the conclusion that is not worth it and just buy new. Like and follow for next weeks content. I will comment on packaging.

4

Aloha Friday! 🤙🏼 Here are some interesting stories from the world of retail for Friday, June 14: 💍 Shares of diamond seller Signet Jewelers tumbled Thursday, after the parent of the Kay, Zales and Jared jewelry-store chains missed quarterly sales expectations, as engagements continued to decline. 🛋️ Shares of RH fell after the upscale furniture chain reported a bigger-than-expected Q1 loss and forecast second-quarter sales below expectations. The company continues to grapple with a slowdown in the housing market. 👖 Walmart is squarely targeting young consumers with a total revamp of its No Boundaries private label assortment of fashion items. New fabrication, shapes and styles will be introduced; prices will remain the same. 🏬 In coming months, JCPenney will shutter four stores across as many states. The department store remains profitable, though net income plummeted nearly 90% last year and sales continued to slide. 🥦 The UK's Tesco has reported total retail revenue of £15.3bn in the 13 weeks to May 25th, up 3.4% compared with the same period last year, with food sales up 5% and online sales rising 12.5%. 📱 Poshmark is ramping up its bet on livestream shopping with a new offering called Posh Party Live. This allows real-time shopping events where sellers and shoppers get together and share items. 🥼 FIGS taps Lululemon exec for CFO. Sarah Oughtred spent almost 17 years at the activewear brand, where she helped scale the business from $270 million in revenue to about $10 billion. 📦 Canada's Competition Bureau has been given approval for a court order to compel Amazon to hand over documents related to a probe focused on "potentially false or misleading claims". 🫙 Tupperware is closing its US manufacturing plant in South Carolina and laying off 148 workers, per a WARN notice dated June 11. The layoffs are part of a multi-year strategy to simplify Tupperware’s supply chain. 🏭 The math is looking good for Walmart's automated warehouses. The company shared that an automated DC sees roughly twice the throughput with half the head count. 🎮 GameStop's annual shareholder meeting was cut short after high interest from shareholders led to a technical issue. The meeting will be reconvened at 12:30pm EDT on Monday. ☕️ The Supreme Court ruled Thursday to restrict the National Labor Relations Board’s authority to obtain relief for fired union activists, in a win for Starbucks that could deal a blow to labor organizing efforts. 📺 Albertsons Media Collective retail media network is debuting Collective TV, a solution that enables participating advertisers to target, measure and optimize campaigns across streaming, digital video, and soon, linear TV. 📉 US wholesale prices fell in May for the second time in three months — thanks partly to lower gas prices — in perhaps another sign an upturn in inflation earlier this year is fading. #retail #retailnews #economy #DailyRetailNews

41

2 Comments

A small 1.3% rise in sales at US jewelers in April. The increase in revenue was fully spurred by a 2.5% increase in the average consumer expenditure per unit purchased. A few of the figures: Natural diamond jewelry sales rose 1%, Prices of LGD-set DERs declined, Loose LGD was 57% of loose diamond sales, but just 25% of revenue. Here is an issue: LG prices are down, but gross margins and unit sales are up. What does it impact gross profits? Our team took a look at that and have some findings. https://lnkd.in/d2i8fHUv

1

𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬? Earth-mined rough diamond prices have plummeted 26% in recent years, with first-quarter sales dropping 23%. The rise in Polish diamond stock to $20 billion indicates a supply-demand mismatch. This reflects a broader trend of declining demand and shifting consumer preferences, challenging the long-held belief in the resilience of "natural stones" This surge in inventory highlights a mismatch between supply and demand, intensifying challenges for miners and traders. Lab grown diamonds offer a compelling value proposition while aligning with broader societal trends towards sustainability and conscious consumerism. The diamond industry stands at crossroads, necessitating a reevaluation. The evolving landscape requires an approach of innovation, sustainability, and marketing by both categories jointly. #labgrowndiamonds #diamonds #sustainibility Financial Times Alan Livsey, CFA #mining #miners

46

4 Comments

The synthetic diamond market continues its decline in consumer demand (especially in bridal, see Signet Jewelers recent shareholder statement) and potential cash flow issues for wholesale buyers who get caught on the slopes. As the production of synthetic diamonds increases, the old Wall Street axiom of ‘don’t try to catch a falling knife’ rings true. Where do you think the market will bottom out? Also, calling all Cocoa millionaires, where you at?! 📸: Edahn Golan #syntheticdiamonds #marketdecline #cashflowissues #cocoamillionaires

22

11 Comments

A 1.22 carat F color VVS1 clarity marquise Nat.Diamond engagement ring with FG/VS-Si Nat.Diamonds on the shank sounds exquisite. Here's a breakdown of the features: 1. Center Diamond: - Carat Weight: 1.22 carats - Shape: Marquise - Color: F (nearly colorless, high quality) - Clarity: VVS1 (Very, Very Slight Inclusions 1, meaning inclusions are extremely difficult to see under 10x magnification) - Certification: HRD (Hoge Raad voor Diamant, a respected European gemological institute) & GD Diamond Report 2. Setting: - Diamonds on the Shank: Smaller diamonds FG/VS-Si, ex make set into the band of the ring, enhancing its overall sparkle and elegance. The marquise cut is an elongated shape with pointed ends, known for making the fingers appear longer and more slender. An F color and VVS1 clarity ensure the diamond is of high quality, with excellent brilliance and minimal inclusions. If you have more specific questions about this ring or need advice on purchasing, feel free to ask!

2

1 Comment