Richemont Chair Shoots Down Reports of Acquisition by LVMH
The company reported record sales, driven by desire for classic lines like Cartier “Panthère” and “Alhambra” from Van Cleef & Arpels.

The Geneva-based company reported Friday that sales for its fiscal year ended March 31 hit an all-time high of €19.95 billion ($21.82 billion), up 19 percent year-over-year (14 percent at constant exchange rates).
Operating profit rose 34 percent to €5.03 billion ($5.50 billion).
Following the company’s release of its full-year results, Chairman Johann Rupert publicly refuted a report that appeared in a Swiss newspaper in February that the company was an acquisition target for competitor LVMH.
According to The Financial Times, he said Richemont is not for sale. He said he speaks with LVMH Chairman Bernard Arnault regularly and the two companies, “respect each other’s independence.”
Rupert also said Richemont turned down a deal proposed by bankers to merge with Kering two years ago.
During the fiscal year, the company’s jewelry brands—Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Buccellati—posted 21 percent sales growth (16 percent at constant exchange rates).
Richemont said the brands’ “iconic” collections outperformed: “Opera Tulle” and “Macri” at Buccellati, “Trinity,” “Panthère” and “Santos” at Cartier, and “Alhambra,” “Perlée” and “Fauna” at Van Cleef & Arpels.
During the fiscal year, Richemont reopened the Cartier flagship boutiques on Fifth Avenue in New York and in Paris and opened a new Van Cleef & Arpels flagship store in San Francisco.
Sales for Richemont’s watch brands, which include Vacheron Constantin, IWC and Jaeger-LeCoultre, were up 13 percent (8 percent at constant exchange rates).
Like jewelry, it was sales of classic collections that drove watch sales, including “Riviera” for Baume & Mercier, pilot’s watches for IWC, “Reverso” for Jaeger-LeCoultre, and “Overseas” for Vacheron Constantin.
The company opened a new Jaeger-LeCoultre flagship stores in Beverly Hills, California, during the fiscal year.
Region-wise, Richemont’s sales in the Americas held up, growing 27 percent year-over-year against strong comps (89 percent sales growth) from the previous fiscal year.
The Americas is Richemont’s second-largest market.
Richemont said sales in the Americas slowed down in the second half of the year, partly due to the fact that Americans shopped overseas because of the strong U.S. dollar, while sales in its largest market, Asia Pacific, gained steam as the Chinese government relaxed COVID restrictions.
Channel-wise, Richemont saw growth in all distribution sectors, with sales in its company-owned stores rising 22 percent, online sales increasing 12 percent, and wholesale sales up 14 percent.
Looking ahead to the new fiscal year, Rupert said in the company’s full-year earnings release that he expects conditions to remain unsettled.
“Economic volatility and political uncertainty look set to remain features of the trading environment,” he said. “The group will therefore seek to maintain the necessary agility to manage fluctuating levels of demand.
“I am confident our maisons are well-positioned to meet strong demand, notably driven by a significant resumption of Chinese travel. Richemont is fortunate to own such a unique portfolio of maisons with excellent long-term prospects.”
The Latest

Moses, who started at GIA’s Santa Monica lab in 1976, will leave the Gemological Institute of America in May.

Increased competition, falling lab-grown diamond and moissanite prices, and the rising cost of gold took a toll on the moissanite maker.

The earrings, our Piece of the Week, feature pink tourmalines as planets orbiting around an aquamarine center set in 18-karat rose gold.

Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.

“The Price of Freedom” campaign video for International Women’s Day confronts the quiet violence of financial control.


Also, a federal judge has ordered that companies that paid tariffs implemented under the IEEPA are entitled to refunds.

The ever-growing collection, which just expanded with the addition of Olga of Kyiv, features cameos of 12 women from history.

With refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.

We asked a jewelry historian, designer, bridal director, and wedding expert what’s trending in engagement rings. Here’s what they said.

The annual event will be held in Orlando, Florida, from Sept. 14-17.

The “Outlander” star modeled for the digital cover of the magazine’s spring issue, which features a story on her relationship with jewelry.

This year’s annual congress, which will mark the confederation’s 100th anniversary, will take place this fall in Italy.

Beverly Hills was chosen as the location for the brand’s first store, designed as a “private residence for modern monarchs.”

Kering, Apple, and other retailers have reportedly temporarily closed stores in the Middle East region in light of the recent conflicts.

Beth Gerstein discusses the vibe of the new store, what customers want when fine jewelry shopping today, and the details of “Date Night.”

Nearly half of buyers are prioritizing silver and fashion collections this season, organizers said.

The “Live Now. Polish Later.” campaign features equestrians wearing the brand’s jewels while galloping across the icy plains of Kazakhstan.

The precious metals provider has promoted Jennifer Ashworth to the role.

Nelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on March 13.

Experts from India weigh in the politics, policies, and market dynamics for diamantaires to monitor in 2026 and beyond.

The American precious metals refiner’s day-to-day operations remain the same post-acquisition.

These aquamarine jewels channel the calming energy of the March birthstone.

The “Innovative Design” category and award will debut in the Spectrum division of this year’s AGTA Spectrum & Cutting Edge Awards.

Diamond jewelry was the star of the event formerly known as the SAG Awards.

Consumers were somewhat less worried about the future, though concerns about rising prices and politics remained.

Foerster is this year’s Stanley Schechter Award recipient.

Sponsorships and tickets to the annual fundraising event, set for May 31, are available now.
























