Jewelry Was the Strongest Performer in Richemont’s Q3
Buccellati, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels propelled the luxury titan to its highest quarterly sales total ever.

For the third quarter ended Dec. 31, Richemont posted sales of €5.59 billion ($6.09 billion), a 4 percent year-over-year increase at actual exchange rates.
The results marked the company’s highest quarterly sales total ever, Richemont Chief Financial Officer Burkhart Grund said on an earnings call last week.
For the nine-month period, sales were up 5 percent at actual exchange rates to €15.81 billion ($17.22 billion).
The luxury titan said it performed well in the third quarter in spite of a “continued uncertain macroeconomic and geopolitical environment.”
Sales in all regions, except Europe, increased at actual exchange rates compared with the prior period, led by Asia-Pacific and Japan, with sales up 8 percent in both regions.
In the Americas, Richemont’s second largest market by revenue percentage as of Q3, sales were up 3 percent at actual exchange rates.
Looking at its distribution channels, retail sales were up 6 percent year-over-year.
Online sales slipped 9 percent though the jewelry brands were relatively resilient with “notable growth” in online sales for Buccellati, said Grund.
Wholesale sales and royalty income were flat, with Richemont noting that, “growth at the jewelry maisons more than offset softness in the two other business areas.”
Richemont’s jewelry brands, Buccellati, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels, saw sales increase 6 percent year-over-year.
The brands “generated the strongest sales increase, underpinned by solid jewelry and watch sales,” said Richemont, with jewelry sales up by double digits in most regions, particularly Asia-Pacific and Japan.
Store openings bolstered sales, including a new Buccellati store in Hangzhou, China; a Van Cleef & Arpels in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and the new Cartier store in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.
Cartier’s “Trinity” and “Grain de Café” performed well as did “Fauna” by Van Cleef & Arpels, and Buccellati’s “Opera Tulle” and “Ramage.”
Richemont’s watch brands are: A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, and Vacheron Constantin.
Sales of these brands slipped 1 percent in the third quarter, but saw double-digit growth in the retail channel, offsetting lower wholesale and online sales.
In particular, A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Vacheron Constantin had strong retail performances, offsetting a double-digit decline in wholesale sales.
“Overall, the quarter was driven by double-digit growth at Vacheron Constantin and A. Lange & Söhne,” said Grund.
There were new store openings for Richemont’s watch brands as well, including Vacheron Constantin in Munich, “Casa Panerai” in Milan, and the first directly owned store for A. Lange & Söhne in Paris on Rue de la Paix.
Richemont also addressed the status of its online fashion retailer Yoox Net-A-Porter (YNAP) after scrapping plans to sell part of YNAP to luxury e-tailer Farfetch in December.
“Having parted ways with Farfetch free of any financial commitments, our maisons and YNAP continue to operate on their own platforms and technology, while we are reviewing the strategic options aimed at finding a new controlling shareholder for YNAP that can best harness its strengths and potential.
“YNAP thus remains an ‘asset held for sale’,” said Grund.
Richemont did not provide guidance for the fourth quarter or full year.
The Latest

From a Betta fish brooch to a “dragon’s trove” of zircon eggs, here are seven pieces that’ve stuck with Associate Editor Lauren McLemore.

Groundbreaking New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland wore the earrings, our Piece of the Week, when she declared victory on Tuesday.

Jost goes on an epic journey, traversing rough seas and encountering a cyclops, to discover the perfect holiday gift.

With customization becoming more expected in engagement ring shopping, the Bridal Builder makes the process tangible.

Sponsored by GCAL by Sarine


From shrinking budgets to AI elves, here are five takeaways from holiday reports by Bain, Adobe, Mastercard, NRF, and insights from YouGov.

The designers combined their talents for Little Pet Portraits, hand-painted miniatures of our best friends set in a piece of jewelry.

A Diamond Is Forever's holiday campaign reimagines natural diamond icons for a new generation celebrating individuality.

“Joy: The Swarovski Musical” features Ariana Grande as the leading lady in scenes inspired by classic musical montages.

The lab will bring back its complimentary next-day service for some reports starting next week.

A Pennsylvania woman failed to declare a ring and a bracelet, discarding the boxes and receipts to conceal the purchases, officials said.

The citywide celebration, slated for Nov. 16-22, is set to host more than 175 events, including live jewelry-making demos.

Lanessa Elrod, former president and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas, has stepped into the role as the retailer celebrates 125 years.

A replica of one of the most powerful objects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the glove is heading to auction next month in Abu Dhabi.

Klein, who had his own marketing agency and worked for Gabriel & Co. and Trans American Diamond, is remembered as a kind man.

To enter the giveaway, locals can purchase a featured beverage from one of eight participating restaurants in Houston and Austin, Texas.

The grant recipient will be awarded $50,000 as well as mentoring meetings with executives at David Yurman and other industry executives.

The winners include a non-NAJA member seeking training, a member beginning NAJA courses, and a member becoming a Certified Master Appraiser.

The rare jewel, which has links to Russia’s Romanov dynasty, is estimated to fetch up to $2 million.

It is one of several seizures of counterfeit jewelry and watches by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in Louisville this year.

Jewelers of America announced the additions to its board of directors following its annual general meeting, held last week.

The jewelry collection supports Yamaguchi’s Always Dream foundation, which provides reading and educational resources to families in need.

Spectrum’s “Best of Show” honors went to a 101-carat Paraiba carved to look like Medusa that has a magnet-activated LED light.

Our Halloween Pieces of the Week are four “Eye” pendants, each set with colorful gemstones.

Alexis Hoopes expanded eBay’s “Authenticity Guarantee” program during her tenure.

The Rolex-owned retailer’s new 4,700-square-foot store’s façade honors the Pacific Northwest’s evergreen forests.

Get into the Halloween spirit with this roundup of 13 spooky jewels.
























