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

“Human Being” highlights the similarities and differences between us through five sets of jewelry that celebrate fine craftsmanship.

Richemont will continue to provide operational services for the watch brand for a period while the group prepares to integrate it.

Nate Borgelt will lead the digital auction house and content platform’s new division as head of watches.

Colored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.

Enoch Platero, founder and designer behind Enoch Michael, is the first Native American jeweler to win the award.


AGS also announced the recipient of its “Women in Leadership” scholarship.

The founder of the billion-dollar jewelry and lifestyle brand will debut as a full-time “Shark” on the upcoming season of the show.

DCA is preparing the next generation of professionals by supporting workforce development, leadership growth, and career advancement.

Plus, why retailers should be ready to adjust as the U.S. population may decline this year for the first time since the Great Depression.

René Lalique’s “Woman Dragonfly With Open Wings” pendant, the first piece the museum acquired, was one of the jewels taken.

Arien Gessner and Moss Makhoulian have been elevated into newly created roles.

A podcast prompted Smith to share his views on where origin fits into the natural diamond story and the viability of branded diamonds.

The association selected eight recipients for the funding program, which is in its second year.

Whether celebrating America’s 250th birthday or the USA’s World Cup run, July birthstone jewelry can double as a patriotic accessory.

Around 20 pieces of jewelry were stolen from the museum dedicated to French jeweler and glassmaker René Lalique.

The “Summer of ’96” campaign and collection celebrate the year the brand was founded for its 30th anniversary.

After eight years, Gilbertson is leaving his post at the mining company, which is currently facing a slew of operational challenges.

The new location is set to open this winter, featuring the retailer’s first rotating jewelry designer residency.

The pop artist appears in the latest campaign for the “Laurence Graff Signature” collection.

One-of-a-kind pearls take the shape of ice cream cones, frogs, submarines, and other imaginative charms.

Charlotte Rose said her election is “a sign that this is an industry capable of change.”

Sponsored by Rio Grande Jewelry Supply

The American jewelry house, founded by Latvian immigrants, has been creating American flag brooches since 1917.

The artwork celebrates the Atlanta jeweler’s legacy and symbolizes its commitment to supporting local artists and its community.

Its team can evaluate jewelry and watches, as well as luxury handbags, artwork, and collectibles.

Falling oil prices were a factor in the slight month-over-month improvement.

The new offering comprises more than 120 bridal and engagement ring styles with natural and lab-grown diamonds.
























