Model Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
US Gold Jewelry Demand Hits 10-Year High in H1
The second quarter also was the market’s 10th consecutive quarter of growth, the World Gold Council said.

London—Gold jewelry demand was up slightly in the second quarter, aided by the United States and Middle East while the June price increase curtailed demand elsewhere, the World Gold Council said.
According to its latest Gold Demand Trends report, the global appetite for gold jewelry reached 531.7 tons in Q2, a 2 percent year-over-year increase.
In the first half of the year, it totaled 1,061.9 tons, a four-year high and a 1 percent increase on last year’s 1,048.2 tons.
The U.S. recorded its 10th consecutive quarter of growth in gold jewelry demand in Q2, lifting first-half demand to a 10-year high of 53.4 tons.
The market recovered from the effect of the late 2018/early 2019 government shutdown, the World Gold Council said, and consumer confidence rose again in the first two months of the quarter before slipping in June as concerns grew over the country’s trade war with China.
In India, meanwhile, gold jewelry demand had its best quarter of year-over-year growth since Q2 2017. Demand was up 12 percent to 168.6 tons, compared with 149.9 tons in the same period in 2018.
WGC attributed the growth to two factors: a higher number of auspicious wedding days when compared with Q2 2018 (37 versus 21) and local gold prices decreasing from the levels seen in February and March.
China’s gold jewelry market, meanwhile, saw its third consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline.
Demand in the second quarter dropped 4 percent to 137.8 tons, which, when combined with Q1’s relatively soft number, resulted in a 3 percent decline in H1 demand to 321.4 tons.
In other Asian markets, Q2 brought a mixed bag.
Relatively weak economic growth, political instability and stricter controls on high-value transactions contributed to jewelry demand in Thailand declining 12 percent to just 2.2 tons, its lowest for almost six years.
Meanwhile, despite a sharp rise in gold price, consumers in Indonesia bought 11.8 tons of jewelry in the second quarter, its highest quarterly rate since Q1 2015.
Europe saw “marginal” losses in Q2, with demand declining to 14.3 tons.
Modest improvements in France and Germany failed to match losses in the U.K. and Italy as Brexit concerns in the former and a slumping consumer confidence in the latter dragged the markets down.
Middle Eastern demand grew “fractionally,” with several markets across the region improving. Egypt led the region with an 8 percent uptick, its sixth consecutive quarter of
Overall demand for gold, for jewelry as well as other uses, totaled 1,123 tons in the second quarter, an 8 percent increase year-over-year.
Demand in the first half jumped to a three-year high of 2,181.7 tons, according to the World Gold Council, due largely to record-breaking central bank purchases.
Global mine production grew 2 percent year-over-year in Q2, reaching 882.6 tons. This is a record level of global output for a second quarter, WGC said, and follows a Q1 record of 847.5 tons.
Total H1 mine production now stands at 1,730.2 tons, 1 percent higher than the prior-year period.
Recycled gold supply totaled 314.6 tons in Q2, a 9 percent year-over-year increase; higher gold prices encouraged a “wave of selling,” according to the WGC.
In H1, recycled gold totaled 602 tons, 7 percent higher than the same period in 2018 and the highest first half since 2016.
The Latest

The board elected 9 new directors at its recent ICA Congress in Brazil.

Three winners will receive a custom ring from Honest Hands Ring Co. inlaid with a piece of history from Denver-based distillery Stranahan’s.

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

JD Sports and Wawa were among the fastest-growing retail companies in the U.S. last year.


The new inventory, all untreated, features vibrant hues and unique bicolor combinations.

Acquired by a tech investor, the historic brand will continue to focus on jewelry, accessories, and timepieces.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the pause on higher tariffs to November as negotiations with China continue.

The “Thunderbird Slab” collection features a thunderbird motif as a symbol of power, protection, and boundless possibility.

Columnists Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen share tips on how to elevate your professional image.

Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

The retailer, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, is becoming part of the Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group with Helzberg.

The Continental Buying Group’s 2025 Tampa Experience Show is slated for Sept. 8-10.

Associate Editor Lauren McLemore recently attended a fabrics trade show where a trend forecaster shared her predictions for summer 2027.

The company raised its full-year sales guidance while noting it has not yet assessed the potential impact of the latest tariff news.

The organization has raised more than $1.3 million for charity since its inception.

The brand’s latest iteration of a bezel-set diamond bangle features clean lines and a timeless design for a new modern silhouette.

The first watch in the series commemorates his participation in the Civil Rights movement, marching from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

The catalog contains a complete listing of all the loose gemstones in stock, as well as information about the properties of each stone.

The company added a retailer dashboard to its site and three new birds to its charm collection, the cardinal, blue jay, and hummingbird.

An additional 25 percent tariff has been added to the previously announced 25 percent.

Its Springfield, Massachusetts, store is set to close as owner Andrew Smith heads into retirement.

Designer Hiba Husayni looked to the whale’s melon shaped-head, blowhole, and fluke for her new chunky gold offerings.

She will present the 23rd edition of the trend forecasting book at Vicenzaoro on Sept. 7.

Omar Roy, 72, was arrested in connection with the murder of jeweler Dionisio Carlos Valladares.

The New Orleans-based brand’s “Beyond Katrina” jewels honor the communities affected by the storm.