Events & AwardsAug 20, 2026
MJSA Education Foundation Names 5 Scholarship WinnersThe five students were awarded a total of $10,000 through the nonprofit’s 2026 “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarship.
FinancialsNov 25, 2013
Zale records 12th quarter of positive comps
Same-store sales grew in Zale Corp.’s fiscal first quarter, driven by strong sales at the company’s Zales- and Peoples-branded stores and of both bridal and core fashion jewelry.
Dallas--Same-store sales grew in Zale Corp.’s fiscal first quarter, driven by strong sales at the company’s Zales- and Peoples-branded stores and of both bridal and core fashion jewelry.
In the quarter, ended Oct. 31, same-store sales increased 4 percent (5 percent at constant exchange rates) year-over-year. Total sales grew 1 percent from $357.5 million to $362.6 million.
The company’s U.S. fine jewelry brands, Zales Jewelers, Zales Outlet and Gordon’s Jewelers, saw same-store sales increase 6 percent while comps at the company’s Canadian stores, Peoples Jewellers and Mappins Jewellers, were up 2 percent (7 percent at constant exchange rates).
Same-store sales for the Piercing Pagoda declined 2 percent, impacted by a drop-off in mall traffic (all same-store sales figures include associated e-commerce businesses).
Net loss was down slightly, from $28.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to $27.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014.
Gross margin was essentially flat at 53.4 percent, compared with 52.4 percent in the prior-year period.
Like Sterling and Tiffany, Zale reported that color was a strong seller during the quarter. During the company’s earnings call Tuesday evening, CEO Theo Killion said the retailer’s Candy Colored Diamonds and Gemstones collection has “resonated with our guests” and that the company is adding new hues for the holiday season.
In addition, Killion mentioned the Celebration Fire diamond, the stone that sparked a lawsuit with rival Sterling Jewelers Inc.
Sterling sued Zale in November 2012 claiming that the retailer’s statement that the Celebration Fire was “the most brilliant in the world” constituted false advertising. The two chains settled the lawsuit in September.
Though the terms of the settlement were never disclosed, Killion referenced the Celebration Fire only as having “extraordinary luminance” during the call, and the diamond’s superlative brilliance is not mentioned on the company’s website page for the Celebration Fire.
As the company’s launches it holiday marketing campaign, Killion said it is focusing on marketing to the millennial generation, nabbing musical acts such as The Black Keys, Various Cruelties, Lord Huron and Florence and the Machine to provide the soundtrack for its commercials. These are “artists you may never have heard of” but the millennials have, he told analysts on the call.
“The response to the music and the spots has been terrific,” Killion said.
He also mentioned Zale’s social media efforts, which include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. “We believe
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
the guest is playing the game differently so we have to provide them with new opportunities to interact with our brand,” he said.
Zale closed seven stores and five kiosks in the first quarter. Five of the seven stores closed were regional brand stores in malls where there already is a successful Peoples or Zales store, the company said, and it expects closures of regional brand and Piercing Pagoda kiosks to continue.
More on Financials
The Latest
PodcastsAug 19, 2026
Episode 8: Diamond Industry Update With David Bonaparte & Ronnie VanderLindenThe industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Mike Alexander To Succeed Scott Murphy as Jewelers Mutual CEO Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
Policies & IssuesAug 19, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Embraces Dupes With Trade-In ProgramThe jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Zales Wants You to Wear Fine Jewelry Every DayThe new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.
SourcingAug 19, 2026
Vasant Mehta, a Dedicated Diamond Industry Leader, Dies at 81Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner’s Tequila Brand Collab on GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
