He retired last month after 28 years traveling the world to source the very best gemstones for his family’s jewelry business, Oscar Heyman.
Tiffany Loses, Birks Gains in 2016 Holiday Season
While Birks Group turned in a strong performance, Tiffany’s Trump Tower woes brought down sales.

New York--Holiday retail results keep filtering in, and while Birks Group turned in a strong performance, Tiffany & Co.’s sales were affected by Trump Tower-caused foot traffic woes at its New York flagship.
In the two-month period ended Dec. 31, Tiffany reported that both same-store sales and total sales ($483 million) in the Americas were down 4 percent year-over-year.
The company attributed the decline to lower spending in the region overall being compounded by the 14 percent drop in sales at its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York due to post-election traffic disruptions, an issue the company also noted during its third quarter results.
Worldwide, the company saw comparable store sales decline 2 percent while net sales were basically flat at $966 million during the two-month period, with sales growth in Asia-Pacific and Japan offsetting the weaker performances in the Americas and Europe.
In the Asia-Pacific region, total sales were up 7 percent to $200 million and comps were down 4 percent, while in Japan sales rose 16 percent to $143 million and comps were up 21 percent on higher spending by local customers.
In Europe, total sales of $119 million were 10 percent below the prior-year period and comps declined 11 percent over 2015 as demand across the continent remained weak among both locals and foreign tourists.
Tiffany CEO Frederic Cumenal said that the holiday season results were “somewhat lower” than what they had expected.
He also noted that while Tiffany doesn’t expect 2016’s macroeconomic challenges to ease this year, it will continue to focus on enhancing the in-store experience for customers and adding to the product lineup.
Meanwhile, the Birks Group, which operates 46 luxury jewelry stores across Canada, Florida and Georgia, also released its holiday results.
The company said U.S. comps during the season (Oct. 30 to Dec. 31) increased by 16 percent while Canadian comps grew 3 percent on a constant-exchange-rate basis. The growth in both areas was due largely to the company’s growth in average sales transaction and conversation rates.
Overall same-store sales for the company increased 11 percent year-over-year on a consolidated constant- exchange-rate basis.
The company attributed its strong holiday season to a focus on Birks-branded products, marketing campaigns and the in-store customer experience.
The Latest

The charm necklace features six nautical charms of shells and coral that founder Christina Puchi collected on Florida’s beaches.

The organization elected its youngest vice president as it looks to draw in fresh talent.

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

Campbell joins the company as vice president of business development while Liebler is the new vice president of operations.


The medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the Games’ first time being hosted by two cities and the athletes’ journeys.

Sponsored by The INSTORE Jewelry Show 2025

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

Globally, travel and transportation brands reigned, while in the U.S., alcoholic beverage companies and a lingerie brand took the top spots.

The Brooklyn-based jewelry designer is remembered as a true artist and a rare talent.

Production at the mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories topped 1 million carats in Q2, the third consecutive quarter of growth.

A new slate of Learning Workshops will take place in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Georgia.

The middle class is changing its approach to buying jewelry and affordable luxury goods, the NRF said.

The reseller’s market trends report, based on its sales data, also shows exactly how much Rolex prices have jumped since 2010.

The auction house will be hosting a retrospective paying tribute to jeweler Jean Dinh Van and his company’s 60th anniversary.

Jake Duneier and Danielle Duneier-Goldberg have stepped into the roles of CEO and president, respectively.

The “Impermanence” collection contemplates nature through the Japanese art of Ikebana (flower arranging) and philosophy of wabi-sabi.

The Texas-based jewelry retailer has set up shop in Tennessee and Arizona.

Eric Ford will step into the role, bringing with him decades of experience.

In addition to improved capabilities, the acquisition will allow the jeweler to offer support to other independent jewelers.

The “Celestial Blue” capsule collection campaign features Olympian Kateryna Sadurska.

The seasonal store, located in Mykonos, Greece, offers exclusive events, personal styling, and curated experiences.

The New England jeweler is hosting a bridal event for the month of August.

The trade-only event will host its debut fair in the Emerald City later this month.

Its sessions will focus on inventory strategies, staff performance, retention and acquisition, emerging market trends, and more.

For its 10th anniversary, Miseno designed the “Arco” earrings based on the Arco Felice, an arch conceptualized in A.D. 95 in Miseno, Italy.

The jewelry company is one of several contributing to relief efforts in the region after the recent floods.