The industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
Bulgari, Hublot Sales Strong for LVMH
The luxury titan’s watches and jewelry segment took in $2.39 billion in revenue in the first half of the year, a 4 percent year-over-year increase.

Paris—LVMH reported double-digit revenue growth in its first-half results, boosted in part by a strong performance from its watches and jewelry division.
Revenue in the first half of the year totaled €25.08 billion ($27.95 billion), a 12 percent organic increase compared to the previous half-year.
Revenue for the second-quarter also increased by 12 percent year-over-year to €12.54 billion ($13.98 billion).
By region, the company reported strong growth in the United States, Asia and Europe, noting a rebound in France in the second quarter. Previously, economic protests weighed on sales in the region.
LMVH’s watches and jewelry segment raked in €2.14 billion ($2.39 billion) in revenue, a 4 percent increase year-over-year.
The company reported “rapid progress in jewelry, especially in directly operated stores” and noted that Asia and Japan were the “most buoyant” regions for the segment.
Bulgari was the star of the show in the jewelry division with iconic lines such as Serpenti and B.Zero1 performing particularly well, continuing the trend of previous quarters.
The brand recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its B.Zero1 line with an exhibition in Milan, introducing new versions of its rings and bracelets as part of a special series.
Chaumet’s “Bee My Love” collection was another standout, as well as its Liens and Joséphine lines.
In watches, Hublot saw solid growth driven by its Classic Fusion and Big Bang lines, LVMH said.
TAG Heuer continued its “repositioning,” focusing on its flagship lines and celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Monaco model with the launch of limited-edition watches.
The company has plans to increase the presence of its Zenith and Fred brands in China.
LVMH expects the segment to maintain its target of market share gains for the full year. Marketing investments will be “robust” with an emphasis on digital communications.
Outside of watches and jewelry, the luxury conglomerate reported growth across all divisions, which include wines and spirits, perfume and cosmetics, and selective retailing.
Its fashion and leather goods division saw the strongest growth, jumping 18 percent to €10.43 billion ($11.62 billion).
The Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior brands were top performers with brands like Loewe and Fendi also performing well.
The segment recently launched Fenty, a new fashion house created by singer Rihanna, whose Fenty Beauty line is also under LVMH’s umbrella in its perfumes and cosmetics section.
Looking to the year ahead, CEO Bernard Arnault said: “Despite buoyant demand, we will continue to manage costs and remain vigilant into the second half of the year.”
LVMH’s
The Latest

Founder Vik Westermann said the app is a “starting point” to inspire people to work with appraisers and gem labs, not replace them.

The Verdura brooch, which belonged to the late Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, was sold to a private collector in Asia.

Submit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.

The five students were awarded a total of $10,000 through the nonprofit’s 2026 “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarship.


Steven Lerche is now beginning his term as the youngest member to become president of The Plumb Club’s elected executive committee.

Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.

Retailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.

The jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.

The new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.

Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.

One is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.

In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.

9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.

The jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.

The exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.

Marquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.

The inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.

The family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.

Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.

The reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.

Sponsored by American Gem Trade Association

The 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.

Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.

The expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.

The lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.

The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.























