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.
SurveysFeb 23, 2016
No. of US Jewelers Closing Climbs 24%
The latest statistics from the Jewelers Board of Trade show that in the United States, 760 retail jewelers/repairers ceased operations in 2015, up from 612 in 2014.
Warwick, R.I.--The Jewelers Board of Trade’s final statistics for 2015 show that the size of the industry is continuing to shrink slightly, with those who have decided it’s time to exit simply ceasing operations rather than filing bankruptcy or seeking out a sale or merger.
According to JBT data, 760 retail jewelers/repairers in the United States ceased operations in 2015, up from 612 in 2014.
The total number of U.S. jewelry businesses (counting retailers as well as wholesalers and manufacturers) that ceased operations was up 21 percent, from 770 in 2014 to 929 in 2015. Including Canada, the increase was 20 percent.
While there are a number of factors contributing to this continuing trend, JBT President Dione Kenyon said the main one is succession.
Many business owners are reaching retirement age and don’t have children who are interested in continuing the family business.
RELATED CONTENT: Demographic drop-off
They also might be unable, or unwilling at this point in their career, to change their business model to adapt to the demands of retail today.
“If you’re not up for the game of reinventing yourself, you might also be making that same decision,” Kenyon said. “I don’t think there’s anything mysterious about it.”
While the number of businesses ceasing operations continues to climb, bankruptcies remain relatively low and the number of consolidations (sales/mergers) continues to decline.
A total of 39 companies filed for bankruptcy in the United States in 2015, up from 33 in 2014, the JBT data shows. Including Canada, bankruptcies totaled 40, compared with 39 in the prior year.
Sales and mergers totaled 114 in the U.S. in 2015, down 33 percent from 170 in 2014. Including Canada, those figures were 118 and 173.
“If you’re not up for the game of reinventing yourself, you might also be making (the) decision (to close your store). I don’t think there’s anything mysterious about it.”While business discontinuances continued to rise in 2015, it’s not all bad news.
--Dione Kenyon, Jewelers Board of Trade
Kenyon said that credit inquiries, which she considers to be a viable proxy to indicate the level of business activity in the trade, are up year-over-year in February. She also noted that the U.S. hasn’t had terrible winter weather like it did last year--weather that forced some jewelers to close for almost all of February.
In addition, the number of new businesses entering the industry in the U.S. grew 11 percent year-over-year.
There
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
were 227 new retailers, 41 wholesalers and 21 manufacturers totaling 289 new businesses, compared with 261 in 2014.
The highest concentration of new retailers opened in the Southeast part of the country (71), followed by the South Central (48) and Southwest (35), while the Northeast had the fewest amount of new retailers at seven.
Including Canada, new jewelry business listings totaled 292 in 2015, compared with 265 in 2014.
All told, JBT finished 2015 with 29,352 listings in in the U.S. and Canada, down 3 percent year-over-year.
“You can (look at) the gloomy side of this--the industry is getting smaller--(but) it is getting better for those who can figure out the new things to do,” Kenyon said.
As previously announced, Kenyon plans to retire this year after 14 years as president of the JBT and a total of 25 with the organization. Her successor will be named in the next month.
The highest concentration of new retailers opened in the Southeast part of the country (71), followed by the South Central (48) and Southwest (35), while the Northeast had the fewest amount of new retailers at seven.
Including Canada, new jewelry business listings totaled 292 in 2015, compared with 265 in 2014.
All told, JBT finished 2015 with 29,352 listings in in the U.S. and Canada, down 3 percent year-over-year.
“You can (look at) the gloomy side of this--the industry is getting smaller--(but) it is getting better for those who can figure out the new things to do,” Kenyon said.
As previously announced, Kenyon plans to retire this year after 14 years as president of the JBT and a total of 25 with the organization. Her successor will be named in the next month.
More on Surveys
The Latest
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.
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.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner Collab on Bridal Earrings GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with Jenner’s 818 Tequila brand to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
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.
Brought to you by
Wedding Band Trends 2026: Personalization Takes Center StageColored gemstones, artisan finishes, mixed metals, and meaningful details are shaping demand in bridal jewelry.
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
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
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.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
MajorsAug 11, 2026
Signet Jewelers Selects Mattel Exec to Lead Zales, BanterJamie Cygielman will take on the role on Aug. 24.
IndependentsAug 11, 2026
Polly’s Fine Jewelry Co-Owner Richard Moore Dies at 69Moore, Polly’s husband, is remembered as a family man with an easygoing spirit and a love for sports and the outdoors.
ColumnistsAug 11, 2026
Creative Connecting: How to Sell Colored Gemstones to Gen ZDuvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams share the best ways to display, present, and explain colored gemstones to younger customers.
