Raised in an orphanage, Bailey was 18 when she met her husband, Clyde. They opened their North Carolina jewelry store in 1948.
Tiffany & Co. Q4 Comps Down 2% in Americas
Total sales in the region also were down 3 percent as spending in the U.S. remains soft.

New York--Tiffany and Co. reported Friday that comps and sales were both down in the Americas in its fiscal fourth quarter as spending in the U.S. remained soft.
In the Americas region, comps were down 2 percent and total sales were down 3 percent to $587 million in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31. For the full year, comps were down 6 percent while net sales declined 5 percent to $1.8 billion in the full year.
The company said it saw softness across the U.S. last year and attributed the decline to lower spending by U.S. customers and foreign tourists.
Tiffany & Co. also continued to report on the impact of post-election activities to traffic to its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York, reporting that sales were down 7 percent in the fourth quarter there. This is an improvement on the 14 percent decrease for the location in the November-December period alone, though management attributed this improvement to some large transactions at the store in January.
Meanwhile, sales at the flagship were down 11 percent in the full year.
Globally, comps for the company were flat in the fourth quarter while net sales increased 1 percent to $1.2 billion. For the full-year, worldwide same-store sales were down 5 percent and net sales declined 3 percent to $4 billion.
In its earnings conference call Friday morning, Mike Kowalski, who took the position as interim CEO last month after Frederic Cumenal stepped down from the position, called the jeweler’s sales results “disappointing.”
To help it get back to growth and positive results, the company said it intends to accelerate the pace of new product development and innovation going forward, with which they believe newly appointed Chief Artistic Officer Reed Krakoff will be able to help.
Lately, it has been seeing success with its fashion jewelry category, which is attributed in part to higher gold jewelry sales and the success of the T collection.
Tiffany also noted growth in its silver jewelry category, with sales “approaching stabilization” after years of decline, executives reported on the call, as well as an increased performance in the under-$500 category, on which Tiffany will continue to focus in the future.
The softest categories were high, fine and solitaire jewelry--though the company reports it is doing well with the Victoria platinum and diamond collection--as spending remains light at the high end of the category.
In
In Asia-Pacific, meanwhile, comps were down 2 percent in the three-month period and 9 percent in the 12-month period, while total sales of $284 million in the fourth quarter were 9 percent above the prior-year period and total sales of $1 billion in the full year were about flat.
In Japan, same-store sales increased 19 percent in the quarter and 16 percent in the full year, while total sales in the fourth period were up 15 percent to $185 million and net sales in the full year rose 12 percent to $604 million.
Tiffany opened 11 company-operated stores during the full year and closed five locations, which, when combined with the relocation of five stores, resulted in a net increase in gross retail square footage of approximately 3 percent for the retailer.
As of Jan. 31, Tiffany & Co. operated 313 stores: 125 in the Americas, 85 in Asia-Pacific, 55 in Japan, 43 in Europe and five in the UAE. This is compared with 307 stores a year ago: 124 in the Americas, 81 in Asia-Pacific, 56 in Japan, 41 in Europe and five in the UAE.
The Latest

Smith encourages salespeople to ask customers questions that elicit the release of oxytocin, the brain’s “feel-good” chemical.

Material Good is celebrating its 10th anniversary as it opens its new store in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston.

Launched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.

The show will be held March 26-30 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.


The estate of the model, philanthropist, and ex-wife of Johnny Carson has signed statement jewels up for sale at John Moran Auctioneers.

Are arm bands poised to make a comeback? Has red-carpet jewelry become boring? Find out on the second episode of the “My Next Question” podcast.

Criminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.

It will lead distribution in North America for Graziella Braccialini's new gold pieces, which it said are 50 percent lighter.

The organization is seeking a new executive director to lead it into its next phase of strategic growth and industry influence.

The nonprofit will present a live, two-hour introductory course on building confidence when selling colored gemstones.

Western wear continues to trend in the Year of the Fire Horse and along with it, horse and horseshoe motifs in jewelry.
![A peridot [left] and sapphires from Tanzania from Anza Gems, a wholesaler that partners with artisanal mining communities in East Africa Anza gems](https://uploads.nationaljeweler.com/uploads/cdd3962e9427ff45f69b31e06baf830d.jpg)
Although the market is robust, tariffs and precious metal prices are impacting the industry, Stuart Robertson and Brecken Branstrator said.

Rossman, who advised GIA for more than 50 years, is remembered for his passion and dedication to the field of gemology.

Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted just as the Tucson gem shows were starting.

Butterfield Jewelers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is preparing to close as members of the Butterfield family head into retirement.

Paul Morelli’s “Rosebud” necklace, our Piece of the Week, uses 18-karat rose, green, and white gold to turn the symbol of love into jewelry.

The nonprofit has welcomed four new grantees for 2026.

Parent company Saks Global is also closing nearly all Saks Off 5th locations, a Neiman Marcus store, and 14 personal styling suites.

It is believed the 24-karat heart-shaped enameled pendant was made for an event marking the betrothal of Princess Mary in 1518.

The AGTA Spectrum and Cutting Edge “Buyer’s Choice” award winners were announced at the Spectrum Awards Gala last week.

The “Kering Generation Award x Jewelry” returns for its second year with “Second Chance, First Choice” as its theme.

Sourced by For Future Reference Vintage, the yellow gold ring has a round center stone surrounded by step-cut sapphires.

The clothing and accessories chain announced last month it would be closing all of its stores.

The “Zales x Sweethearts” collection features three mystery heart charms engraved with classic sayings seen on the Valentine’s Day candies.

The event will include panel discussions, hands-on demonstrations of new digital manufacturing tools, and a jewelry design contest.

Registration is now open for The Jewelry Symposium, set to take place in Detroit from May 16-19.






















