International News
Birks Group Sees Revenue Jump After European Boutique Acquisition
New brand integration boosts sales by 16% as stronger jewelry and watch demand narrows the retailer’s losses.
Birks Group reported a solid rise in revenue for the first half of its fiscal year, buoyed by its recent acquisition of Canadian diamond jeweler European Boutique. The retailer posted CAD 93.1 million ($67.4 million) in sales for the six months ending September 27, marking a 16% year-on-year increase. Comparable-store sales — covering locations open for at least a year — climbed 6% from the same period in 2024.
The company credited much of the growth to the CAD 9 million ($6.6 million) purchase of European Boutique in July, which expanded its luxury jewelry portfolio. Higher sales of Birks-branded pieces, third-party jewelry, and premium timepieces also contributed to the uplift, supported by increases in both transaction volume and average spend.
Despite posting a net loss of CAD 2.6 million ($1.9 million) for the period, Birks improved on the CAD 3.1 million ($2.2 million) loss recorded a year earlier.
International News
AGTA appeals US Government to Scrap 10% Import Tariff on Gemstones
Trade body seeks exemption for coloured gemstones under new temporary tariff regime, with potential implications for diamonds.
The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has formally appealed to the US government to remove the newly imposed 10% global import tariff on gemstones, and potentially diamonds, warning of its impact on the trade.
The tariff was announced on February 20 after the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In response, the administration introduced a temporary 10% import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. The measure will remain in effect for 150 days unless Congress votes to extend it, though further tariff mechanisms have not been ruled out.
AGTA has submitted a formal request to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), urging that precious and semiprecious coloured gemstones be added to the exception list under Annex I or Annex II. The association argued that these stones are not mined domestically in the US and therefore should qualify for exemption.
Previously, AGTA’s lobbying efforts contributed to diamonds and gemstones being included in Annex III — a list of products eligible for potential exemption from duties for “aligned” countries. This had placed Indian diamonds and gemstones on track for relief following a prospective US-India trade agreement. However, it remains unclear whether Annex III provisions apply under the new tariff framework that recently took effect.
If the across-the-board exemption request is denied, AGTA has asked the USTR to confirm whether Annex III remains a viable pathway for country-specific tariff relief on coloured gemstones.
While the current petition focuses on coloured gemstones, AGTA noted that trade experts believe any exemption granted in this category could effectively extend to diamonds, as seen in past trade agreements such as the US–European Union deal.
“We will continue to work tirelessly toward eliminating tariffs on gemstone imports into the US. We remain fully committed to this effort — giving up is not an option,” said AGTA President Bruce Bridges and CEO John Ford.
-
National News4 days agoIIBS-11: Navigating the ‘New Gold Rush’ in a fragmenting global economy
-
International News4 days agoOroarezzo 2026, with Italian Exhibition Group, Manufacturing Explores New Markets
-
International News4 days agoGemfields nets $53m in Bangkok ruby auction
-
New Premises4 days agoLimelight Diamonds Unveils Exclusive Visakhapatnam Store in the Presence of Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu
JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.