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Kering Invests in China’s Gold Jewelry Surge as Laopu’s Explosive Growth Reshapes Market
Heritage-gold brands Borland and Lamchiu secure major funding amid soaring demand, fueled by Laopu’s meteoric rise and China’s booming 24-karat segment.
A wave of investor interest is sweeping through China’s gold jewelry sector as the rapid rise of Laopu Gold Co. galvanizes confidence in the country’s high-end heritage gold market. The latest beneficiary is Borland, a Hangzhou-based jeweler known for its traditional filigree craftsmanship, which this week announced more than 100 million yuan ($14 million) in new funding.
The investment round includes contributions from Kering Ventures, the startup arm of luxury group Kering SA, and Shunwei Capital, co-founded by Xiaomi chairman Lei Jun. Kering noted that its minority stake enables participation in the “rapid development of a particularly buoyant 24-karat gold jewelry segment,” reflecting growing appetite for culturally rooted premium gold pieces.
Meanwhile, Dayone Capital has made a separate investment exceeding 100 million yuan in Lamchiu, a Lanzhou-based maker of handcrafted bespoke gold jewelry. The firm will support Lamchiu in expanding distribution and reinforcing the brand’s supply-chain capabilities.
The surge of capital follows the remarkable ascent of Laopu, which has become one of China’s breakout jewelry success stories. The company reported 12.4 billion yuan in revenue in the first half of 2025 — a year-on-year increase of over 250%, building on 168% growth from the previous year. Laopu’s momentum has outpaced Western luxury houses struggling with softer China demand.
Heritage gold jewelry — deeply rooted in Chinese aesthetics and traditional techniques like filigree — is attracting a new generation of luxury consumers. Brands like Laopu, which operate in top-tier malls, increasingly compete with global maisons such as Hermès and Cartier for clientele.
Despite strong digital followings, newer brands still face distribution gaps. Borland operates only three mall stores, while Lamchiu, despite amassing more than 1 million followers on Douyin, runs just one physical outlet in Lanzhou. Both companies plan to use their fresh funding to accelerate expansion and strengthen operational infrastructure.
The latest investments signal rising confidence that China’s heritage-gold renaissance is evolving from a trend into a long-term luxury category shaping the future of the jewellery market.
Gold prices edged lower on Friday, dipping beneath the Rs.1.3 lakh mark on the MCX, even as silver staged a recovery after two straight sessions of losses. Market participants remained cautious ahead of the much-anticipated U.S. inflation print and next week’s Federal Reserve policy meeting.
Despite the softness in domestic futures, international gold prices held broadly steady in early Friday trade. Firm U.S. Treasury yields and a slightly stronger dollar continued to restrict any meaningful upside, leaving global sentiment subdued.
On the MCX, February 5, 2026 gold futures slipped Rs.216 (0.17%) to Rs.1,29,862 per 10 grams, while March 5, 2026 silver futures climbed Rs.1,170 (0.66%) to Rs.1,79,308 per kg, rebounding after a combined Rs.6,600 decline over the last two sessions.In the global market, spot gold eased 0.1% to $4,203.89 an ounce (0047 GMT), and U.S. gold futures dipped 0.2% to $4,233.60. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield remained near a two-week high, while the dollar index hovered around 99.02, close to recent lows.
Fresh U.S. data added to the market’s mixed signals. Initial jobless claims fell to 191,000, their lowest level in more than three years, sharply beating expectations. This contrasted with the ADP report, which showed a 32,000 drop in private payrolls — the steepest fall in over two and a half years.
A Reuters poll of more than 100 economists indicates growing confidence that the Federal Reserve may opt for a 25-basis-point rate cut at its December 9–10 meeting to support the cooling labour market. Investors are now awaiting the release of the delayed September PCE Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, for further clarity.
Lower interest rates typically boost demand for non-yielding assets like gold, making today’s data release particularly significant for bullion traders.
Kering Invests in China’s Gold Jewelry Surge as Laopu’s Explosive Growth Reshapes Market
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Gold edges lower, Silver stages a recovery as markets await crucial U.S. data
Gold edges lower, Silver stages a recovery as markets await crucial U.S. data
Kering Invests in China’s Gold Jewelry Surge as Laopu’s Explosive Growth Reshapes Market
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