International News
US jewellery, watches sales up by 4.4 per cent year-on-year
Sales of watches and jewelry in the US showed further signs of growth in December 2024, up 4.4 per cent year-on-year, according the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce. But there’s been a marked slowdown since the 10 per cent increases of last September and October.
November saw sales up by just 3.0 per cent, revised down from 5.8 per cent based on actual through-the-till transactions rather than estimates. October has been revised up from 9.7 per cent to 10.0 per cent.
The average monthly year-on-year growth for the full year is 5.4 per cent, so December was little below par. Having said that, it was the 15th consecutive month of growth after a long period (the end of 2022 and much of 2023) of falling sales.
International News
Sarine Posts $3.49 Mn H1Â Loss As LGDÂ Pressure Market
The Company Attributed The Latest Deficit Primarily To Higher Operating Expenses, Which Increased About 25% From A Year Earlier, Competition From Lab-Grown Diamonds and Weak Luxury Demand
Sarine Technologies Ltd. reported a net loss of $3.49 million for the first half of 2026, as competition from lab-grown diamonds and weak luxury demand in key markets continued to weigh on the diamond industry.
The Israel-based diamond-technology company said it expects market conditions to remain challenging, although anecdotal reports indicate that retail demand for natural diamonds has remained relatively stable.
Sarine’s loss for the six months ended June 30 compared with a $3.7 million loss in the second half of 2025 and a $166,000 loss in the first half of last year.
The company attributed the latest deficit primarily to higher operating expenses, which increased about 25% from a year earlier. Nearly half of that increase was linked to the impact of a weaker U.S. dollar against the Israeli shekel.
The natural-diamond polishing sector continued to face pressure from lab-grown diamonds, particularly in the U.S., while subdued luxury spending in China added to the strain. Sarine said those conditions hurt sales of capital equipment and some of its traditional services.
Some parts of the business, however, showed stronger momentum. Revenue from Sarine’s Most Valuable Plan, or MVP, more than doubled in the first half as diamond manufacturers increasingly adopted artificial-intelligence-driven planning tools to improve yields and reduce production costs.
Certification activity at GCAL, in which Sarine acquired a 70% stake in 2023, also increased more than 50%. The growth helped cushion weaker sales of capital equipment and lower volumes from the company’s Galaxy scanning business.
Revenue declined 6% year over year to $14.41 million, while the operating loss stood at about $2.2 million.
The results underscore the uneven impact of the diamond market’s structural shifts on technology providers. While traditional equipment and services remain exposed to pressure on natural-diamond manufacturing, demand for technologies that improve efficiency and reduce costs is gaining traction as manufacturers contend with tighter margins.
Sarine Posts $3.49 Mn H1Â Loss As LGDÂ Pressure Market
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Sarine Posts $3.49 Mn H1Â Loss As LGDÂ Pressure Market
This Raksha Bandhan, Turn A Timeless Bond Into A Keepsake With Palmonas
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National News13 hours agoGargi By P N Gadgil & Sons Unveils Rakhi Collection 2026: Over 1,000 Silver Designs, A Kids’ Character Range and 9kt Gold Gifting For Sisters
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International News13 hours agoSarine Posts $3.49 Mn H1Â Loss As LGDÂ Pressure Market
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