International News
US Watch and jewelry sales remain steady in March, overall increase of 0.4 percent
US Watch and jewelry sales remained steady in March, with a slight overall increase of 0.4 per cent, according to the latest US Department of Commerce figures. Jewelry sales rose slightly, while
Watch and jewelry sales in the US remained steady in March, with a slight overall increase of 0.4 per cent, according to the latest US Department of Commerce figures. Jewelry sales rose slightly, while watch sales dipped, as consumers opted for higher-priced items, but bought fewer of them.
In February overall sales increased by just 0.2 per cent and in January they fell by 1.0 per cent
The US government’s BEA (Bureau of Economic Analysis) reported a 0.7 per cent increase in consumer spending in March, the biggest increase for two years, but said it was largely driven by a rush to buy cars before US reciprocal tariffs forced prices up.
Watch and jewelry sales have been characterized by very modest increases in recent months, following on from a year of sustained growth – 10 per cent or more in some months – as shown below.
Reciprocal US tariffs – announced in April, then paused until July – will almost certainly hit sales, as producers forced to either absorb the costs or pass them on to consumers.
International News
De Beers Group 2025 Sustainability Report : Highlights Progress Across Its “Building Forever” Sustainability Framework
The Report Details Key Performance Metrics and Strategic Achievements Spanning Climate Action, Biodiversity Conservation, Community Livelihoods, and Diamond Provenance.
De Beers Group has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, outlining measurable progress across its “Building Forever” sustainability framework. The report details key performance metrics and strategic achievements spanning climate action, biodiversity conservation, community livelihoods, and diamond provenance.
Accelerating Environmental Stewardship and Climate Action
De Beers reported a 14% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions since 2021, driven by ongoing operational efficiencies and renewable energy integration.
In biodiversity and nature conservation, the company continues to manage over 375,000 acres of land dedicated to wildlife protection across Southern Africa. Furthermore, through its Okavango Eternal partnership, De Beers supported the formal designation of Angola’s first Ramsar Wetland, expanding regional conservation impact across critical eco-systems.
Fostering Sustainable Livelihoods and Economic Development
Demonstrating its commitment to economic capacity building in host communities:
- Job Creation Multiplier: De Beers supported 2.6 offsite jobs for every onsite position created within its operations in 2025.
- Women’s Entrepreneurship: An additional 500 women completed training through the EntreprenHER program during the reporting period, bringing the total number of women entrepreneurs supported to over 3,900 since 2016.
- Socio-Economic Investment: The Group committed US$70 million to the Diamonds for Development Fund in Botswana to drive long-term economic diversification and local growth.
Advancing Industry Provenance and Best Practices
To ensure end-to-end supply chain transparency, De Beers expanded its proprietary Tracr™ platform, which has now registered more than five million individual rough diamonds directly from origin. Simultaneously, the company marked the 20th anniversary of its Best Practice Principles (BPP) program, reinforcing rigorous ethical, social, and environmental standards across the diamond value chain.
Future Strategic Priorities
Looking ahead, De Beers will focus on scaling renewable energy infrastructure to achieve further reductions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, expanding land areas protected for nature, and accelerating the adoption of Tracr™ across the broader diamond pipeline.
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