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
Gemfields Reports Updated G-Factor Metrics, Highlights Government Revenue Contributions
10-year Data Underscores Fiscal Impact From Kagem and Montepuez Operations Amid Evolving Market Conditions
Gemfields has released its latest G-Factor for Natural Resources figures, offering an updated view of how its mining operations contribute to host government revenues. The data, announced on April 9, 2026 in London, covers the period up to December 31, 2025.
Over the 2016–2025 period, the company reported a G-Factor of 17% for its Kagem emerald mine in Zambia and 26% for Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique. The G-Factor measures the share of revenue paid to governments through channels such as royalties, taxes, dividends, and other levies, offering a transparent benchmark of economic contribution.
Looking specifically at 2025, Montepuez Ruby Mining recorded a G-Factor of 23%, contributing $11.3 million to the Government of Mozambique on revenues of $49.9 million. Meanwhile, Kagem posted a lower 6% G-Factor, with $4.9 million paid to the Zambian government against revenues of $84.1 million.


The dip at Kagem was linked to operational disruptions, including a temporary suspension of mining between January and April 2025, as well as the impact of a 15% export tax on precious gemstones, which was later lifted in March 2025.
CEO Sean Gilbertson noted that the figures reflect varying operating and market conditions. While Montepuez saw lower premium ruby output, alongside a delayed auction and challenges such as illegal mining, its overall contribution ratio remained relatively stable.
Introduced in 2021, the G-Factor serves as a transparency tool for the natural resources sector, helping stakeholders assess how effectively resource extraction translates into public revenue.
Gemfields expects Kagem’s performance to move back toward its long-term average of around 18% as operations normalise and market dynamics improve. The company continues to advocate for wider industry adoption of the metric to enhance accountability and comparability across the sector.
The G-Factor for Natural Resources is expressed as a percentage and is calculated as:
Ap + Bp + Cp + Dp
—————————————
Ep
where:
· A = the total mineral royalty (tax on revenue) paid by the reporting company to the host
country government during the period
· B = the total corporation tax (tax on profit) paid by the reporting company to the host
country government during the period
· C = the dividends paid by the reporting company to the host country government during
the period (where the host country government is a shareholder in the reporting company)
· D = the total export taxes or export levies paid by the reporting company to the host
country government during the period
· E = the total revenues of the reporting company during the period
· p = the relevant period, typically calculated for each of (i) the prior year; (ii) the preceding
5 years and (iii) the preceding 10 years
· The sums actually paid during the period (rather than the sums accrued or falling due during
the period) are used for A, B, C, and D.
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