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Valentine’s Day jewelry spending  in US to hit new high – NRF

Show featured 350+exhibitors across 800 stalls; 15000+ visitors attended the show

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US shoppers will buy $6.5 billion worth of jewelry for Valentine’s Day, setting a new record for the segment, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). That will make it the biggest category for consumer spending by value, ahead of an evening out, flowers, candy and greeting cards, the NRF said Thursday. That figure is 2% higher than the $6.4 million consumers were set to spend on jewelry for the holiday a year ago.

More than a third of consumers plan to shop online for gifts leading up to Valentine’s Day, the top destination, according to new data from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.The survey asked 8,020 adult consumers in the first week of January about their Valentine’s Day shopping plans, the authors said. They found that consumers plan to spend an average of $188.81 on the holiday. That’s up slightly from $185.81 in 2024, the NRF noted.

Overall outlay on gifts for loved ones will come to $27.5 billion, the NRF forecast — up 7% from the $25.8 billion estimate it released before Valentine’s Day last year, and the highest figure since the NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics began conducting their annual survey in 2004. The last record for spending was in 2020.

More than half of US consumers said they would celebrate the holiday in 2025, the NRF noted. Of those looking to spend, the average consumer will lay out $189, up 2% from last year and on par with 2020’s pre-pandemic level. The rise is the result of increased spending on significant others, which will reach a record $14.6 billion, up 3% year on year. Total outlay on gifts for family members is set to grow 7% to $4.3 billion. 

Popular choices for gift givers included candy, which 56% of respondents chose, while flowers and greeting cards each attracted a 40% share. More than a third said they would spend on an evening out, while some 22% opted for jewelry as their number-one purchase for a loved one. The survey found that 38% of all shoppers were set to make their purchases online, while 34% aimed to buy from department stores, 29% from discount shops, and 18% at both florists and specialty shops.

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International News

Gold vs. Bitcoin – The Defining Investment Debate

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The ongoing debate between gold and Bitcoin has become central for investors navigating today’s uncertain markets. Gold, long regarded as a safe-haven asset, is being challenged by Bitcoin, whose rapid ascent and digital nature offer high-growth potential. As both assets reach new price milestones-gold surging to record highs and Bitcoin attracting institutional capital-the choice between them is increasingly consequential

Accessibility and Storage:
Gold’s physical form (coins, bars, jewelry) provides tangible security but comes with challenges: purity checks, storage costs, and liquidity issues. Selling physical gold may involve discounts and finding buyers, which can restrict quick access to funds. Bitcoin, by contrast, offers 24/7 global access via digital exchanges, with no need for physical storage. However, the responsibility of securing private keys and navigating digital wallets can be daunting for newcomers, introducing its own risks

Competitive Dynamics:
Gold’s appeal lies in its stability and long history as a store of value, especially during inflation and geopolitical crises. It has delivered steady, moderate returns and is supported by central bank demand. Bitcoin, while far more volatile, has demonstrated exponential returns in recent years and is increasingly viewed as a hedge against monetary instability. Its digital, decentralized nature and capped supply have attracted both retail and institutional investors. Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Dogecoin, and XRP add diversity but also complexity to the crypto landscape

Investment Prospects:
Gold continues to serve as a conservative, inflation-resistant asset, especially favored during economic stress. Bitcoin, though highly volatile, offers outsized growth potential and is gaining legitimacy through institutional adoption and regulatory clarity. A diversified approach-combining gold’s stability with Bitcoin’s growth-can balance risk and reward in a modern portfolio.

Long-Term Value:
Gold’s enduring role as a wealth preserver contrasts with Bitcoin’s speculative, high-reward profile. Gold is trusted for crisis resilience; Bitcoin is favored for its upside and innovation. Ultimately, the gold vs. Bitcoin decision hinges on an investor’s risk appetite and financial objectives: gold for stability, Bitcoin for growth126.

Conclusion:
The gold or Bitcoin debate is a choice between tradition and innovation. Gold offers physical dependability and historical security; Bitcoin provides digital accessibility and the potential for exponential gains. Many investors now opt for both, leveraging gold’s stability alongside Bitcoin’s growth to navigate an evolving financial landscape

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International News

Must -see  collections at JCK Las Vegas 2025

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One reason JCK Las Vegas remains such an important hub for the international fine jewelry trade is because the show offers a truly diverse range of products, from loose diamonds and gems to tech equipment and supplies. These collections highlighted below offer a taste of JCK’s variety:Haute Couture Brooch Collection by Smiling Rocks, Smiling Rocks guitar brooch and  The Periklista Collection by Kouzoupis.

Haute Couture Floral Guitar brooch in 14k yellow gold with 0.98 ct. t.w. lab-grown diamonds and enamel,; Smiling Rocks. Haute Couture Hummingbird brooch in 14k white gold with 4.6 cts. t.w. multicolored lab-grown diamonds. Kouzoupis, a Turkish exhibitor in the Design Collective, is introducing the Periklista collection, which is named for the ancient Greek enamel technique that lends the pieces both their color and style. In Kouzoupis’ version, the ancient technique is made modern by the addition of bright colors and motifs, such as snakes, that capture the 2025 zeitgeist.

Like the European cloisonne method, the Periklista technique involves creating small partitions made of thin metal wires or strips on a metal surface, usually made of gold, and filling them with enamel, stones, or glass. Pioneered during the Mycenaean period (16th–12th century B.C.), Periklista enamel jewels were found in the royal tombs at Mycenae. Refined in subsequent centuries by Greek goldsmiths, the technique later influenced Roman and Byzantine art.

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International News

Kagem to recommence focused open-pit mining

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Gemfields is pleased to announce that Kagem Mining Limited (‘Kagem’), the emerald mine in Zambia which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% owned by the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (‘IDC’), will shortly recommence a programme of focused open-pit mining to recover more premium emeralds.

As announced on 23 December 2024, alongside other cost cutting measures, Kagem suspended all mining from 1 January 2025 to focus on processing ore from Kagem’s significant ore stockpile utilising the upgraded processing plant.

Emerald production from the processing plant in 2025 so far, in terms of carats recovered, has been in-line with the Company’s expectations, producing a lower proportion of higher-quality or premium emeralds than direct open-pit mining methods.

Kagem’s recent auction results, including the encouraging commercial-quality auction results released on 30 April 2025, has increased management confidence in the current emerald market and the decision has therefore been taken to recommence mining of two key production points in the Chama pit, with minimal waste mining, to recover premium emeralds for Kagem’s future higher-quality auctions. The decision to recommence full scale mining will continue to be assessed as market conditions develop.

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