CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
SurveysMar 23, 2016
Pulse On: Succession Planning
In its Business Pulse survey for March, Jewelers of America surveyed jewelers about their plans for passing on the family business. How do our results compare with the situation at your store?
Of the family-owned jewelers who took JA’s survey in March, a total of 48 percent said they had no succession plan or planned to close or sell their business when they reach retirement age, while 40 percent said the next generation would take over.
New York--Jewelers of America’s Business Pulse survey shows that while a great number of jewelry stores are headed by individuals age 50 or older, many don’t have any type of succession plan in place.
Conducted in March, JA’s online poll was taken by a total of 204 retailers, and they were asked about succession planning as well as their sales for the month of January.
Of those 204 jewelers polled, 177, or 92 percent, reported that their jewelry store was a family-owned business.
The vast majority (83 percent) of those 177 family-owned operations said the owner of their business is over 50 years old.
Of that 83 percent, the greatest percentage of respondents--45 percent--said the owner is more than 60 years old while the remaining 38 percent reported that the owner is between 50 and 59.
A total of 14 percent of owners are reported to be between the ages of 40 and 49 while only 4 percent are 39 or younger.
The graying of the jewelry industry is not news.
RELATED CONTENT: Demographic drop-off
When the Jewelers Board of Trade released its final statistics for 2015, outgoing President Dione Kenyon cited the lack of a next generation waiting in the wings to take over the family business as the number one reason--albeit among many--that the number of jewelers closing their stores continues to rise.
RELATED CONTENT: The Generation Gap
And, getting younger professional interested in careers in jewelry is currently a focal point for a number of organizations. MJSA has it “Be a Jeweler” program, while the Independent Jewelers Organization has launched a Millennial Advisory Board and U.S. Antiques Shows has “Antique Young Guns,” to name just a few. 
Still, succession planning remains an issue for many family-owned stores.
Of the 177 survey respondents who said they were in a family-owned business, 26 percent said they have no succession plan in place, while 22 percent said their plan is to either sell (11 percent) or close (11 percent) their business.
A total of 40 percent, meanwhile, said they do plan for the next generation to take over the store.
The remaining percentage marked “other” and wrote in reasons including selling to staff, changing the business into a custom design studio and undecided.
Jewelers, are these results representative of the situation in your store? Tell us in the comments section below or email us at michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, though the two organizations act independently of each other. JA acquired National Jeweler from Emerald Expositions in February 2015.
Jewelers, are these results representative of the situation in your store? Tell us in the comments section below or email us at michelle.graff@nationaljeweler.com.
National Jeweler is a for-profit subsidiary of Jewelers of America, though the two organizations act independently of each other. JA acquired National Jeweler from Emerald Expositions in February 2015.
More on Surveys
The Latest
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
ColumnistsMar 31, 2026
Q1 Clues That Reveal Where Your Jewelry Store’s Sales Are Heading These customer behavior patterns say a lot about how successful your jewelry store is going to be this year, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
