The report shows that couples are searching for vintage and antique rings, gold jewelry, pearls, and colorful pieces.
Changes at Tiffany’s
It was fitting that Monday’s story about the retirement of Tiffany & Co. CEO Mike Kowalski ran directly ahead of my latest piece about the Pebble Mine in Alaska, the proposed open-pit copper and gold mine that would sit at the headwaters of the pristine eco-system that surrounds beautiful Bristol Bay.
The Pebble Mine issue, actually, was my personal introduction to Mr. Kowalski.
Back in 2009, I still was fairly new to National Jeweler and so I accompanied former Executive Editor Teresa Novellino and Whitney Sielaff uptown for an interview at Tiffany & Co. headquarters with Kowalski.
The topic of the interview was the stance Tiffany was taking on Pebble and Red Gold, which the retailer screened for editors in New York.
I won’t pretend I remember many specifics from the interview; I was (relatively speaking) young at the time, still fairly new on the job and didn’t understand as much about the industry or consumer behavior as I do today.
On Monday, though, I had the chance to go back to the article that resulted from that 2009 interview, which ran in a print edition of National Jeweler (relic!)--where I believe Tiffany also took out a full-page ad lobbying against the mine--and has been archived on our website.
In the article, Kowalski talked about a topic that only has gained relevance in the intervening five years since it was written: That members of the Millennial generation care about the origin of the products they buy and the policies of the companies behind them.
Social and environmental issues don’t have “top-of-mind awareness,” he said back in 2009. “It’s not as if people are coming in and asking about where our gold is sourced. (But) I think it’s dangerous to say ‘No one’s asking about it, therefore it doesn’t matter.’ I think you need to be careful about warily approaching a tipping point. A few years ago, no one talked about climate change. Al Gore writes a book, a few other things happen, and suddenly climate change is at the top of everyone’s agenda.”
Whether or not we’ve reached that “tipping point” with consumer concerns about sourcing is a matter of debate for another article.
But I do think Kowalski’s statement illustrates what has made Tiffany &
After news broke Monday of the 62-year-old Kowalski’s plan to step down in March 2015, analysts’ remarks seemed to indicate that they didn’t expect any drop-off in performance from the retailer when the CEO-in-waiting, 54-year-old Frederic Cumenal, takes the reins on April 1, 2015.
The prospect of Cumenal, who came to Tiffany in 2011 from LVMH, where he most recently was CEO of champagne maker Moët & Chandon, running Tiffany is seen a positive for the New York-based brand because of his broad, global luxury goods experience.
I also think that another reason Cumenal is likely to be successful at the helm of Tiffany & Co. is the strong brand recognition it has built up over years and continues to enjoy today.
That is not to say the retailer has not had its missteps along the way--recall its recent $449.5 million lawsuit loss to Swatch Group--and won’t have its challenges in the future, such as its still-pending court battle with Costco over the term “Tiffany setting.”
But Tiffany & Co. is a brand that has been built to last. That’s why it’s still around, and still independent, after 177 years.
The Latest
He’s remembered as a “font of passion,” leaving behind a legacy of dedication to his craft and community.
The first one will take place next month during the Jewelers of Louisiana’s and Mississippi Jewelers Association’s conventions.
For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.
The redesigned boutique features interactive displays and a workshop space for hands-on learning about watchmaking.
There is a willingness to comply with new government-mandated regulations, with an insistence that they should be practical and realistic.
A combination of factors is driving growth in the industry despite the precipitous drop in prices across the board.
Ho Brothers offers scalable solutions for the future of custom jewelry.
The zone’s modernization will enhance and increase India’s jewelry manufacturing capabilities while aiding small and mid-sized businesses.
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The company plans to invest $25 million in marketing initiatives to boost awareness around its namesake and licensed brands.
Optimism about the current state of the economy was offset by anxiety around inflation and the political environment.
The former WJA executive director is MFM’s new managing director.
DDG encourages retailers to educate customers on the positive impact of purchasing natural diamonds.
Highlighting the most iconic Tiffany collections, it’s inspired by the company’s late window designer, Gene Moore.
Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen explore how jewelers can save time and money by using AI to analyze engagement and create content.
The retailer previously turned down an $8.4 billion offer in 2018.
The Florida store’s owner Miguel Gonzalez is retiring.
The lab stresses the importance of accurate identification, as the difference in price is “substantial.”
The brand also plans to expand its retail footprint from 138 to 200 stores over the next three years.
One is reserved for a NAJA member, the other for a non-member.
Longtime employees Carie Lehrke and Megan Mattice have received promotions.
Three guests joined National Jeweler and Jewelers of America to discuss trending time periods, spotting reproductions, and more.
Chris Clipper and Robert Lepere join the company with 50 years of combined experience.
The trendy, metallic earrings wink at classic spring colors.
JSA said a man and woman pulled the safe out of an Oakland jewelry store but couldn’t quite get it into their van.
The miner’s March auction generated $19 million.