As a small, independent jewellery maker, I believe in being completely transparent with my loyal customers about the challenges we're all facing in today's economic climate. I wanted to take a moment to explain some recent changes to our pricing and reaffirm our commitment to providing exceptional value, personal service and the best quality we can afford.
The Reality of Rising Gold Costs
Like many of you, I've been watching the dramatic rise in gold prices with concern. Currently (at 26th September 2025), gold is trading at approximately £90.38 per gram in the UK – a significant increase from earlier this year when prices were around £67 per gram in January. This represents a staggering 35% increase in just nine months, with particularly sharp rises over the summer period.
For context, gold reached its 2025 peak only in the last few days, and are predicted to continue to rise. As a small business creating handcrafted pieces in small batches (such as these custom engraved solid gold pebble pendants we recently made as a comission), these material cost increases have an immediate and direct impact on our pricing.
Why Price Adjustments Are Necessary
I want to be clear: these price adjustments reflect the genuine cost of materials, not an attempt to increase profit margins. When gold prices rise by 35% in less than a year, and you're purchasing precious metals for every single piece you create, the mathematics are unavoidable.
This is before we even consider the broader economic pressures affecting all small businesses – rising overhead costs, increased staff wages to match the cost of living, and general inflationary pressures on everything from packaging materials to studio rent.
Our Continued Commitment to Exceptional Value
Despite these challenging circumstances, I'm determined to maintain the exceptional service and value that sets us apart:
✨ Complimentary Shipping – We still offer free postage to most destinations globally, absorbing these costs to make your purchase as convenient as possible.
🎁 Free Gift Wrapping – While on other platforms we charge £5+ for gift wrapping services, we continue to include this complimentary with every order placed on our website. It's a small touch that means a lot, especially during special occasions.
👥 Personal Service – As a small, independent business, you'll always receive personal attention and care that larger retailers simply cannot match.
🔧 Expert Craftsmanship – Every piece is carefully crafted in small batches, ensuring attention to detail and quality that mass-produced jewellery cannot replicate. We finish, solder, polish and engrave all our pieces in-house quickly and have a fast order processing service with our acute attention to detail that's been a core part of Scarlett Jewellery for over 20 years.
Why Quality Precious Metals Remain a Smart Choice
In an era of fast fashion and disposable accessories, investing in genuine gold and silver jewellery remains a wise decision. We make most of our gold from 9ct gold to keep it as affordable as we possibly can. Unlike inexpensive costume jewellery from mass retailers, our precious metal pieces:
- Retain and often increase their intrinsic value over time
- Can often be repaired, resized, and passed down the generations
- Support ethical sourcing and responsible craftsmanship
- Provide lasting beauty rather than short-term trends
Moving Forward Together
I understand that we're all feeling the pinch of rising costs across every aspect of our lives. Nobody wants to pay more for anything right now, and I genuinely wish I could absorb these increases indefinitely. However, as a small business committed to sustainable practices and fair wages, passing on material cost increases is essential for our continued operation.
What I can promise is that every adjustment to our pricing is made thoughtfully and reluctantly, reflects genuine cost increases rather than opportunistic profit-taking, and comes with our unwavering commitment to the exceptional quality and service you've come to expect.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support. It means more than you know to a small, independent business like ours.
Stevie Holmes
Designer & Director
Scarlett Jewellery Ltd
