Stevie Holmes
10th September 2024
Rising Bullion Prices: Impact on Jewellery Prices
A low down on current gold and silver prices from our designer, Stevie
Here at Scarlett Jewellery we understand the impact of bullion price fluctuations on the jewellery market. In recent years, we've witnessed a significant surge in gold and silver prices, influencing the cost of our pieces. Let's explore the current trends and their implications for jewellery shoppers.
Key Points
- Gold prices have soared
- Silver has also appreciated
- Scarlett's commitment to affordability
- Becoming retail only
- Enhanced customer service
- Investing in gold and silver
What rising bullion prices mean to Scarlett Customers
Gold prices have soared:
The price of gold has experienced a significant surge in recent years. Over the past three years, gold bullion prices have increased by a substantial 47%. This year alone, we've witnessed a remarkable 25% rise. Several factors have contributed to this upward trend, including:
Economic Uncertainty: Global economic instability, geopolitical tensions, and concerns about inflation have driven investors to seek safe-haven assets like gold.
Central Bank Purchases: Central banks worldwide have been actively buying gold to diversify their foreign exchange reserves, further increasing demand.
Rising Inflation: As inflation rates rise, gold often becomes a hedge against currency devaluation and purchasing power erosion.
Silver Has Also Appreciated
Silver has also experienced a notable price increase in recent years. Over the past five years, silver prices have climbed by 48%, with a 17% increase in 2024 alone. Factors contributing to this rise include:
Industrial Demand:Silver is a vital component in various industries, including electronics, solar panels, and photography. Growing demand from these sectors has supported silver prices.
Investment Demand:Silver has gained popularity as an investment asset, driven by its potential for price appreciation and its role as a hedge against inflation.
Supply Constraints:Mining disruptions and increased costs have limited silver supply, contributing to higher prices.
Scarlett's Commitment to Affordability
Despite the significant increases in gold and silver prices, Scarlett Jewellery has remained committed to offering affordable jewellery. Our prices have increased by only between 15-20% on average during the past five years despite bullion prices close to 50% higher - these are a few of the ways we've managed to keep prices down as much as possible:
Efficient Operations:We have moved to a less glamorous workshop and pulled back from expensive retail shows to minimize overheads, this means Stevie can be on hand more of the year relying less on external staff - we're lucky to have several other excellent jewellery businesses within our workshop complex allowing us to provide faster and more efficient services in terms of sizing and speed of finishing pieces for you.
Ethical Sourcing: By sourcing materials responsibly and ethically, and maintaining our long term relationship with casting companies both here and in overseas, we can keep making in small batches and keep lead times and air miles to a minimum. This does mean we are out of stock from time to time, but by being careful about when we order stock we can try to get pieces in when gold prices are low rather than holding stock at higher prices (where possible and depending on demand of course!)
Value-Added Services: We provide an increased range of complimentary services, such as free gift wrapping and engraving, which enhance the overall value of our jewellery without significantly increasing costs.
Becoming Retail Only
By reducing wholesale to one local shop only, we are able to pass on significant savings directly to our online customers. This allows us to offer our high-quality jewellery at more competitive prices than some premium jewellery brands. Not wholesaling means we don't have to include the wholesale margin that resellers need to turn a profit, so we can offer our pieces at lower prices online. If we were to widely offer wholesale, our prices would have to nearly double in some instances (just to give you an idea of the difference this makes!)
Direct customer relationships: Building stronger connections with our customers by having a TRULY personal service - when you email you will get a reply from the designer/director Stevie - no bots, no temp staff, just straight to the top. Plus our presence on marketplaces like Etsy, while subject to commission fees, enables us to reach a wider audience without the overhead costs associated with a physical storefront.
This online-only approach further contributes to our ability to offer affordable and accessible jewellery.
Enhanced Customer Service
To provide added value to our customers, we have expanded our complimentary services. This includes:
Free Gift Wrapping:We offer beautifully presented gift wrapping for every order, making it easy to give our jewellery as a special gift.
Free Delivery:We ship our jewellery worldwide free, ensuring that our customers can enjoy our designs regardless of their location. It's no secret the cost of postage has increased hugely in recent times, but we still aim to offer this service free of charge for as long as we can.
Free Engraving:We offer free engraving on a wide range of our pieces, allowing customers to personalise their jewellery and make it truly unique.
Faster Order Processing:We have streamlined our production processes to ensure that most orders are processed and shipped within one working day, providing a quick and efficient shopping experience.
Reasons to buy solid gold & silver jewellery
Gold and silver are valuable investments that can offer several long benefits as a gift to buy for someone or yourself:
Store of Value: Gold and silver have been used as stores of value for centuries, it might seem expensive now, but history shows bullion prices are likely to continue to rise, so there's never been a better time to buy.
Sustainability:Gold and silver are recyclable metals, making them a more sustainable choice compared to cheaper costume jewellery, which is often made from non-recyclable materials. Although gold & silver are of course mined from the ground, they are not without negative eco credentials and we don't pretend or greenwash our way out of it - but an increasing amount of the gold & silver we use is recycled, and it can be endlessly recycled forward making it much better long term for the environment than throwaway costume jewellery.
Not to mention costume jewellery is simply not made to last, adding to landfill and contributing towards global waste.
By choosing gold or silver jewellery from Scarlett Jewellery, you are not only investing in a beautiful piece but also in a valuable asset that can appreciate over time.
Meet The Designer
Stevie is a passionate designer with a flair for creating meaningful and emotive jewellery. Her vibrant pink hair is a reflection of her creative spirit and infectious personality.
With a lifelong love for the arts, Stevie's passion for design has led her to take over Scarlett Jewellery in 2014 from the original founder who had fallen out of love with the tiny Hove based jewellery brand. Driven by a desire to create jewellery that resonates with people on a deeper level,
Stevie's designs are infused with emotion and story. She takes pride in Scarlett Jewellery's commitment to quality, ethical sourcing, and personal service.Inspired by her love of travel, Stevie has also launched
" At Scarlett Jewellery, we believe in the power of personal connection and the beauty of handcrafted pieces. We are dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and creating jewellery that is both meaningful and enduring."