The Best Countries for Fine Jewelry Manufacturing

Get to Know The Best Countries for Fine Jewelry Manufacturing

The leading countries for fine jewelry manufacturing are worth knowing for various reasons. People who run a jewelry business will know where to source their products or even raw materials. It can also help investors who want to have special pieces made that have the chance to potentially appreciate in value after some time. Lastly, guys might want to know where to get one-of-a-kind engagement rings to go with their marriage proposal – without breaking the bank.

What is Fine Jewelry

How would you define high jewelry?

Although there’s no standard definition for this term, most jewelers agree that fine jewelry is made of precious metals like gold or platinum and could also contain precious gemstones.

However, it is important to understand that fine jewelry is not only defined by the materials it uses – it is characterized by the superior quality of metal work, artistic design, quality of the setting of precious stones, and flexibility.

Historically precious stones are more important due to their rarity and hence command a higher value: diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire. Stones like Paraiba have been defined as semi-precious stones, but also as coveted and as expensive as diamonds due to their breathtaking color.

Creating hand-joined jewelry is considered a traditional art, providing the flow, softness, and flexibility of high jewelry – an art that is the pinnacle of high jewelry.

A lot of businesses claim that they do high jewelry. However, most of them simply cast gold and set stones. What makes authentic fine jewelry shops stand out is their meticulous attention to details, especially the filing, polishing, and cleaning of each piece. They make sure that all of the stones in a jewelry piece match in luster and color, particularly colored stones, to create a truly magnificent piece – both in value and aesthetics.

Why You Should Buy Fine Jewelry

By now, you would have a pretty clear idea of what constitutes fine jewelry. In spite of its high cost and the fact that most people wear it only on special occasions, fine jewelry is considered a smart purchase. Here are some of the reasons why:

Great investment. A fine jewelry piece can stand the test of time, even outliving its original owner. It’s common to see it being passed down from generation to generation as an heirloom. That might also be the reason why it’s used for wedding rings to symbolize everlasting love. Last but not the least, the value of fine jewelry typically increases over time, making it an ideal passive investment. For instance, the value of gold has steadily increased over the past decades. In 1975, one ounce of gold costs $79. By 2020, it is averaging $1589!

Fashionable. Fine and high jewelry continuously evolves over time, pushing the boundaries of design. Jewelers push the boundaries of design in fine jewelry using modern technology such as 3D printing and casting. This enables fine jewelry manufacturers to create special shapes that are simply too complex – even impossible – to be done by hand. High jewelry is and always will be a romantic endeavor with exquisite beauty.

Status symbol. A fine type of jewelry serves more than just a possible long-term investment. Wearing it in public is also a quick way to boost your social status. You don’t even need luxury clothes or other accessories. A single, elegant piece of fine jewelry might be all you need to make a good impression and attract the right crowd.

Special. Fine Jewelry is not mass produced. Each piece is unique – unlike any other piece of jewelry. Often you see fine and high jewelry worn exclusively at formal events and special occasions. With the developments in fashion, where casual outfits are percolating into formal events, high jewelry is also evolving – becoming more versatile whilst maintaining its grace, elegance, and exquisiteness.

Those are just some of the reasons why buying fine jewelry is a smart course of action for anyone who can afford it. In 2018, the jewelry industry was valued at 279 Billion United States Dollars. It’s expected to grow to $480 billion in annual global sales by the end of the year 2025.

Best Countries for Fine Jewelry Manufacturing

Whether you personally want some pieces to invest in, or are looking for the top countries that make fine jewelry pieces for your business, we’ve got the answer. Below, we rounded up the leading countries when it comes to producing high jewelry.

United States

It should come as no surprise that the U.S. is one of the top countries that make fine jewelry. Based on jewelry-industry analyst Edahn Golan’s calculations, fine jewelry retail sales in 2017 reached $63.8 billion. The market involves roughly 1,922 businesses and employs about 21,883 people.

The United States is home to large and highly popular retailers like Tiffany & Co. Harry Winston, and David Yurman. Tiffany & Co. guarantees superior quality for all products – from the simplest items to designer necklaces. Harry Winston is known as the innovator of Jewelry dominated by pear shape and marquise shaped diamonds. David Yurman has recently been expanding into fine jewelry with intricately designed pieces with a touch of personality.

Germany

Germany is renowned for its gold working. It is home to some of the world’s best fine jewelry manufacturers like Wempe, Wellendorff, and Bucherer.

Wempe is a family-run business founded in 1878. It offers the trademarked Wempe-Cut® diamond, a secret cut that makes each diamond have a groundbreaking 137 light-catching facets (compared to the usual 57 facets or so) — giving each stone incomparable sparkle. Meanwhile, Wellendorff is known for Wellendorff Rope, a necklace woven in 18-carat gold that’s considered the softest necklace in the world. Bucherer Fine Jewellery, on the other hand, boasts the world’s largest watch and jewelry store (located in Paris).

Idar Oberstein is regarded as the best in precision cutting of stones. In addition, Pforzheim town, located in the state of Baden-Württemberg, has a thriving jewelry and watchmaking industry that made it earn its moniker “Goldstadt” (Golden City). You can find the world’s only museum devoted to the history of jewelry in this town, as well as the internationally renowned School of Design and the Institute of Jewellery Technology at Pforzheim University.

Italy

Italy was regarded as the world’s largest manufacturer and exporter of crafted fine jewelry for many years. Superior design and manufacturing have naturally been associated with products – including jewelry – that are “Made in Italy”. The country is also credited as a trendsetter in jewelry design, constantly pushing the boundaries of design using the latest manufacturing methods. Italian luxury brands like Bulgari, Damiani, and Roberto Coin are known worldwide for their abundant use of gold and precious gemstones, as well as their cutting-edge designs.

Most of Italy’s fine jewelry manufacturing companies are located in Vicenza, Valenza, Arezzo, and Bassano del Grappa. Family-run goldsmith workshops with small workforces are the main contributors to the country’s jewelry production.

France

No list of the best countries for fine jewelry manufacturing would be complete without France. French craftsmanship is undeniably one of the world’s best: large pieces of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and other similar names are produced in France’s highly specialized workshops.

Besides those, the country is home to many other fine jewelry houses like Chaumet, Boucheron, Bulgari, Chanel, and Dior. Even Louis Vuitton – known for its iconic luggages and accessories – has a successful luxury jewelry market.

France is still home to a wide array of workshops specializing in one of a kind pieces, which produce for the top French brands.

Thailand

Thailand is known for highly skilled workers, with meticulous attention to detail. A large portion of the fine and high jewellery manufacturing had moved to Thailand approximately 25 years ago. It is renowned to produce European quality to the exacting standards of the best of brands, whilst providing a significant price and scalability advantage.

Thailand is also a hub for color stone and diamond trading, and charges no VAT on gold – making it an ideal place for manufacturers as all the resources they require are one phone call away.

Located in one of the leading countries for producing fine jewelry, Smart Arts Jewellery is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of superior fine jewelry. As a family-owned enterprise, it specializes in producing hand-joined flexible jewelry with authentic, high-quality gems that are perfectly matched for color and brilliance.

Smart Arts Jewellery was established in Bangkok in 1999 by Pradeep Lodha, who has been trading and manufacturing diamonds since 1987. With offices in New York, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Mumbai, Smart Arts Jewellery delivers sparkling gems to clients in over 30 countries worldwide.

Contact us Now to start searching for additions to your fine jewelry collection.

Bruno Radegonde – Contributor – I’m a French Business Developer based out of Bangkok since 2010. Smart Arts Jewellery has been my beloved home since 2019 where I handle both Marketing & Sales.