My jewellery month of August: Talk more about yourselves!

August is over, and I'm searching for the common thread that defines this month for me. This time, it's primarily about communication. The conversations I regularly have about brands, collections, and concepts bring me closer to the topics and enable me to convey a valuable message. I have a few examples and a call to action: talk more about yourselves!

The news overview in August from an economic perspective

Another month has passed, and I've once again delved into our analytics at INSIGHT LUXURY to draw my own conclusions – so, what exactly happened in August? Here's a brief overview of the most important news:

The news in the jewelry industry continues to be dominated by uncertainty and slumping sales, economic hurdles on a global level... India has to pay 50 percent import tariffs to the US – and this as such a major supplier of diamonds and gemstones. Can this really continue in the long term?

Click here for the article: https://insight-luxury.com/2025/08/07/nachschlag-us-zoelle-fuer-indien-steigen-auf-50-prozent/

The renowned Fabergé brand is changing hands – a Russian tech investor who wants to restore Fabergé's European heritage. That sounds quite positive. However, I'm making a mental note because the previous owner, Gemfields, sold the brand to inject more money into its stagnating gemstone mining business in Africa. The first half of 2025 didn't look so rosy for Gemfield, which primarily supplies rubies and emeralds...

Click here for the article: https://insight-luxury.com/2025/08/13/mehr-geld-zur-edelsteinfoerderung-farberge-wechselt-den-besitzer/

That things are moving, that investments are being made, and that work is being done toward a bright future is evident in news like those from Eppli and Van Cleef & Arpels. Eppli has opened its new Eppli Haus in Stuttgart, featuring attractive retail space and a modern auction house. Van Cleef & Arpels is managing a new boutique in Frankfurt and is further expanding its presence.

Figures from the Federal Statistical Office, published by the German Jewelry and Watch Association, show that imports and exports of jewelry, watches, and watch parts have remained largely stable and look quite good year-on-year compared to 2024. Perhaps this is a small reason for industry participants to breathe a sigh of relief—sometimes long-term observations are needed to get an accurate picture of the situation.

More communication please!

On August 1st, I published an interview with jewelry designer Katharina Heubach, which provides fascinating insights into the series production of jewelry. I highly recommend this interview to everyone and would like to use a quote from Katharina Heubach as the starting point for my monthly review: Jewelry is communication. 

With the jewelry you wear, you always reveal and communicate something about yourself – this is precisely the reason why tastes vary so much and why there is a raison d'être for a gigantic, dazzling kaleidoscope of styles and materials that enrich our everyday lives with their beauty.

Click here for the interview with Katharina Heubach: https://insight-luxury.com/2025/08/01/designerin-katharina-heubach-im-interview-schmuck-ist-kommunikation/

But that's precisely why there is a second level of communication: not just what people say about themselves with their jewelry, but what manufacturers or designers say about their creations.

A spark that jumps

Let me tell you something: as an editor, I can write the best PR about a manufacturer if the spark has been ignited during the preliminary work, preferably through personal conversations. Then I identify with the brand, the mission, the values, the style, and I can easily find the words to contribute to authentic and personable communication for the brand. I value the humanity behind the scenes that I get to experience in my work. Incidentally, that's why I'm personally not a fan of AI. An LLM can write correct and sometimes even good-sounding sentences, but there's no real understanding or emotional connection to the content being created.

For me, August was a very rich and successful month in terms of communication. Marko Jünemann, Chief Marketing Officer at Wempe, took the time to tell me the story of how the new diamond jewelry brand WEMPE 137 came about. This also made it clear how much communication took place between the jeweler and their customers beforehand – there's nothing more beautiful than someone who asks in-depth questions because they really want to hear the answer. The other person feels valued and seen – and such interpersonal relationships, trust, and understanding are, by the way, a very special currency in our world, one that is not subject to global events or inflation, but remains valuable in all times and circumstances – like gold, only better! Because: you can build genuine, deep, and long-lasting relationships with customers and retail partners yourself. They cost nothing, just genuine interest, passion, and motivation.

Click here for the interview with Marko Jünemann: https://insight-luxury.com/2025/08/22/wempe-137-exklusiver-blick-hinter-die-kulissen-mit-marko-juenemann/

My August was also dominated by reporting ahead of the Vicenzaoro Jewelry Fair in Italy, which opens its doors again next Friday. Since the fair is a home turf for Italian manufacturers, I asked: What's the deal with Italian design and "Made in Italy"? What does this mean for the manufacturers and designers working in this field?

The responses I received gave me great joy and brought me a little closer to these brands again, because what resonates in the answers is joy in the work, justified pride, and a great deal of motivation to want to be and work exactly where you are and to contribute to the preservation of culture and tradition as part of something bigger. Ah! 

I love getting answers like that. I love seeing people find the right words to express what moves and motivates them. It's fulfilling to watch people at their best.

Below: A look behind the scenes and exciting insights: A selection of personalities I have had the pleasure of interviewing as part of my work.

This, too, is psychologically proven, and one reason why so many of us spend so much time on social media these days: Success and self-confidence are attractive! It's the reason why we follow the fitness journeys of strangers, share videos of street musicians playing killer saxophone solos, why there are best-ofs for the best soccer goals, and why we still watch talent shows where the shy little girl starts singing like Mariah Carey. 

Perhaps few of us realize that we ourselves could create such an inspiring moment – by sharing what connects us to our profession, what significance it has, which aspects of it are special, worth mentioning, and worth preserving. It doesn't have to be about glossy videos or the perfect luxury look. Authenticity is what matters. That's why I want to encourage everyone: Talk more about yourselves! Show your work, show your passion, the glimpse behind the scenes – no matter how banal it may seem – the message will reach the right people – I promise! And if I can help tell these stories – all the better! You know where to find me!
(Personally, that would actually be on the Vicenzaoro from Friday onwards)

With that in mind: Here’s to a productive and successful autumn!