News Briefing
NEWS BRIEFING 20 February 2026
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A curated edit of the week's global jewellery news - national and international - compiled for industry insight and trend monitoring.
💰 'Gold holds above $5,000 as geopolitical tensions and Fed expectations support prices'
Fortune staff, 20 February 2026, Fortune: Gold was trading at $5,040 per ounce on 20 February, up $48 on the day and more than $2,100 year on year; soft US data has increased expectations of three Fed rate cuts this year, while PBoC gold purchases extended to a fifteenth consecutive month.
💰 'U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Trump's sweeping IEEPA tariffs in 6–3 ruling'
NPR staff, 20 February 2026, NPR: The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump lacked authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; Chief Justice Roberts wrote that the law "does not authorize the President to impose tariffs." The ruling immediately lowers the average US effective tariff rate from 16.9% to 9.1%, with potential refunds of more than $175 billion to importers. Trump responded by imposing a 10% across-the-board tariff under a separate 1974 statute, though that authority is limited to 150 days.
💰 ‘Anglo American posts $3.7 billion loss after fresh $2.3 billion De Beers writedown’
Clara Denina, 20 February 2026, Reuters
Anglo American took a further $2.3 billion impairment on De Beers, bringing total writedowns on the diamond unit to $6.8 billion over three years; carrying value now stands at $2.3 billion. CEO Duncan Wanblad said the sale process is at an advanced stage and he is “optimistic” a deal will be signed this year, with Botswana and Angola both seeking increased stakes.
💰 ‘Can the Luanda Accord bring a sparkle back to the fading diamond industry?’
Eyewitness News, 10 February 2026, EWN
Namibia formally signed the Luanda Accord at Mining Indaba in Cape Town, joining Angola, Botswana and the DRC in committing 1% of diamond export value to fund natural diamond marketing via the Natural Diamond Council. India’s GJEPC and Dubai’s DMCC also formalised pathways to full NDC membership by May.
🛍️ ‘Pandora pivots to platinum-plated jewellery as silver prices more than double’
CBS News, 6 February 2026, CBS News / CNBC
With silver prices having more than doubled over the past year, Pandora is piloting platinum-plated bracelets in 30 Northern European stores before a global rollout in H2 2026. New CEO Berta de Pablos-Barbier told CNBC that 60% of Pandora’s business relies on silver, and diversifying metals will help protect margins. The platinum-plated bracelet will retail at roughly the same price as its sterling silver equivalent — around $80.
🛍️ ‘Pandora launches Bridgerton collection ahead of Season 4 Part 2’
Variety, 8 January 2026, Variety / Pandora Group
The 14-piece ‘Rules to Love By’ collection, created in collaboration with Netflix and Shondaland, features recycled sterling silver and 14k gold plating with cubic zirconia, crystal accents and freshwater cultured pearls. Shot by Tim Walker and styled by Harry Lambert; Pandora jewellery will appear on screen in Bridgerton Season 4 Part 2, premiering 26 February.
🛍️ ‘Saks Global closing eight Saks Fifth Avenue stores and one Neiman Marcus as bankruptcy restructuring continues’
NBC News, 10 February 2026, NBC News
Saks Global announced closures across Alabama, Ohio, New Jersey, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Virginia and Oklahoma, plus one Neiman Marcus in Massachusetts — all to remain open until end of April. The company is also shuttering 14 of 17 Fifth Avenue Club personal styling suites and liquidating its Horchow home brand. CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck said the moves focus the business on its most profitable locations.
🛍️ ‘Kering launches second edition of Generation Award x Jewelry’
Yahoo News / MarketScreener, 6 February 2026, Yahoo News
Kering has opened entries for the second year of its sustainability-focused jewellery design competition, themed “Second Chance, First Choice.” Run in partnership with CIBJO and Politecnico di Milano, the award invites emerging designers and startups to submit work exploring circular materials, AI-assisted production and low-impact packaging. Finalists will present during Paris Couture Week in July.
💎 ‘BAFTAs 2026 — jewellery preview as awards season heads to London’
22 February 2026, various
The 79th BAFTA Film Awards take place at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, hosted by Alan Cumming. One Battle After Another leads with 14 nominations; expect major jewellery placements from Cartier, Bulgari, Chopard and Tiffany & Co. as awards season reaches its London climax.
💎 'All About Halle Berry’s Engagement Ring (And Its Connection to Taylor Swift’s Sparkler)'
InStyle staff, 9 February 2026, InStyle / AOL:
Jewellery experts noted the ring’s old European-cut centre stone reflects a growing celebrity trend away from modern brilliants toward antique diamonds that feel more personal and romantic.
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💎‘North West, aged twelve, files trademarks for fashion and jewellery brand NOR11’
IBTimes / Page Six, 16 February 2026, IBTimes
Kim Kardashian has filed three US trademark applications for the name NOR11, covering clothing, accessories, jewellery — including necklaces, bracelets and rings — and handbags. The filings were submitted through KimYe’s Kid Inc., incorporated in California in 2023. The brand name combines the first three letters of North’s name with her age when the concept was developed.
💎 ‘Lab-grown diamonds now account for 61% of US engagement ring purchases’
The Knot Worldwide, 18 February 2026, BusinessWire
The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study, surveying more than 10,000 US couples married in 2025, found that 61% chose a lab-grown centre stone — a 239% increase since 2020 and up from 52% in 2024. Average engagement ring spend fell to $4,600 (from $5,200 in 2024), while average lab-grown carat weight rose to 1.9ct. Gen Z now represents 41% of the wedding market.
👗‘Silver reclaims the spotlight as cool-toned jewellery takes hold for 2026’
Woman & Home, February 2026, Woman & Home
Polished, architectural silver shapes from Ralph Lauren and Bottega Veneta were among the defining SS26 catwalk moments, as designers respond to gold’s record prices by championing more accessible precious metals.
👗 ‘Europe jewellery market forecast to reach $79 billion by 2034’
Research and Markets, 19 February 2026, GlobeNewsWire
The European jewellery market reached $51.36 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at 4.4% CAGR, driven by demand for ethical and sustainable jewellery, 3D-printed designs and gender-neutral collections. Italy remains the leading manufacturer, with gold jewellery exports of €9.2 billion in 2023.
💍‘How jewellery houses aim to stay ahead in 2026’
Robb Young, 29 January 2026, Business of Fashion
Boucheron, Chaumet, De Beers and Dior showed new high jewellery collections at Haute Couture week in Paris, as the category continues to outpace the wider luxury sector. Richemont’s jewellery houses, led by Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, reported 14% sales growth in Q4 2025, while LVMH’s watches and jewellery division grew 8%. Bernstein analyst Luca Solca noted that jewellery’s intrinsic material value gives it an advantage over handbags at high price points.
💍 ‘Soaring gold prices force jewellers to rethink design and materials’
WWD staff, January 2026, WWD
With gold above $5,000, designers including Stephen Webster are pressing platinum and silver into service, reducing the weight of solid gold pieces and changing production methods. J.P. Morgan forecasts gold to average $5,055 by Q4 2026, rising toward $5,400 by end of 2027. Rio Tinto plans to close its last remaining diamond mine, Diavik in Canada, in early 2026.
💍 ‘Europe jewellery market forecast to reach $79 billion by 2034’
Research and Markets, 19 February 2026, GlobeNewsWire
The European jewellery market reached $51.36 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at 4.4% CAGR, driven by demand for ethical and sustainable jewellery, 3D-printed designs and gender-neutral collections. Italy remains the leading manufacturer, with gold jewellery exports of €9.2 billion in 2023.
🏛️ ‘Henry VIII love token secured by British Museum after £3.5 million fundraising campaign’
NBC News / Reuters, 10 February 2026, NBC News
The British Museum has raised £3.5 million ($4.8 million) to acquire the ‘Tudor Heart,’ a 24-carat gold pendant linked to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. Discovered by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire in 2019, the heart-shaped jewel features the Tudor rose intertwined with a pomegranate — Katherine’s emblem — and the Old French inscription ‘tousiors’ (‘always’). More than 45,000 individuals donated to the appeal, contributing over 10% of the total.
