Industries must continually adapt to an ever-changing world shaped by economic shifts and evolving consumer behavior. But how will the luxury jewelry industry adapt to the ever-rising price of gold?
Gold Glossary
Assay
A test that determines the purity and weight of a gold item, ensuring its authenticity before sale or investment.
Buy/Sell Spread
The difference between the price at which a dealer will sell gold to you and the price they will pay to buy it back. A smaller spread is more cost-efficient for investors.
Gold Bars
Rectangular pieces of refined gold, typically produced by mints or refineries. They come in various weights, from small 1-gram bars to large 400-ounce bars held by central banks.
Gold Bullion
Physical gold in the form of bars or coins, valued primarily by weight and purity rather than rarity or design. Bullion is commonly purchased for investment purposes.
Gold Coins
Minted pieces containing a specific amount of gold. Some are valued mainly for their gold content (bullion coins), while others carry collectible or historical value (numismatic coins).
Gold Purity (Karat/Fineness)
A measure of how much pure gold is in an item. Karats range from 1K to 24K, with 24K being pure gold. Fineness expresses purity in parts per thousand (e.g., 999 for 99.9% pure).
Gold Reserves
Holdings of gold maintained by a country’s central bank as part of its financial security and monetary strategy.
Spot Price
The current market price for one unit of gold (usually an ounce) for immediate delivery. It fluctuates throughout the day based on global supply, demand, and market conditions.
Troy Ounce
The standard unit of measurement for precious metals. One troy ounce equals 31.1035 grams, which is slightly heavier than a regular ounce used for everyday items.
Why Are Gold Prices Always Rising?
Gold has held its reputation as a reliable store of value for thousands of years, and today it remains one of the most sought-after assets for investors worldwide. One key reason gold prices tend to rise over time is its status as a safe haven. When economic uncertainty increases, whether due to inflation, recession fears, geopolitical tensions, or currency instability, investors often move their money into tangible assets like precious metals and gold bars. This consistent demand helps keep the long-term trajectory of gold prices upward.
Another major factor is the strength of the U.S. dollar. Gold is typically priced in dollars, so when the dollar weakens, gold becomes more attractive to global buyers. As more investors look to buy and sell gold in response to currency fluctuations, the increased activity pushes prices higher. For many, owning even a single ounce of gold is seen as a protective measure against financial volatility.
Additionally, central banks play a large role in the gold market. Around the world, each central bank holds gold reserves as part of its monetary strategy. When central banks increase their gold holdings, often during times of economic instability, it signals confidence in gold’s long-term value. These large-scale purchases can drive prices up by tightening global supply.
Gold is also finite, and unlike paper currency, it cannot be created at will. Mining new gold becomes more difficult and expensive over time, adding to its scarcity. As global populations grow and more investors seek stable assets, the limited supply naturally supports rising prices.
Gold Prices Rises: What Does This Mean?
The price of gold has gone up by roughly 63% since this time last year (stats as of November 2025). It’s not only in the last year that gold prices have gone up; they’ve gone up 797% since 2005.
High-luxury brands will likely continue to raise their prices to meet the costs of gold, however, customers already pay a premium to access these brands. Therefore, the difference might seem negligible.
However, the designers it will most likely affect are the demi-fine brands that aim for a more affordable or middle-of-the-range price point. These brands will either need to alter their products to use more affordable materials, look at changing their means of production, or alternatively increase their prices.
In order to increase their prices, the focus on design will be absolutely crucial for the price hikes to be justified to customers, or they’ll need to reposition themselves in the market.
Whether brands choose to absorb the costs or make significant shifts in their product creation remains to be seen.
How Jewelry Brands Might Adapt To Gold Prices Rising (Overview)
- Turn to vermeil or gold-plated (gold plating over silver)
- Increase their use of sterling silver
- Use less gold in their designs in general, either by using more lightweight gold, creating thinner pieces, or using mixed metals
- Use recycled gold
- Decrease production numbers
- Advertise gold jewelry as an investment piece
Where To Buy Gold Jewelry For Less?
One of the best ways to buy luxury jewelry for less is to check out the resale market. Here, you’ll find the same great quality but for less.
myGemma sells jewelry from a wide range of designer jewelry Tiffany & Co., Cartier, or Van Cleef & Arpels. You'll find everything from the iconic Cartier Love Collection to Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra, as well as rare vintage finds and sparkling engagement rings.
Each item is authenticated by our in-house experts before being listed on our website and on our app. Get up to 80% off retail prices when you shop at myGemma.
In partnership with Ecologi, a tree is planted every time you buy or sell with us. With Ample, 10 bottles of ocean plastic are removed with every purchase. It's the right choice for your wallet and the planet.
How To Sell Luxury Jewelry Online?
There are different avenues for selling gold jewelry online, and it will depend on what you are selling. Some jewelry is only worth the sum of its materials, whereas others’ price is also dependent on the brand and the design.
First step: Determine What Jewelry You Have
- Some jewelry is only valuable for its materials; this would be identified as scrap. If you are selling jewelry from a luxury brand such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, or Van Cleef & Arpels, then it is unlikely that this would be jewelry you would choose to scrap.
Second Step: Assess Your Options
- At this stage, you are only looking at your opinions and getting price quotes. You can choose to either sell privately, to a pawnbroker, sell on an auction site, or sell to expert jewelry buyers. There are other options, too, but these are the most common choices.
Third Step: List Your Item/Get A Price Quote
- If you choose to list your item online for direct purchase or for auction, then make sure you have taken well-lit photos of your item and created an accurate description.
- If you've chosen to leave it to the professionals, then it is time to get a price quote from your chosen company.
What Is The Best Way To Sell Designer Jewelry?
If you’ve determined that your jewelry is not for scrap, then myGemma is a great option for you. We buy your jewelry from top brands, offering competitive prices and a speedy sale.
We offer three selling routes:
- Sell Directly: This is your quickest option; from price quote to payment, it can take as little as 24 hours.
- Consign: Choose to consign if you want to make up to 25% more on your items. This can take a little longer, but we still pride ourselves on quicker sales than our competitors.
- Trade In: If you have your eye on something else, then trade in your items and get up to 10% extra value towards your next luxury find.
