The global jewellery fraternity convened in Paris for the 2025 CIBJO Congress, where industry leaders, policymakers, and experts gathered to discuss the evolving landscape of the gem and jewellery trade.

As 2024 draws to a close, the jewellery industry reflects on a year marked by innovation, resilience, and evolving consumer preferences. From record-breaking gold prices, to growing demand for natural diamonds and polki jewellery, the year saw it all. Industry stalwarts share their perspectives of 2024, and offer a glimpse into the year to come

In the first half of 2024, gold has demonstrated a robust performance, defying expectations by surging 12% year-to-date and surpassing most major asset classes

Gold bars and coins continued to hold favour with investors in several countries around the world.

Demand for gold reached 1,147t in Q4 2021, its highest quarterly level since Q2 2019, and an increase of almost 50% year-on-year, according to the WGC

Gold-backed exchange-traded products were the prevailing asset to own, driving global demand for the yellow metal in the first quarter, as the world economy was crushed by the COVID-19 health crisis, according to the latest research from the World Gold Council (WGC)

The annual supply of gold increased 2% to 4,776t. This growth came purely from recycling and hedging: mine production slipped 1% to 3,436.7t

Jewellery demand was hampered by the continued strength in the gold price, which hit a new multi-year high, as well as consumers being downbeat on the health of the global economy

In the first quarter of 2019, global gold demand grew to 1.053.3t according to World Gold Council's latest Gold Demand Trends report.   

Global gold demand reached 4,345.1 tonnes (t) in 2018, up 4% on 2017 and in line with five-year average demand of 4,347.5t, according to the WGC's latest Gold Demand Trends report. 

 Lower gold prices saw retail investors take refuge in bars and coins, while jewellery purchases increased in India, China and across South-East Asia.

Global gold demand remained muted in Q2 2018 at 964 tonnes (t), 4% below the same period in 2017, according to the World Gold Council’s latest Gold Demand Trends report. Slower inflows into gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) created a weak comparison against the highs of last year, contributing to the lowest H1 demand since 2009. Whilst China, the world’s largest gold market, saw a 7% rise in consumer demand.

Gold demand had a soft start to 2018, reaching 973 tonnes (t), the lowest first quarter since 2008. 

Overall demand for the full year fell by 7% to 4,071.7t, compared with 2016.