INSTORE Readers Sound Off About Tariffs, Lab-Grown Diamonds and More

• It is amazing to me how lab-grown diamonds have become so accepted. We are in a college town, and almost every new bridal customer specifically asks for lab-grown diamonds with no consideration for natural diamonds. We used to encourage our bridal customers on a tight budget to spend most of their budget on the center diamond and upgrade the mounting at a later time. Today, our average semi-mount now costs twice as much as the center stone. The nice part of selling lab-grown is that we don’t have to order three or four stones for them to compare, and we no longer spend an hour viewing them under the microscope. — Rick S., Gainesville, FL
• When ordering boxes to package jewelry, the tariffs have had a huge impact on the price. Gold is also so expensive that pricing jewelry is challenging. If I price to make a profit, will my customers be able to afford it? Interesting times. — Theresa P., Edgewater, CO
• Believe it or not, tariffs and gold prices are not affecting the public mindset as much as we anticipated it would. I think people have gotten so accustomed to inflation increasing in the last few years that when they hear a higher price, they might still have sticker shock, but they have a better understanding of why the prices are higher than expected because they are hearing about it online and through the news media. People are still buying diamonds (the last 30 days saw a significant increase in interest and purchase of natural diamonds for engagement rings), they just need to be taught what to expect up front. — Amy H., Jacksonville, FL
• Running a jewelry store in today’s world feels like navigating constant crosswinds. Tariffs are now part of our daily vocabulary, gold prices remain historically high, and lab-grown diamonds are reshaping the marketplace. But as I reflect on conversations with past generations, I’m reminded that each era had its own unique challenges. Somehow, they found a way through. We only have two choices: adapt or step aside. Our job is to show up each day, be the best version of ourselves, and keep moving forward. That’s how we honor the legacy behind us and make room for the future ahead. — Nicholas P., Dickson City, PA
• It is amazing to me how lab-grown diamonds have become so accepted. We are in a college town, and almost every new bridal customer specifically asks for lab-grown diamonds with no consideration for natural diamonds. We used to encourage our bridal customers on a tight budget to spend most of their budget on the center diamond and upgrade the mounting at a later time. Today, our average semi-mount now costs twice as much as the center stone. The nice part of selling lab-grown is that we don’t have to order three or four stones for them to compare, and we no longer spend an hour viewing them under the microscope. — Rick S., Gainesville, FL
• When ordering boxes to package jewelry, the tariffs have had a huge impact on the price. Gold is also so expensive that pricing jewelry is challenging. If I price to make a profit, will my customers be able to afford it? Interesting times. — Theresa P., Edgewater, CO
• Believe it or not, tariffs and gold prices are not affecting the public mindset as much as we anticipated it would. I think people have gotten so accustomed to inflation increasing in the last few years that when they hear a higher price, they might still have sticker shock, but they have a better understanding of why the prices are higher than expected because they are hearing about it online and through the news media. People are still buying diamonds (the last 30 days saw a significant increase in interest and purchase of natural diamonds for engagement rings), they just need to be taught what to expect up front. — Amy H., Jacksonville, FL
• Running a jewelry store in today’s world feels like navigating constant crosswinds. Tariffs are now part of our daily vocabulary, gold prices remain historically high, and lab-grown diamonds are reshaping the marketplace. But as I reflect on conversations with past generations, I’m reminded that each era had its own unique challenges. Somehow, they found a way through. We only have two choices: adapt or step aside. Our job is to show up each day, be the best version of ourselves, and keep moving forward. That’s how we honor the legacy behind us and make room for the future ahead. — Nicholas P., Dickson City, PA

ERRATUM: In the 2025 INSTORE Design Awards, Heath London Jewelry’s Pink Palace earrings took Third Place in tahe Best Pearl Jewelry Over $5,000 category; in the June 2025 issue on page 48, those earrings were incorrectly identified. The correct description is below.

WORCESTER, MAPink Palace earrings in 18K yellow gold are 80 mm in length with 13.5-14.0 mm pink cultured freshwater pearls, pink spinel (107.13 TCW), rubellite tourmaline (12.43 TCW) and diamonds (0.80 TCW), $22,000

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