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  The jewelry industry is facing challenging times as more women choose designer handbags over diamond jewelry. Now, even brides-to-be are dreaming of receiving a Hermès bag instead of a traditional engagement ring...

• Dubai to Open the World’s First Gold-Plated Pedestrian Walkway

  Dubai is preparing a new attraction for those who associate the city with luxury and record-breaking extravagance...

• Chanel, Gucci and Burberry Under Fire: What Luxury Brands Have Been Hiding From Consumers

  Luxury brands have long destroyed unsold goods to preserve exclusivity and prevent their collections from losing value. Now, the European Union is trying to put an end to the practice...

• “It’s Not a Catastrophe”: LVMH Heir Explains Why Luxury Brands Shouldn’t Panic Over the Crisis

  In an interview excerpt published by FashionNetwork, Arnault emphasized that the group’s strategy is built on patience, a forward-looking mindset, and working with the best talent. “Our strategy is to look ahead, remain patient, and work with the best talent,” he said...

• LVMH Sales Fall Again as Demand for Louis Vuitton and Dior Weakens Amid China Market Crisis

  Sales at the fashion and leather goods division of French luxury group LVMH fell 5% in the third quarter of 2026 as demand in China slowed. Early hopes of a recovery in the world’s largest luxury market have failed to materialize, casting fresh doubt on the industry’s prospects for emerging from its prolonged downturn, the Financial Times reports...

• Private Maldives Island Listed for $72 Million — and Buyers Can Pay in Cryptocurrency

  An extraordinary piece of luxury real estate has hit the market in the Maldives: a private island featuring four fully furnished villas, its own beach and a coral reef. Part of the new Baccarat Maldives resort development, the island is listed for $72 million. What makes the deal particularly unusual is that buyers can pay not only with traditional currency but also with stablecoins — digital assets pegged to the value of the US dollar, Robb Report reports...

• Luxury Is Getting Cheaper on the Stock Market: Why LVMH and Prada Now Trade at Nearly Mass-Market Valuations

  Shares of LVMH, the owner of Louis Vuitton, and Prada are trading at unusually steep discounts to mass-market companies such as Zara and H&M. And investors are in no rush to take advantage of the lower prices, worried that the best days for the luxury industry may be behind it, The Wall Street Journal reports...

• From Patek Philippe to F.P. Journe: Goldman Sachs Teaches the Wealthy How to Buy Watches as Works of Art

  Luxury watches are increasingly evolving from status symbols into fully fledged investment assets, almost on a par with works of art and other collectibles. Goldman Sachs has published its first dedicated guide to buying and collecting high-end watches and jewelry, effectively acknowledging the growing interest in these categories among wealthy clients, according to Robb Report...

A decade after Italy’s Prada listed in Hong Kong, Chinese high-fashion brand Icicle is now considering a public offering in Paris. This move reflects China’s transformation from a hub of cheap knockoffs into a center of innovation — from BYD electric vehicles and AI startups like DeepSeek to the globally popular Labubu toys, according to the Financial Times.

Homegrown luxury is fueled by government initiatives promoting guochao — the “national trend” — and growing cultural confidence. China chic now spans all markers of status consumption: fashion, jewelry, luxury cars, and fine wines. Hongqi vehicles, once reserved for communist leaders, now ferry the country’s billionaires.

This evolution poses a challenge for European luxury houses. First, Chinese products are competitively priced. In a sluggish economy with tough prospects for young professionals, spending around $500 on a Songmont handbag is a smarter choice than paying ten times that for a European label.

Business models are leaner, too — there’s no need for flagship stores on Milan or Paris’s priciest streets, and mall space is cheaper. Chinese brands are also willing to sacrifice margin: Bernstein estimates retail markups of four to five times the cost of goods sold, roughly half the multiple of European rivals.

Second, Chinese companies emphasize local heritage, incorporating traditional motifs into jewelry and historical design into furniture. This resonates with growing cultural and historical interest — for example, museum attendance over the May holidays rose 17% last year.

Third, domestic success gives Chinese brands a competitive edge abroad. While their international presence is still modest, some have begun to expand: Bosideng operates a London flagship and sells in France, while BYD demonstrates the potential of a Chinese challenger reaching global scale.

Foreign luxury groups have also invested early in Chinese brands. Exor, the Agnelli family holding, acquired Hermes’ stake in Shang Xia in 2020. LVMH owns winery Ao Yun, and Kering, Gucci’s parent, bought jewelry brand Qeelin in 2012.

Chinese companies remain relatively small, but growth is rapid. Laopu Gold, a fast-rising jewelry house, now has a market capitalization of nearly $18 billion — up from under $1 billion in 2024. Including potential acquisition premiums, this easily surpasses the inflation-adjusted price LVMH paid for Tiffany six years ago. European competitors can no longer afford to ignore the rising influence of Chinese luxury.

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