| In the post 9/11 economy, things for merchants | | | | as other retail stores. |
| and retailers have been a little shaky-but not for | | | | Such findings might be attributed to the fact that, |
| the many lucky entrepreneurs and | | | | on the whole, those who are the most active |
| businesspersons who earn their livings dealing in | | | | jewelry purchasing customers are also those least |
| the jewelry industry. It seems that diamonds are | | | | likely to feel economic strain. The jewelry industry |
| a girl's best friend, after all; and it seems that | | | | most often caters to the wealthy, a set of |
| pricy, token gems might never see the day when | | | | customers who are undeniably less prone to cut |
| they are declared: "officially out of style." | | | | back on their jewelry spending just to make up |
| One of the main secret ingredients to the | | | | for the rise in gas prices and things of that sort. |
| longevity of the jewelry market is that jewelry, | | | | They can afford to maintain their expensive |
| unlike many other things on the market, is not a | | | | tastes and habits, without much cause for worry |
| fickle new consumer product and likewise not a | | | | on the status of inflation. |
| passing fad. Styles over centuries change; this | | | | Because the government knows that jewelry |
| much we know is true. But one coveted | | | | spending is still on the rise, they continue to invest |
| centerpiece for the wrist and neckline of virtually | | | | in it. The Pak Tribune tells us of Pakistan's |
| every temptress from Helen of Troy and | | | | recent pledge to achieve $500 million in gem |
| Cleopatra to today's most popular fashion queens | | | | exports to the U.S. by 2010 is yet another a |
| is the precious gem, one of natures finest own | | | | surefire sign that investing experts do not expect |
| creations that have been even further perfected | | | | the worth of jewelry or the success of the |
| by the modern technologies of man. While clothing | | | | industry to decline at all this decade. The United |
| styles changed and evolved dramatically over | | | | States' Agency for International Development |
| time, from the loincloths and togas of our distant | | | | (USAID) is working on a new initiative to help |
| past to the poodle skirts and bellbottom jeans of | | | | increase the competitiveness of small and |
| much more recent decades, jewelry is the one | | | | medium-sized Pakistani enterprises. As a result, |
| and only ornamental element that has survived | | | | Pakistan's Gems and Jewelry sector is now ready |
| the weathering, changing times. | | | | to claim its rightful place in the US's |
| A symbol of wealth, beauty, power, and lust; | | | | high-level-export international market loop, and the |
| jewelry, in all of its various forms, represents the | | | | U.S. is guaranteed a steady supply of quality |
| human psyche, the human will, and even the | | | | foreign gems to keep quenching the world's thirst |
| human spirit. It is as rich as it is luxurious, and it | | | | for fine jewelry. |
| holds a value entirely of its own, a value above | | | | The jewelry industry remains on top, relatively |
| the value of money. Of course, every gem does | | | | untouched by the unpredictable twists, turns and |
| have its price; but remember, jewelry was traded | | | | flux's of the world economy. This is somewhat |
| long before the days of proper common | | | | due to the fact that the lure of our earth's most |
| monetary exchange-a striking green light to | | | | prized and precious stones seems to not vary |
| investors and buyers everywhere indicating that | | | | with the changes of time and circumstance. It is |
| jewelry is one of the only goods on the market | | | | also due to the fact that jewelry is so often relied |
| today that would still have worth, should the | | | | upon to uphold so many meaningful cultural |
| economy, as we know it, cease to exist. | | | | traditions that have transcended the ages. |
| In his research, Leon Lazaroff of the Chicago | | | | Jewelry will always be a part of our social fabric, |
| Tribune found that the economic sector devoted | | | | because it has been so deeply interwoven into |
| to luxury goods, one major category being | | | | our customs and traditions. Marriage proposals are |
| jewelry, has remained relatively stable and | | | | met with diamond rings and bands of gold; a |
| unaffected by recent cutbacks in consumer | | | | tradition so common to most of human history |
| spending. In today's ever-tightening economy, | | | | that it is highly unlikely that it will ever change. In |
| studies show that people are beginning to buy less | | | | an economy where the influx in gas prices means |
| and spend less. But in looking at luxury goods | | | | a decrease in sales for types of larger-model |
| retailers such as New York's popularly pricy | | | | cars, it is at lest reassuring that the jewelry |
| Tiffany & Co., statistics show that jewelry | | | | industry won't suffer the same decrease in |
| stores are typically not as economically sensitive | | | | popularity. |