15 Jewelry Making Business Success Stories [2024]
The global jewelry market size was valued at $278B in 2018 and is expected to reach $292B by 2025.
The industry comprises manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and jewelry designers. Unlike many other industries that have gone through leaps in technology, the jewelry industry has remained untouched for over 40 years.
If you know how to make jewelry, then this might be a great way to make some extra money.
In this list, you'll find real-world jewelry making business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a jewelry making business that makes money.
1. QALO ($24M/year)
KC Holiday and Ted Baker, co-founders of QALO, came up with the idea for their functional wedding ring business after getting married and realizing that traditional metal rings didn't fit their active lifestyles. They spent six months developing and manufacturing their silicone rings, and launched their online store in 2013. Their dedication paid off as they now have over 2 million customers and are set to exceed $100 million in total revenue this year.
How much money it makes: $24M/year
How many people on the team: 45
QALO co-founders transformed the jewelry industry with their innovative focus on product evolution, resulting in over 2 million community members and more than $100M in revenue since 2013.
2. Merci Maman ($4.8M/year)
Arnaud de Montille and his wife Beatrice founded Merci Maman in 2007 after Beatrice struggled to find quality personalized jewelry at affordable prices for their daughter's first birthday. Since then, the company has grown significantly, and their signature "Duchess Necklace" worn by Kate Middleton in 2014 has become a best-seller. Today, Merci Maman generates over $5 million in annual sales, ships 75,000 orders globally, and continues to expand its product offering and improve its customer experience.
How much money it makes: $4.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $7.5K
How many people on the team: 42
Merci Maman is a personalized jewelry brand founded in 2007 by Arnaud and Béatrice de Montille, generating over $5m in sales annually with flagship product 'Duchess Necklace' still a best-seller, shipping 75k orders a year worldwide with profits completely reinvested back into the business.
3. Inspiranza Designs ($4.8M/year)
Diane and her business partner started Inspiranza Designs with just $500 and a dream. After experiencing a downturn in sales, they changed their business model and reinvented their jewelry line, eventually turning their company into a multi-million dollar business with annual sales of over $4.7 million. They have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine.
How much money it makes: $4.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 8
Inspiranza Designs' Diane and Dawn started their sterling silver and gemstone jewelry business with just $500 and a big dream; revenue has grown from a mere $100,000 to approximately $400,000 per month, and generated over $4.7 million in sales in 2018.
4. Taylor & Hart ($4.62M/year)
Nikolay Piriankov, the founder of Taylor & Hart, had a personal frustration when searching for an ethically sourced engagement ring online. Teamed up with his friend David Sutton, who had experience in the wholesale diamond trade, they decided to create Rare Pink (now Taylor & Hart) in 2013 to offer bespoke and affordable engagement rings. Their first customer, Piers, requested a custom-designed ring, and the impact of this experience led them to focus on custom designs and storytelling in their brand evolution.
How much money it makes: $4.62M/year
How many people on the team: 27
Taylor & Hart CEO Nikolay Piriankov tells the story of the company's journey from a diamond trading business to an award-winning, disruptive e-tailer of custom-designed, ethical engagement rings and fine jewelry, offering a bespoke design service through specifically developed technology online and instore, and growing to £4-6M in annual revenue.
5. Pearls of Joy ($2.4M/year)
Kevin Canning, founder of Pearls of Joy, came up with the idea for his business by recognizing the high markups in the jewelry industry, particularly with pearls. By sourcing pearls internationally and selling them directly to consumers online, Canning was able to offer high-quality pearls at a fraction of the typical retail price. Through transparency and education, he built trust and authority in the industry, resulting in the rapid growth of his business, with 150% growth year-to-date and projected revenue of $2.5M for 2018.
How much money it makes: $2.4M/year
How many people on the team: 4
Kevin Canning, founder of Pearls of Joy, established the world's fastest-growing pearl jewelry company by sourcing top-grade pearls for 80% below traditional luxury retail, enabling the company to trend at around 150% growth while expecting to close 2018 with $2.5M in revenue.
6. Shenzhen Shibao Jewelry Co., Ltd ($1.2M/year)
Long Shuai, the founder of Silverbene, came up with the idea for his jewelry wholesale business after realizing the inefficiencies in the production processes of silver jewelry factories in China. He saw an opportunity to use information technology to standardize the manufacturing process and improve efficiency. With a revenue of $450K per month and over 3,500 jewelry store clients worldwide, Silverbene is now a successful business in the industry.
How much money it makes: $1.2M/year
How much did it cost to start: $200K
How many people on the team: 10
Silverbene, a silver jewelry design and manufacturing company, supplies over 3,500 jewelry stores worldwide, sending out over 90,000 items per month with a revenue of $450K USD per month, using information technology to standardize the production process and paying attention to international fashion trends while designing products.
7. costanté ($900K/year)
Connie Hung, the founder of fine jewelry brand Costanté, originally came from a background in Finance and Operations. After volunteering for a Planned Parenthood fundraiser and experiencing the joy of creating community, she decided to launch Costanté, a women-owned business that gives back to the community. With a focus on minimal elegance and customization, Costanté has seen consistent growth in sales and plans to expand into more online stockists and boutique shops in the future.
How much money it makes: $900K/year
How much did it cost to start: $100K
How many people on the team: 3
28-year-old Taiwanese American immigrant Connie Hung founded Costanté, a handmade fine jewelry brand that reported $75,000 in monthly revenue, by utilizing her passion for humanitarianism and her experience with building community during her corporate career to breathe life into her mission to bring human connection to the fine jewelry industry.
8. Purpose Jewelry ($852K/year)
, working with the team there, and we are hopeful for the impact we can make in that region. We are currently in the process of expanding our wholesale business and growing our online sales. Our goal is to continue raising awareness about human trafficking and provide sustainable employment for survivors.
How much money it makes: $852K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 90
Non-profit International Sanctuary and Purpose Jewelry generate $850k annually by selling handmade jewelry and providing job opportunities for young women who have escaped human trafficking in five locations globally.
9. Quirksmith ($479K/year)
Pragya Batra, co-founder of Quirksmith, came up with the idea for her handcrafted jewelry business while attending pop-up markets with her sister and jewelry designer, Divya Batra. They noticed the potential for their unique and quirky designs to resonate with customers, leading them to launch their website on Shopify in 2016. Since then, Quirksmith has grown to process orders worth $40,000 every month, with digital ads on Facebook and Instagram being their primary source of traffic.
How much money it makes: $479K/year
How many people on the team: 5
Quirksmith co-founders built a sustainable and profitable business that gets over 100k visitors on their website every month and generates $40,000 of orders per month, with over 95% of their sales driven through their own website, using digital ads and leveraging social media to make customers their brand ambassadors.
10. Aziza Jewelry ($240K/year)
Aziza, the founder of Aziza Jewelry, started her business by making custom mother-daughter earring sets for a customer who wanted matching earrings to go with their matching tattoos. This concept sparked her idea to create jewelry that strengthens the bond between mothers and daughters. Today, Aziza Jewelry generates around $5,000 per month in revenue and offers a range of customizable pieces, including name necklaces and bracelets.
How much money it makes: $240K/year
How many people on the team: 1
A jewelry business founder discusses how she started her $5k/month side hustle selling custom word necklaces and shares advice on making connections in your industry, investing in yourself, and using social media for marketing.
11. Vivalatina Jewelry ($200K/year)
Nicolas Tranchant, founder of Vivalatina Jewelry, started the business out of love and necessity. He and his wife needed additional cash flow, so they decided to create an online jewelry shop in 2009. Despite lacking knowledge in marketing and sales, Nicolas persevered and shifted the business model to focus on custom-made jewelry and his own designs. With a strong emphasis on SEO, Vivalatina Jewelry has since attracted over 60,000 monthly visitors and generated $160,000 in revenue in 2020.
How much money it makes: $200K/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
How many people on the team: 4
French founder Nicolas Tranchant shares how he built Vivalatina Jewelry, an online jewelry business that generates $14k in monthly revenue using SEO as the main marketing strategy, with a focus on high-end, custom-made gold jewelry.
12. Bang-Up Betty ($84K/year)
Stacey, the founder of Bang-Up Betty, initially started making jewelry as a hobby, creating funny and bold pieces with curse words and silly phrases. She quickly learned that staying true to herself and her designs was more important than trying to please everyone. With average monthly revenue of $6,000 and features in sites like Buzzfeed and Huffington Post, Bang-Up Betty has grown into a successful business known for its feminist and progressive tendencies.
How much money it makes: $84K/year
How many people on the team: 1
How Stacey turned her handmade jewelry hobby into a business that generates an average revenue of $6,000 per month, with a focus on staying true to your designs and customers, and the importance of organic marketing through social media and SEO.
13. Gold Pan Pete Design ($30K/year)
Alex Moore, a primary school PE teacher, came up with the idea for his handmade jewelry business after finding gold in New Zealand and wanting to incorporate it into his wedding ring. He took jewelry making classes and started making pieces for family and friends, which led to him selling his designs on Etsy and eventually at a local market. Moore's revenue now averages between $2500-3000 per month, with customers from all over the world.
How much money it makes: $30K/year
How many people on the team: 0
A primary school teacher found his passion for jewelry-making, turning it into a successful business generating $2500-3000 per month through sales at the Creative Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market, online, and through stockists, with plans to expand and eventually make it his full-time profession.
14. Blue Skies & Ko ($12K/year)
Katlyn, the founder of Blue Skies & Ko Boutique, started her business after rediscovering her love for crafting. She initially began hand stamping jewelry as a hobby and started an Instagram account to share her creations. After receiving custom order requests and participating in a local small business event, she realized the potential to turn her crafting hobby into a profitable business. With a focus on positivity and personalized jewelry, Katlyn launched Blue Skies & Ko Boutique, doubling her income within a few months and expanding her customer base across the United States.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K
How many people on the team: 1
Blue Skies & Ko Boutique owner turned her crafting hobby into a profitable jewelry and clothing boutique with just $2,000, doubling her income within just a few short months, and offers advice on building a brand through social media, email marketing, and expanding product offerings.
15. Ann + Joy ($12K/year)
Lindsay Ann and Courtney Joy started Ann + Joy after combining their passions for art and jewelry making. Inspired by their mother's love for gardening, they began creating unique jewelry pieces using real flowers and resin. In just their first year of business, they achieved over 5,000 online sales and generated more than $65,000 in revenue.
How much money it makes: $12K/year
How many people on the team: 2
Miami-based sisters launch a handmade flower and resin jewelry business in 2017, selling over 5,000 products and earning $65,000 in revenue within one year on Etsy alone, using social media and SEO to attract and retain customers.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
