rethink, reuse, recover

A handful of luxury jewelrs have begun charting new horizons in the realm of second hand – whether through re-earthed and polished up iconic pieces; offering trade-ins; or reselling through resale platforms. Kering has already adapted this hot trend and owns a 5% stake in Vestiaire Collective, a pre-owned platform for luxury brands.

This is a clear segway towards upping the allure for Gen Z with greater accessibility, emphasis on the archival and iconic and mindfulness on the sustainability front, as second-hand boasts a lower carbon footprint. On Vestiaire Collective, jewelry sales are growing by 173% YOY, outpacing handbags which increased by 171%. Some top sellers on the platform include Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co., up 324% and Clic H from Hermès, up 291%.

As part of Vestiaire Collective’s Brand Approved program, Kering-owned Alexander McQueen has opened the doors for customers to sell their pre-loved Alexander McQueen items. Once fully vetted and verified by brand experts, the reseller receives credit and can put it towards new purchases from the brand.

Tiffany & Co. has launched a program which enables its US-based clients to upgrade their original Tiffany diamond engagement rings. Requests are reviewed and proud Tiffany ring owners are awarded with credit up to the original purchase, which can be applied towards a new Tiffany engagement ring. It’s a great way to keep in touch with customers on a continual basis and build long lasting relationships.

Riding the wave of iconic jewelry’s current mega moment, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels have unveiled their archival collections. Cartier with Cartier Tradition for jewelry and Vintage for watches; and Van Cleef & Arpels’ Heritage. After authenticating, repairing and cleaning the iconic pieces, the pieces are up for grabs by jewelry aficionados.