Steel Valley JewelryUpdated September 28, 2026
A concise reference on the jewelry-store landscape, the small businesses within it, and the material supply behind the work. Every figure below links to its original source and reports the source’s stated period.
The short version
Jewelry is a broad field, from independent makers and local specialists to large retailers and global material markets. The figures here do not try to flatten that variety into one number. They offer a well-defined view of U.S. jewelry stores and the gold supply chain that supports much of the category.
employer jewelry-store establishments
The U.S. Census Bureau counted 19,897 employer establishments in the Jewelry Stores industry in 2023. This industry covers retailers of new jewelry, sterling and plated silverware, and new watches and clocks.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns ↗Source period: 2023of jewelry stores had fewer than five employees
In 2022, 10,917 of 19,348 U.S. jewelry-store establishments had fewer than five employees. The share is calculated from the Census Bureau’s establishment counts, and shows how much of the retail landscape is made up of very small businesses.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 County Business Patterns ↗Source period: 2022in annual payroll at U.S. jewelry stores
Jewelry Stores reported $5.289637 billion in annual payroll in 2022. This is payroll reported for the retail industry classification, not a measure of all jewelry manufacturing or online sales.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 County Business Patterns ↗Source period: 2022of U.S. gold-mine production in 2024
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated domestic gold-mine production at 160 metric tons in 2024, valued at $12 billion. Gold is one of the materials that continues to shape jewelry supply, design, and pricing.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 ↗Source period: 2024 data, published January 2025of global gold consumption went to jewelry
For the first nine months of 2024, jewelry represented an estimated 45% of global gold consumption, excluding exchange-traded funds and similar investments. It remained the largest stated use in the USGS summary.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 ↗Source period: First nine months of 2024, published January 2025of new and old gold scrap recycled in the U.S.
The USGS estimated 90 metric tons of new and old gold scrap were recycled in 2024, equal to about 45% of reported U.S. gold consumption. Recycling is a meaningful part of the material picture alongside newly mined metal.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 ↗Source period: 2024 data, published January 2025What these figures describe
The retail figures use the Census Bureau’s Jewelry Stores classification. That is useful for understanding dedicated retailers, but it does not include every maker, marketplace seller, repair specialist, or brand that sells jewelry through another channel.
The material figures come from the U.S. Geological Survey. They help explain the scale and circulation of gold, but they are not a price guide and do not predict what any individual piece should cost. A handmade ring is still shaped by its design, materials, labor, fit, finish, and the maker behind it.
Method and sources
This page brings together publicly available figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Geological Survey. Figures are presented as reported, except the 56.4% small-business share, which is calculated as 10,917 divided by 19,348. Source periods are shown with each statistic so older, reliable reference data is not mistaken for a current-year estimate.
Steel Valley Jewelry. “U.S. Jewelry Industry Statistics: Stores, Materials & Craft.” Updated September 28, 2026. https://steelvalleyjewelry.com/jewelry-industry-statistics
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