A ‘silver’ rush Is silver the saviour of the jewellery industry? A 45-mm sterling silver bracelet by Stuller, Inc. By Jacquie De Almeida M 68 uch has been said about silver of late. With gold continuing its upward climb and experts chiming in with predictions of $1300 per ounce (and and the trend, at least where finding a safe haven is concerned, has carried over into the jewellery industry. These days, freshly conceived silver lines pepper even elite designer collections, ones that traditionally offered jewellery in more noble metals like gold and platinum, which continue to increase in price. Is the same in store for silver? It certainly looks that way. Precious metals experts predict a bullish market for silver this year, and the upward trend has jewellery manufacturers keeping a close eye on spot prices and futures. higher), the jewellery industry continues to struggle with slow sales and a less-than-optimistic outlook for a quicker economic turnaround. yet, as investors flock to gold as a hedge against fears of u.S. inflation, low interest rates, and a weak greenback, other commodities like copper, oil, and silver are attracting more attention as safe havens. Jewellery Business ❘ February 2010