In 1978, the jewelry industry employed 40,098 people, according to R.I. Department of Labor and Training data. Last year the industry employed 3,299 in the Ocean State.
And while the more than 90 percent decline in numbers tells a tale, the full story is not completely negative. Many of the qualities that made Rhode Island a global leader in jewelry manufacturing are still in play today.
There are very few of the old-line, vertically integrated manufacturers remaining – global player Alex and Ani LLC is one of the few. But thanks to tradition, family ties and stellar jewelry-making, academic support at Rhode Island College and the Rhode Island School of Design, a new generation of artisans has set down roots here. And while it is too early to say that the industry is growing, the players still left and the ones new to the market have adapted well to the challenges of the 21st century.
Whether responding quickly to new trends, or developing a more-flexible supply chain, today’s jewelry industry is better prepared to thrive. And Rhode Island is better off for that reality.