January 31 — International Jeweler's Day: history, traditions, how to congratulate

The International Jeweler's Day is celebrated annually in Russia and around the world on January 31. In 2026, the date falls on a Saturday. Read about the history of the holiday, the development of jewelry, as well as the traditions of the celebration in the Izvestia article.

International Jeweler's Day – 2026: the history of the holiday

For the first time, the idea of establishing a holiday was announced in 2002 at the Golden Ring of Russia Festival in Kostroma, one of the traditional centers of Russian jewelry production. It took six years to realize the idea. The final decision on the establishment of the International Jeweler's Day was made in 2008 at the festival of young jewelers in Tashkent. January 31 was chosen as the date — during this period, the stamps of the craftsmen are traditionally registered and updated, confirming the authorship and quality of the products.

The history of jewelry art dates back several millennia. Archaeologists are finding jewelry made of bones, shells and stones about 100 thousand years old. About 3 thousand years before our era, the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt mastered the processing of gold and began to create intricate jewelry with turquoise, lapis lazuli, and carnelian. These items emphasized the high status of the owner, and were sometimes included in religious rituals.

In ancient Greece, artistic stone carving was particularly developed, and craftsmen made elegant silver and gold jewelry with gems. In Rome, silver, pearls and colored stones were actively used. In India, they created intricate jewelry with rubies and emeralds, in China — unique objects made of jade, often bearing a deep symbolic meaning.

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In medieval Europe, jewelry making reached a new level — craftsmen joined guilds, built a system of training and quality control, and formed local schools. Venice, Paris, London and other major cities became the centers of the craft. During the Renaissance, the development of technology made it possible to create complex enamel ornaments, miniature portraits on medallions. The largest artists of the time, including Leonardo da Vinci, participated in the development of the sketches.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, famous jewelry houses were formed, diamond processing techniques developed, and a classic "diamond" cut with 57 facets was formed. In the 20th century, new artistic styles (Art Nouveau, Art Deco and minimalism) contributed to the fact that jewelry became a mass product, and jewelry design became a part of the fashion industry.

Jewelry business in Russia

In Russia, jewelry was formed under the influence of Byzantine traditions, but it quickly acquired its own special, recognizable features. Already in Ancient Russia, in the 9th–15th centuries, craftsmen actively worked with silver and gold, using complex techniques: scan (delicate wire ornament), grain (surface decoration with tiny metal balls), hot enamel.

During the Muscovite Empire in the XV–XVII centuries, jewelry became an important part of court culture. Special workshops were created to serve the royal family and the upper nobility. Crowns, sceptres, orbs, and ceremonial wands were encrusted with precious stones and gold, and in parallel, the trend of jewelers and gunsmiths developed, they were engaged in the decoration of blades, hilts, saddles, and ceremonial accessories.

The church was a major customer of jewelry. Precious salaries for icons, crosses, tabernacles and other items of liturgical use were made for churches. These items often became examples of the highest level of craftsmanship and the most complex techniques.

Since the beginning of the XVIII century, during the time of Peter the Great, jewelry in Russia began to develop according to the European model. Manufactories, grinding and cutting factories were opened in the country, and industrial production of precious metal products was established. In the 19th century, Russia became one of the world's elite jewelry artists. It was during this period that Carl Faberge, Pavel Ovchinnikov, Ivan Khlebnikov and other masters created, whose works are still considered reference.

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After the 1917 revolution, jewelry production was nationalized, private workshops were closed, and jewelry production was concentrated at state-owned enterprises. In the 1930s, mass production of products designed for a wide range of customers began. In the 1960s and 1970s, traditional techniques such as scanning, filigree, and enamel revived in the wake of interest in folk crafts.

In the 1990s, after the collapse of the USSR, the private jewelry business in Russia was actually reborn. New domestic brands, small design workshops, and design studios have appeared. Today, Russian jewelers create both mass collections and high-quality pieces.

Traditions of the International Jeweler's Day

In Russia, on International Jeweler's Day, a number of major cities host themed events, from industry exhibitions to chamber presentations. Jewelry houses and workshops show exclusive jewelry lines, present new metal and stone processing technologies, discuss design trends and changes in consumer demand.

Professional associations and chambers of commerce and industry organize skill competitions. Specialized educational institutions host special lectures and meetings with practicing designers and cutters. The workshops demonstrate handmade techniques and show how modern technologies are integrated into classic jewelry processes.

Major jewelry centers in Italy, France, and Switzerland are hosting private shows of new collections for regular customers and partners. In the United States, some companies launch charitable initiatives and donate a share of the proceeds to support young designers and educational programs.

Happy International Jeweler's Day — the best greetings

On January 31, congratulations are received by professionals whose activities are related to jewelry and jewelry design: master jewelers, metal and stone artists, cutters, fashion designers and designers, quality control specialists, restorers of museum collections, teachers and students of specialized educational institutions, as well as collectors and experts who preserve and study the heritage of jewelry art. Izvestia has prepared several examples of sincere wishes:

"Congratulations on the International Jeweler's Day! We wish that in your work there are always enough difficult tasks and pleasure from the result, and every product that comes out from under your hands finds its connoisseur. May your professional reputation be as impeccable as the cutting of your finest stones!"

"Dear jewelers, congratulations on your professional holiday! You know how to reveal the character of the stone. We wish you bold ideas, clients who are ready to appreciate the author's view, and projects that will be included in the golden fund of your professional biography!"

"Happy International Jeweler's Day! We wish you patience in your routine work, stubbornness in honing your skills, and joy in making products that you can truly be proud of. Let your customers appreciate your work, and your work will be synonymous with reliability and taste!"

"Congratulations on the International Jeweler's Day! You know how to turn metal and stone into art, combining creativity and production. May there always be as much respect and mutual support within the team as you pay attention to every facet of your products!"

"Happy holidays! You can see history in metal and stone, and you live in two worlds at once — the world of ideas and the world of technology. Let no strong sketch remain only on paper. We wish you customers who come not just for a product, but for a personal story. Happy International Jeweler's Day!"

Earlier, Izvestia reported on the history and traditions of celebrating the International Customs Officer's Day.