Where Gold Is
As of January 27, 2026, gold has reached a historic milestone, trading at over $5,000 per ounce.
Gold has always held a unique place in history. When its value rises dramatically, it sends a message far beyond financial markets. It touches families, businesses, artisans, and communities who interact with gold not as a number on a screen, but as something meaningful that becomes part of life’s most important moments.
At Wexford Jewelers, with three decades of serving Northern Michigan and beyond, we view times like this not as a reason to react emotionally, but as a call to respond thoughtfully and responsibly for the people who trust us.
Where Gold Was One Year Ago
On January 27, 2025, gold was trading at approximately $2,767 per ounce. In just one year, the value of gold has nearly doubled. That kind of movement is rare in any market and speaks to the strength of the forces driving today’s precious metals landscape.
Silver has followed a similar path. One year ago, silver was trading near $30 per ounce. Today, silver has climbed beyond $100 per ounce, creating historic pricing levels that affect everything from fine jewelry to everyday silver pieces.
These changes are not driven by local businesses, individual jewelers, or even national retailers. They are shaped by global economic conditions, central bank policies, geopolitical events, and investor behavior around the world.
What This Means for You as a Consumer
When gold and silver rise to these levels, the impact becomes visible in the jewelry case.
The value of a piece of jewelry is made up of multiple parts. There is the metal itself, the craftsmanship, the design, the gemstones, and the service that stands behind it. When the raw material doubles in price, the foundation of the piece changes before a single tool is lifted at the workbench.
This does not mean that beauty, meaning, or celebration should stop. It simply means that being informed and intentional matters more than ever.
For many clients, this moment becomes an opportunity to think differently. Some choose to invest in the highest karat and quality for their investment, while others explore alternative metals and styles without carrying the full weight of solid gold pricing.
Our role is to help you understand those choices clearly, without pressure, and with respect for both your budget and your vision.
What This Means for Us as a Retailer
At Wexford Jewelers, our commitment is not to chase headlines or ride market emotion. Our commitment is to educate and operate sustainably. That means we focus on three things above all else.
First, transparency. We believe you deserve to understand why prices change, how metal markets affect jewelry costs, and what options exist at every level of the market.
Second, fairness. Even in volatile conditions, we work to keep our pricing in line with the broader industry and the real cost of materials, without inflating or exploiting the moment.
Third, integrity. Our reputation has been built over decades, not market cycles. We will not compromise quality, honesty, or service for short term gain.
How We Are Responding Thoughtfully
Rather than reacting, we are expanding and refining our offerings to meet today’s reality with creativity and care.
We are continuing to develop fashion collections in 10 Karat gold for pieces meant to be worn, enjoyed, and styled without the full cost of higher Karat solid gold. These pieces offer beauty and durability for everyday and occasional wear while remaining more accessible in a high market.
We are curating sterling silver collections layered with 14 Karat and 18 Karat gold, giving clients the look and feel of gold with a more approachable price point and still being precious metals. We are also exploring long wearing gold filled options that provide timeless style and strong performance without the full investment of solid gold.
In bridal and heirloom pieces, our standards remain unchanged. These are meant to last generations, and we continue to build & offer them with the highest level of material and craftsmanship.
A Historic Moment for Selling or Repurposing Gold
For those who already own gold, this market presents a unique opportunity. If you have chains, rings, bracelets, or heirloom pieces that sit unworn in drawers or jewelry boxes, now is one of the strongest environments in history to bring them in.
Some clients choose to sell their gold and take advantage of current pricing. Others choose something even more meaningful, repurposing their gold into a new design that honors the past while creating something personal for the present.
An old ring can become a pendant. A broken chain can become a bracelet. A family piece can be transformed into something that fits your life today while still carrying its story forward.
Choosing Resourcefulness Over Fear
It is easy for moments like this to create anxiety. Headlines can make it feel as though everything is out of reach. We believe the better response is creativity, education, and intention.
Markets rise and markets fall. What remains steady is the meaning behind the pieces we create and the relationships we build with the people who walk through our doors.
A Real Conversation About Understanding and Grace
Recently, a customer shared frustration that a piece purchased last year now reflects a much higher material value today. We understand that feeling. It is natural to want stability.
But the gold market does not move based on individual stores, personal expectation, or local pricing decisions. It reflects global supply and demand, financial policy, and investor behavior on a worldwide scale.
If we could control the market, we would. If we could hold every piece at last year’s price, we certainly would!
What we can promise is this. We will continue to serve with honesty. We will continue to explain with patience. We will continue to treat every client with respect and care as we navigate this evolving landscape together.
Looking Ahead
No one can predict with certainty where gold and silver will go next. Some analysts believe prices may continue upward. Others anticipate periods of volatility. What we do know is that precious metals have historically held significance through times of change.
Here at Wexford Jewelers, our path forward is clear. We will remain a place of guidance, not pressure. We will remain a place of craftsmanship, not compromise. We will remain a place of legacy, not trends.
For three generations and counting, our purpose has been to help you mark life’s moments with beauty, meaning, and trust. No matter where the market moves next, that commitment does not change.
