Colombo Jewellery Stores

What Colombo Jewellery Stores does

Colombo Jewellery Stores (CJS) is a privately held Sri Lankan luxury jewellery and watch retailer founded in 1922 by Thaha Cassim and now led in its third generation by Chairman Akram Cassim. The company designs, crafts, and sells fine jewellery using precious metals and gemstones — particularly world-renowned Sri Lankan sapphires and rare gems sourced through local and international purveyors — and operates as the sole agent and distributor in Sri Lanka for four Swiss luxury watch brands: TAG Heuer (since 2003), Hublot (since 2014), Bvlgari (since 2015), and Breitling (since 2017). CJS distributes through nine or more retail touchpoints including its Alfred House Gardens flagship in Colombo 3, the One Galle Face Mall centenary showroom (2022), Colombo City Centre (2018), heritage buildings in Galle and Colombo Fort, hotel outlets at Mount Lavinia and Cinnamon Grand, and the dedicated TAG Heuer boutique, supplemented by an e-commerce platform at cjs.lk.

The business operates a one-time-purchase, quote-based pricing model with no publicly disclosed price lists, alongside installment payment options via Union Bank of Ceylon (3–60 months) and a FlySmiLes frequent flyer mile partnership. Its go-to-market leans on aspirational brand storytelling through a sustained 11-year brand ambassador relationship with Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez, the Otara Gunewardene celebrity jewellery collaboration (since 2009), Official Jewellery Partner status at Colombo Fashion Week (since 2008), and recurring conservation-themed limited-edition pendants tied to wildlife and marine NGOs. Customer segments span affluent luxury consumers, luxury watch enthusiasts, conscious luxury buyers, gemstone collectors, gift buyers, and international tourists, with no single-customer concentration disclosed. The company employs approximately 14 people per firmographic data, though actual retail and workshop headcount is likely larger; no revenue, profit, or external capital figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Colombo Jewellery Stores

Legal name

Colombo Jewellery Stores

Website

https://cjs.lk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Colombo Jewellery Stores is a 104-year-old, family-owned Sri Lankan luxury jewellery and watch retailer designing fine jewellery featuring Sri Lankan sapphires and serving as sole agent for TAG Heuer, Hublot, Breitling, and Bvlgari across nine retail locations in Sri Lanka.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Jewellery and Watch Retail

NAICS

Jewelry Retailers (458310), Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991)

SIC

Retail-Jewelry Stores (5944), Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911)

akta.pro primary industry

Precious Metal Jewelry (Gold/Platinum/Silver) (CRAKAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bespoke Fine Jewelry (Precious Metals & Gemstones) (CRAKAHAA), Bespoke Jewelry Collections for Brands (Design Services) (CRAKAHAJ)

Keywords

• Luxury jewellery retail
• Precious gemstone sales
• Fine jewellery crafting
• Luxury watch distribution
• Bespoke jewellery design

Headquarters

HQ city

Colombo

HQ country

Sri Lanka

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fine Jewellery Sales: Core revenue from designing, crafting, and selling fine jewellery including rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and bespoke pieces. Products feature precious metals (gold, silver, platinum) and gemstones including diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and Sri Lankan-origin stones.
2. Luxury Watch Sales and Distribution: Revenue from acting as sole agent and distributor for Tag Heuer, Hublot, Breitling, and Bvlgari luxury watches. Includes dedicated boutique store operations at Alfred House Gardens and One Galle Face Mall, TAG Heuer Boutique at One Galle Face, and participation at FACETS Sri Lanka trade events.
3. Precious Gem Sales: Sale of individual precious and semi-precious gemstones including sapphires (blue, pink, yellow), rubies, emeralds, diamonds, citrine, aquamarine, amethyst, star sapphires, star rubies, and cat's eye stones.
4. Gift Vouchers and Limited-Edition Pieces: Sale of gift vouchers in themed designs (Classic, Art Deco, Unforgettable, Colourburst, Inspired) and limited-edition conservation-themed pendants (whale shark, elephant, leopard) where proceeds support marine and wildlife conservation partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Colombo Jewellery Stores designs, crafts, and retails fine jewellery (earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets) featuring precious metals and gemstones, with a particular focus on Sri Lankan sapphires and rare gems, along with themed and bespoke collections. The company also sells loose precious and semi-precious gemstones and operates as sole agent and distributor for international luxury watch brands including TAG Heuer, Hublot, Breitling, and Bvlgari in Sri Lanka.

Product overview

Colombo Jewellery Stores (CJS) is a Sri Lankan luxury jewellery retailer founded in 1922, operating as a single-brand, multi-category luxury goods company. The core offering spans fine jewellery (earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets), precious gems (sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds), and luxury watches (Tag Heuer, Hublot, Breitling, Bvlgari). The company also offers gift vouchers and limited-edition conservation-themed jewellery collections supporting environmental causes. CJS distributes through physical flagship stores (Alfred House Gardens, One Galle Face Mall, Galle Dutch Hospital, Colombo City Centre) and an e-commerce platform at cjs.lk.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fine Jewellery
• Precious Gems
• Luxury Watches
• Gift Vouchers
• Conservation Pendant Collections
• Sapphire Island Collection
• Otara Collection
• TAG Heuer Boutique Retail
• Oceanswell Educational Books and Merchandise

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 years of uninterrupted brand operation since 1922, surviving major disruptions including the 1983 riots (which destroyed the flagship store) and economic hardships.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Emerge Lanka FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership announced on International Women's Day 2021 with Emerge Lanka, a social organization supporting sexually abused teenage survivors in Sri Lanka. CJS supports the 'Beads-to-Business' initiative where victims receive therapy through jewellery crafting and business management skills. CJS provides a sales platform for the programme's creations.
• Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Key collaboration with WNPS for their 125th anniversary in 2019, hosting Saba Douglas-Hamilton and unveiling 125 limited-edition elephant pendants with Mahela Jayawardene. Proceeds donated to WNPS conservation projects. In 2023, collaborated on Sri Lankan leopard conservation with 130 limited-edition leopard pendants sold within hours. LED Light Repelling System introduced to farmers as part of elephant conflict mitigation.
• OceanswellflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership formed in 2018 with marine biologist Dr. Asha de Vos's Oceanswell for the 'Ocean Blues to Oceanswell' marine conservation campaign. Created the Blue Whale Pendant (2019) — 50 limited-edition pendants set with sapphire eyes, 100% of proceeds to Oceanswell. Pandas of the Sea collection featuring orcas launched at FACETS 2026. Also collaborated on whale shark pendant (2026) and educational books on marine life.
• Supercar Sundowner / Performalux ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Official Jewellery Partner for 'Supercar Sundowner' — an exclusive networking event for Sri Lankan and Indian Supercar owners, initiated by the Performalux Club. The event served as a platform for CJS to showcase its brand personality to an ultra-high-net-worth audience.
• Positive Sri LankaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2018Joined the 'Positive Sri Lanka' movement founded after the 2018 Easter Sunday tragedy. The movement promoted positivism and spending on local brands to raise funding for sectors impacted by the terrorist attacks.
• BreitlingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017CJS became sole agent and distributor for Breitling in 2017. Breitling is the inventor of the modern chronograph with associations to major aeronautical events. The partnership was described as harmonious with CJS' promise of uncompromised quality.
• Galle Literary FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Hosted wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Saba Douglas-Hamilton as speaker at the Galle Literary Festival in 2016, delivering messages on elephant conservation as part of the Unforgettable campaign. Also hosted Saba at WNPS 125th anniversary event in 2019.
• BvlgariminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015Partnership with Bvlgari launched in 2015 as Sri Lankan shoppers shifted to high fashion trends. Together, CJS and Bvlgari offered discerning customers exquisitely crafted watches as statements of refinement and prestige.
• Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015CJS served as matriarch sponsor for 'Sri Lankan Elephant 2016' — a trilingual travelling awareness and education exhibition covering 12 cities over 50 days, focused on educating the public on Sri Lanka's elephant population and wildlife species.
• HublotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014CJS appointed as sole agent and distributor for Hublot in Sri Lanka in 2014. Described as a 'perfect union' where CJS' essence of timeless elegance found synergy with Hublot's art of fusion. CJS has hosted Hublot brand events including a cricket star meet-and-greet with Rohit Sharma in 2017.
• Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership launched in 2014 for the 'Unforgettable – A future in the Wild' elephant conservation campaign. CEO Akram Cassim, Brand Ambassador Jacqueline Fernandez, and villagers walked through elephant corridors to understand human-elephant conflict. Initiatives include the Ele-Friendly Bus donation (2015), LED Light Repelling System for farmers (2019), and Project Orange Elephant (2017) providing orange crops as elephant deterrents while uplifting rural livelihoods.
• SriLankan Airlines (FlySmiLes)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership with Sri Lankan Airlines' frequent flyer programme FlySmiLes, offering members flight miles for every jewellery and watch purchase at CJS. This exclusivity extended CJS' reach to the jet-setting membership of Sri Lanka's national carrier.
• Jacqueline FernandezflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2011Former Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World and Bollywood star appointed as Brand Ambassador in 2011, launching the 'Quite Simply Stunning' campaign. Has featured in virtually all major campaigns over 11 years including Roaring 20s (2012), 95 Years of Timeless Glamour (2017), Unforgettable elephant conservation, Ocean Blues marine conservation, and centenary celebrations (2022). Described as multi-award-winning and the face of CJS' international-class positioning.
• Otara GunewardenecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2009Collaboration with fashion entrepreneur and ODEL founder Otara Gunewardene since 2009, launching 'Otara' — Sri Lanka's first celebrity jewellery range. The high-profile collaboration launched CJS to elevated status. Subsequent collections include Hoola range (2014). Nine collections created through this collaboration. Otara participated in the centenary 100-day countdown event in 2021.
• Colombo Fashion WeekflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Official Jewellery Partner of Sri Lanka's premier fashion event since 2008. Multiple collections debuted on the CFW runway: Silver (2012), Wild Horses Equestrian (2013), Hometown (2014), Cool Luxury (2014), Unforgettable (2015), Love. Obsession. Romance. (2016), 95 Years of Timeless Glamour (2017). Also participated in CFW Resort Wear Shows in Galle Fort. Collaboration signifies CJS' fashion-focus and time-relevance.
• TAG HeuercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2003CJS appointed as sole agent and distributor for TAG Heuer in Sri Lanka in 2003. This marked an evolutionary turn for the business, contributing to stronger international positioning. TAG Heuer has grown to command its own niche in Sri Lankan luxury retail. A dedicated TAG Heuer Boutique was opened at One Galle Face Mall in 2021, and CJS manages the entire brand presence including participation in golf tournaments with the Royal Colombo Golf Club.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Jos Alukkas: Indian fine jewellery retailer with international store network, focused on gold and precious stone jewellery for South Asian consumers. Directly comparable to CJS in product category, customer demographic, and multi-country retail footprint.
• Tanishq: India's largest fine jewellery retail chain (Tata Group), specialising in branded gold and precious stone jewellery with strong regional design heritage. Highly comparable to CJS on heritage-led positioning, fine-jewellery retail model, and culturally rooted craftsmanship story.
• Joyalukkas: Global South Asian fine jewellery chain with retail operations across the Middle East, India, and Sri Lanka. Competes directly with CJS on gold and precious stone jewellery, multi-store retail, and diaspora luxury customer segments.
• Malabar Gold & Diamonds: One of the largest jewellery retailers in South Asia with direct Sri Lanka operations, retailing fine gold and diamond jewellery through large-format stores. Directly comparable to CJS in product mix (precious metals, gemstones), retail model, and South Asian target customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Bvlgari: Italian luxury jewellery and watch maison and one of CJS's distribution partners in Sri Lanka since 2015. Relevant as both an aspirational peer (high-end Italian fine jewellery) and as a supplier-principal whose agency relationship CJS depends on.
• Chow Tai Fook: Hong Kong-headquartered fine jewellery and gold retailer with the largest market share in mainland China. Comparable to CJS as a regional heritage jewellery retailer with vertically integrated design, gem sourcing, and multi-channel retail.
• Cartier: Global luxury jewellery and watch maison with heritage exceeding 175 years. Comparable to CJS as a benchmark for legacy-brand positioning, high-jewellery craftsmanship, and aspirational luxury storytelling even though Cartier operates at materially larger scale globally.
• Tiffany & Co. Iconic global luxury jeweller offering fine gold, platinum, and diamond jewellery. While broader and globally distributed, Tiffany represents the standard against which CJS positions itself on heritage, craftsmanship, and premium pricing for Sri Lankan HNW consumers.

Regional players

• Luk Fook Jewellery: Hong Kong-based fine jewellery chain with Greater China focus. Comparable to CJS in product mix (gold, diamonds, gemstones), regional heritage positioning, and multi-store retail model — though not directly competitive in Sri Lanka.
• Poh Heng Jewellery: Singapore-based heritage fine jeweller founded in 1948, offering gold and diamond jewellery to Southeast Asian HNW consumers. Comparable to CJS in regional luxury positioning, multi-generational heritage, and South-East Asian high-end customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colombo-jewellery-stores

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colombo Jewellery Stores