IndustryPrices as marked

Jewelry

The same cat sits on a $290,000 Mikimoto pearl necklace and a ten-dollar enamel charm at the mall: one trademark spanning more than four orders of magnitude in price, almost none of it made by Sanrio. The top of the ladder is private or defunct. The investable exposure sits in the middle, with the listed gold jewelers of Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Jewelry is one of the widest bands in the licensing catalog, and the one with the longest price ladder. The same cat sits on a roughly $290,000 Mikimoto pearl necklace and on a ten-dollar enamel stud at the mall. Almost none of it is made by Sanrio: the company designs the character, approves the piece, and takes a royalty, and someone else runs the bench.

The high end

Mikimoto

2014

Japan · private

For Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary the Japanese pearl house made about 20 pieces in Akoya and South Sea pearls, diamonds and 18k white gold. The centerpiece, a multi-strand Akoya pearl necklace shaped as Kitty’s face, was reported at roughly $290,000, the most expensive Hello Kitty object ever made, alongside a one-of-a-kind tiara that was never for sale. Entry pieces started near $550.

Kimora Lee Simmons · Simmons Jewelry Co.

2005–2006

United States · defunct

A two-tier line at Neiman Marcus: a 2005 bridge collection in 18k gold and sterling from $300 to $3,000, then a 2006 fine line of oversized Hello Kitty heads in diamond-encrusted 18k white gold, $20,000 to $80,000. Simmons Jewelry Co. was an affiliate of M. Fabrikant & Sons, which filed for Chapter 11 in November 2006 and was wound down.

Chan Luu

2014

United States · private

A designer collaboration in natural and semi-precious materials, the artisan end of the catalog rather than the diamond end.

The gold counters

See them on the stocks page

The jewelers that both hold a Sanrio license and trade publicly. Gold, not costume.

Chow Tai Fook

HKEX: 1929

Hong Kong

One of the largest jewelers in the world runs an official Hello Kitty line in 24K and 18K gold, sold through a dedicated collection on Sanrio’s own store; a fine-jewelry run was reported around Valentine’s Day 2019.

Chow Sang Sang

HKEX: 0116

Hong Kong

An official Sanrio collection in 999 and 999.9 pure gold and 18k, plus Charme charms spanning Hello Kitty, Kuromi, My Melody and Little Twin Stars.

Tomei

Bursa Malaysia: 7230

Malaysia

A licensed TOMEI × SANRIO line in 916 and 9999 yellow gold, gold coins included. Small next to the Hong Kong houses, but a genuine license.

Fashion and costume

Swarovski

Austria · private

A partnership from 2011 spanning crystal jewelry, bag charms and figurines. The family-owned Austrian house is not listed. At the collectible end, crystal Hello Kitty figurines have changed hands for six figures.

Tarina Tarantino

United States · private

The longest-running Hello Kitty fashion-jewelry line, whose “Pink Head” pendant debuted in 2002.

Onch Movement

United States · private

Costume pieces by designer Nelson Chung, sold through Forever 21 in 2012 and a Sanrio.com capsule in 2013.

Kate Spade New York

NYSE: TPR

United States

The “Hello Kitty and Friends” collection includes enamel studs and charm pendants. Kate Spade is a Tapestry, Inc. brand.

The stores that only stock it

Below the licensees sit the stores that only stock the goods. A licensed manufacturer such as SallyRose makes the pieces, and Signet (Zales, Kay), Kohl’s, Target, Macy’s and Walmart carry them. Zales has the longest history here, launching a “Hello Kitty by Simmons Jewelry Co.” fine line in 2008. Carrying the merchandise is a much thinner connection than holding the license.

Sources of record

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