Higher gold and silver prices hit margins in the UK.
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Signet Group has reported a healthy jump in quarterly profits despite the jewellery firm seeing "challenging" conditions at its British businesses.
The firm, with 1,800 stores in the UK and US, saw pre-tax profits rise 10% to £30.7m ($56.5m) in the three months to April 29, as sales grew 13% at £419.6m.
The US market performed strongly, with total sales rising 18% over the period.
But tough conditions on the UK High Street saw a £1.6m loss from businesses including H. Samuel and Ernest Jones.
Rising gold and silver prices and increased spending on marketing put pressure on margins at the UK operation.
Nevertheless, Signet Group chief executive Terry Burman said he was pleased with its overall performance.
"The general retail environment in the UK remained challenging throughout the quarter and our like-for-like sales performance was broadly in line with the High Street as a whole," he added.
Signet owns the Shaw's chain in the US.
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