BANGALORE, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Top jewelry retailer Signet Jewelers Ltd (SIG.N) reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Wednesday 9 September as it cut costs and gained market share.

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The retailer, which has put a tight lid on expenses to fight the sales slump, said it was on track to save up to $100 million in costs at its U.S. division.

Signet, which runs Kay Jewelers and Jared The Galleria of Jewelry stores in the United States, and Ernest Jones and H Samuel in Britain, earned $27.6 million, or 32 cents a share, in the second quarter, compared with $19.7 million, or 23 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of 23 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Total sales fell 7.6 percent to $710.8 million.

The world's largest specialty retailer had said in June that its marketing efforts and more exclusive merchandise were helping to bolster its market share. It also benefited as many of its rivals closed stores or went bankrupt. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan in Bangalore; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)