Hallmarking down 9.1% in January

The total number of hallmarked items fell 9.1% in January, a decrease of 67,252 articles when compared with January 2015. That is according to latest figures released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found during the month there was a total…

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Massive 404-carat diamond discovered in Angola

Lucapa Diamond Company has announced the discovery of a massive 404.2-carat, which it claims is the 27th largest diamond ever discovered. The type IIa D-colour diamond, which was discovered at the firm’s Lulo Diamond Project in Angola’s Lunda Norte Province, is the biggest recorded diamond ever found in Angola –…

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First safe deposit box service launches in Scotland

Scotland’s first independent safe deposit box service has launched in Glasgow following an investment of more than £1m. Based in the city’s southside, Glasgow Vaults claims it has been introduced in response “to the major banks withdrawing the service that safeguards people’s valuable possessions”. The venture is being led by…

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Swarovski to unveil its first automatic watch for women

Jewellery and watch brand Swarovski has announced it will unveil its first automatic watch for women at Baselworld 2016. The timepiece – named Crystalline Hours – was created in collaboration with watch designer Eric Giroud, and features a round face and curvy domed case containing some 4,000 tiny faceted crystals.…

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Stephanie Holt wins Weston Beamor design competition

Stephanie Holt, a mature student at Birmingham City University (BCU), has been named as the winner of Weston Beamor’s annual jewellery design competition. Holt, who won the award for her “elegant and unusual” matching wedding ring and engagement ring set, received a cash prize of £500 and a week’s worth…

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Watches worth ‘five-figure sum’ stolen in Edinburgh jewellery store raid

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following a break-in and theft at a jewellers on George Street, Edinburgh. The incident took place at around 1am on Friday, 12 February, when entry was forced through a window of Laing Edinburgh, which recently opened what is believed to be the largest…

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Breguet to launch first UK pop-up exhibition

Luxury Swiss watch brand Breguet is set to launch its first UK pop-up exhibition at the recently opened Watches of Switzerland store in Canary Wharf, London. The boutique is set to run from Thursday, 25 February, to Saturday, 27 February, and will showcase the “finest selection” of watches from the…

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Florence Welch named as new ambassador for Gucci watches and jewellery

Gucci watches and jewellery has announced Florence Welch, the lead singer of British brand Florence + the Machine, as its new ambassador. The British musician was named as the new ambassador at a private event in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 February, and was interviewed in front of the audience…

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January sees best overall footfall performance in two years

Retail footfall in January has recorded growth of 1.2% compared with the same month last year – its best performance since January 2014. That’s according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor which found the increase was significantly above the 2.2.% decline seen in December…

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Counterfeiting costs UK jewellery and watch industry £138m a year

The jewellery and watch sector in the UK loses £138m every year as a result of counterfeit products in the marketplace, according to new figures. The two new reports from the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) – the EU’s largest intellectual property agency – said the jewellery…

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