Birmingham Assay Office’s ‘Analytical Laboratory’ rebrands

The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has rebranded its Analytical Laboratory as AnchorCert Analytical.  The BAO said that the rebrand is due to the scope of its services expanding “enormously”. Originally specialising in precious metals, AnchorCert Analytical continues to analyse precious metals from 999 gold to platinum, but services are expanding…

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Tresor Paris collaborates with Ong-Oaj Pariam at London Fashion Week

Tresor Paris has appeared at the London Fashion Week in collaboration with fashion designer Ong-Oaj Pairam.  Kicking off London Fashion Week on Tuesday February 19 at the Grand Connaught Rooms Covent Garden, Pairam launched his Autumn/Winter collection 2015 featuring “bold and luxurious” prints. Pairam’s men’s wear collection of jackets with…

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CBI: Surprise dip in retail sales growth

Retail sales growth practically ground to a halt in February, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey.  The survey of 138 firms including 62 retailers showed that both volume of retail sales and orders failed to meet expectations of growth in February, following six months of buoyant sales.…

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Swiss watch exports rise in January

Swiss watchmakers have enjoyed a good start to the year with exports in January up on the same time last year, despite a fall in December.  This is according to new figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) which found that the volume of Swiss watches exported…

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Russian firm creates 5-carat synthetic diamond

A Russian laboratory-grown diamond manufacturer, New Diamond Technology, is claiming it has produced a 5.11-carat diamond, the largest man-made, polished, near-colourless stone ever produced.  According to US trade magazine JCK, the manufacturer said that the unenhanced radiant-cut type ‘IIa’ diamond, produced by the high-pressure, high temperature method (HPHT), bears a…

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Timex reports “triple-digit growth” after launch of UK website

Timex has reported “triple-digit growth” in the UK after it launched its first UK transactional website late last year.  The brand said that bestsellers have been from fashion product categories, including the Originals and Weekender collections. The Timex IQ collection has also enjoyed online sales growth. Aysha Hasan, marketing manager…

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Jewellery store owner chases off axe-wielding raiders with baseball bat

CCTV footage has captured the moment a jewellery store owner chased away two axe-wielding raiders after a smash-and-grab moped raid.  The raid, which took place at the family-owned L.Guess jewellers in Whitton High Street, Twickenham at 10:45 on Monday, saw the raiders smash counter displays with an axe before making…

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Endless signs 140 doors in Australia meetings roadshow

Fast-growing charm bracelet brand Endless Jewelry has signed with 140 new stockists in the Australian market during the first week of a roadshow meeting hundreds of jewellers. Following a successful week of meetings with more than 250 jewelers in the main markets of Australia, Endless Jewelry is now set to officially open in its 20th…

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Deakin & Francis links with 7 new retailers at Spring Fair

Cufflinks manufacturer Deakin & Francis has reported opening seven new trade accounts and securing additional orders from nine current retailers at Jewellery & Watch Birmingham. The brand revealed a new bespoke exhibition stand at the NEC show, with Simon Rainer, chairman of the BJA officially cutting the ribbon on Monday 2nd February. Henry Deakin…

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Online retailers suffering Black Friday ‘hangover’

Online sales have seen a year-on-year increase in January but are still suffering from a Black Friday ‘hangover’.  This is according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, which found sales were up 7% in January compare to the same time last year, below the index’s…

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