‘Downton Abbey effect’ boosts interest in art deco jewellery

Art deco jewellery has seen increased interest due to the influence of period films and TV shows like Downton Abbey, according to Bonhams.  The auction house said the stars of the show have become vintage style icons with customers trying to emulate the style of the characters. Bonham’s, which claims…

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Joulberry opens first showroom in Hampton Court

British bespoke jewellery brand Joulberry has opened its debut showroom in the Bridge Road area of Hampton Court.  The boutique will offer customers the opportunity to browse collections, meet the designers to discuss bespoke commissions and see the craftsmen at work in the studio. Sandra Dunn, the shop’s managing director,…

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Lola and Grace set to open central London store

Lola and Grace, a brand owned by the Swarovski group, is set to open its debut store in central London on 2 October.  The store will be located within the already established Swarovski shop on London’s Oxford Street. Nina Müller, general manager at Lola and Grace, said: “Lola and Grace…

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CBI: ‘Solid’ high street growth continues, pace of growth eases

Retail sales volumes continued to grow solidly in the year to September, albeit at a slightly slower pace than in the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Its latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey of 123 respondents also showed that the volume of orders…

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Armed robbery worth £250,000 in Glasgow’s Argyll Arcade

An armed robbery in which four masked men wielding axes raided Glasgow’s Argyll Arcade has resulted in the loss of £250,000 worth of watches, it was revealed today. When the story first broke last week, it was not clear how much jewellery had been stolen, but according to a BBC…

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IWC to open first UK boutique in London

Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has announced plans to open its first UK boutique in London, set to open before the end of the year.   The new boutique, which will be located at 138 New Bond Street in Mayfair, will offer clients a “unique and dedicated brand experience.” Georges…

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RJC officially recognises ‘Fairmined’ small-scale mining standard

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) yesterday announced an official standard for artisanal and small-scale mining.  The ‘Fairmined Standard v.2.0’ is now officially recognised as a Responsible Mining Standard under the RJC Chain of Custody (CoC) standard for precious metals. The standard aims to…

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Watchfinder receives £6.2m investment

Pre-owned watch retailer, Watchfinder has received a $10m (£6.2m) investment from private equity.  The investment was funded 50/50 by Piton Capital, a specialist marketplace investor, and Beringea, a growth capital investor managing the ProVen Capital Trusts. A company statement said that the investment would be used to “broaden the company’s…

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Tateossian to support Breast Cancer Care with bracelet launch

Tateossian is set to continue its support of Breast Cancer Care with a brand new version of its signature Pop Scoubidou leather bracelet.  A new orange-and-magenta version of the popular bracelet will be sold and will feature the signature Tateossian clasp. Robert Tateossian, CEO, told Jewellery Focus: “I am thrilled…

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Beaverbrooks adds Tudor watches to stock roster

Beaverbrooks the Jewellers has announced the introduction of Tudor watches to its range. Tudor, which is part of the Rolex group, has a history stemming from Hans Wilsdorf, a leading figure in the Swiss watchmaking industry and the founder of Rolex. In 1946 Wilsdorf founded Tudor with the aim of creating timepieces with all…

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