BRC seeks statement of intent over business rates

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has published a submission to the Treasury ahead of the Autumn Statement on December 3, highlighting the need for a fundamental reform of the business rates system.  The BRC is seeking a statement of intent that the government plans to go beyond the steps it…

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Petra Diamonds reports highest production in its history

Petra Diamonds has announced its revenue in Q1 was up 55% to $100.8m (£62.3m).  The results also included the sale of an 85% interest in its 122ct Cullinan blue diamond for $23.5m (£14.5m), discovered earlier this year. The results, which covered production and sales from July 1 to September 30…

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Elliot Brown watches to launch in Goldsmiths

British watch brand Elliot Brown is set to be sold in Aurum owned retailer, Goldsmiths.  Watches from the brand have now launched in 9 Goldsmiths stores around the UK and also on the retailers website. Ian Elliot, co-founder of Elliot Brown, told Jewellery Focus: “We set out to build a…

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COLLECTION: Little Wondrous Monkeys

PRICE: £100-150 Little Wondrous Monkeys is a truly striking, innovative and iconic jewellery artist, designing pieces with a unique reversible feature allowing two stunning styles in one captivating piece. The featured BEE Design is probably my first design. I made a ceramic piece exactly like this when I was 11.…

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Diamond bourses pull out of World Diamond Council AGM

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and seven others major organisations have announced they are pulling out of the World Diamond Council’s (WDC) annual general meeting, due to take place on 28 October.  The organisations signed a joint letter to the Council announcing explaining that they did not want…

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New trade-friendly website for Deakin & Francis

Birmingham jewellery manufacturer Deakin & Francis has launched a new website designed to be more accessibly to its wholesale customer base. The new site allows customers to log in to their trade accounts to place stock orders, and also orders for marketing supplies such as catalogues, promotional strut cards and product guarantee cards.…

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High street sales growth ‘remains robust’

Retail sales volumes continued to grow in the year to October, with another strong rise expected in the month ahead, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The body’s latest monthly Distributive Trades Survey of 124 firms showed a third successive month of firmly above-average sales growth. But sales growth…

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Made In Chelsea star Ashley James launches jewellery line

Made in Chelsea cast member Ashley James has launched a new jewellery line, Whistle & Bango, at a party in London. The event, which took place at Wolf & Badger, a west London retail boutique, was also attended by co-star Ollie Locke and Ferne McCann, a cast member of rival…

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Fairtrade gold launches in Switzerland

Max Havelaar (Fairtrade) Switzerland launched jewellery made from Fairtrade gold in Switzerland yesterday.  Approximately 70% of all gold refining takes place in Switzerland, so Fairtrade International has hailed the introduction of Fairtrade gold as a landmark move, which will deliver “significant social and environmental benefits back to miners.” The first…

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23,000 subscribers for new Jewellery Focus daily newsletter

The new Daily Briefing e-newsletter introduced by Jewellery Focus two weeks ago now has over 23,000 subscribers. Jewellery Focus introduced its new daily email news offering in the wake of the hugely successful Weekly Roundup, and a surge of sharing and recommendations has produced a rapid uplift in subscriptions to the mailing…

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