GIA appoints new vice president of global compliance and ethics

The Gemmological Institute of America (GIA) has appointed Katherine Palmer Andrews to the newly-created position of vice president of global compliance and ethics.  Andrews’ past roles have given her “extensive experience developing enterprise compliance programmes and leading global teams”, including six years in chief compliance roles at General Electric, GIA…

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Graff Diamonds to return La Biennale

Graff Diamonds has announced it is returning to Paris-based show La Biennale des Antiquaires after a 12 year absence.  The firm said it plans to showcase some of its rare diamonds and gemstones along with two “outstanding” pieces of jewellery including the Royal Star of Paris brooch (which can also…

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18ct gold case edition for Apple smartwatch offering

US tech firm Apple has revealed its new ‘Apple Watch’, a wristwatch with a touch screen and iPhone-style apps, at a convention in California. The watch will be available from early 2015. The firm says the device, the most basic of which will retail for $349 (around £220), is of “a…

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BRC: August retail sales growth ‘best since January’

Retail sales in August grew 1.3% compared with August 2013 on a like-for-like basis, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).  In the best performance since January, the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed total sales were up 2.7%, with growth largely driven by sales of clothing and footwear, which reported…

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Don’t argue with the data…just wait for your slice

It is beginning to feel more like a job as a leader-writer for the Financial Times than a jewellery trade magazine, but there is just so much positive news out there it cannot go without comment. Yesterday the Birmingham Assay Office release the all-office hallmarking figures, showing a year-on-year rise yet again,…

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Q&A with Mads Ziegler, STORY

Can you give us some background on the company? I started the company in 2003 and worked as a sales manager in Denmark. The original brand, along with my business partner, was called Kranz & Ziegler. My business partner left the company after three years because of poor health. By…

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Upward hallmarking trajectory continues in August

The positive trend for UK hallmarking figures continued in August, according to the latest figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The total number of articles marked rose by 12.5% compared with August last year. Particularly strong performers were 9ct gold (which rose 10.2%) and silver (which rose 18.2%), which…

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Endless Jewelry signs 40 new UK accounts at IJL

Rapidly-growing brand Endless Jewelry has enjoyed a successful show at this year’s International Jewellery London, signing 40 new accounts. This is the first year the brand, owned by former Pandora boss Jesper Nielsen, has exhibited at the show. New stockists include Flitwick Jewellers, Inspired by Brufords, John Moore Jewellers Cork, Bonds…

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Mococo launches seventh store in Birkenhead

Jewellery retailer Mococo has launched its seventh store in the Pyramids Shopping Centre, Birkenhead.  The new store has been officially opened today and a special weekend will be held until Sunday September 7, showcasing the latest designer brands including Chlobo, Thomas Sabo, Diamonfire and Nomination. Those shopping on the opening…

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Britain’s shop vacancy rate falls to its lowest level since June 2010

Britain’s shop vacancy rate fell to 13.3% in August, down from 13.4% in July, its lowest level since June 2010.  New research from the Local Data Company shows that the overall retail and leisure vacancy rate also decreased from 11.9% to 11.8%. Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company,…

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