BRC: Retail sales growth slows in May

Retail sales growth slowed down in the month of May, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor said UK retail sales for May were up 0.5% on a like-for-like basis from May 2013, when they had increased 1.8% on the preceding…

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Petra recovers 122-carat blue diamond at South African mine

Petra Diamonds has recovered a rare blue diamond of 122.5 carats at its Cullinan mine in South Africa. The stone will require further analysis in order to assess its potential value and upon completion of this process, Petra will evaluate its “optimal route to the market”. It is understood that…

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Argos jewellery sales dip despite 4.8% overall growth

Home Retail Group, the owner of Argos, today announced 4.8% sales growth for the 13 weeks from 2 March to 31 May, but revealed that jewellery sales declined slightly during the period. Total sales grew by 4.8% to £868m, while like-for-like sales (which exclude new store openings) increased by 4.9%…

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Endless Jewellery breaks record with 230 new partners

Emerging brand Endless Jewelry broke all records for a new brand at the annual JCK trade show in Las Vegas this month, signing 230 new retail partners in the US. On the first day of the show, Danish entrepreneur Jesper Nielsen’s new venture signed 50% of its target for new…

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Raymond Weil named official London Music Awards partner

Luxury Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil is to join forces with the Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians after being announced as title partner for the inaugural London Music Awards. The London Music Award, hosted by Boris Johnson, will take place at the Roundhouse on Wednesday 11 June and will…

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Historic Devon jeweller Ham & Huddy up for sale

An historic jewellery shop in Newton Abbot, Devon, has been put on the market by its owner after 10 years’ ownership. 250-year-old Ham & Huddy has become a “permanent feature” in the market town of Newton Abbot but Downey is looking to retire. The store’s collection includes custom made jewellery,…

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Moped gang targets Dorchester Hotel in jewellery smash-and-grab

A gang of armed robbers riding mopeds and wielding sledge-hammers has conducted a ‘smash-and-grab’ of jewellery from London’s luxury Dorchester Hotel on Park Lane.  Police said that of a group of six, three men went into the hotel’s boutique (where high-end jewellery is on display), at about 0130 this morning.…

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Police appeal after £1m Hamilton and Inches raid

Police in Edinburgh are appealing for further information following a high-value armed robbery at city centre jewellery store, Hamilton & Inches. According to a police statement the store was targeted by three men dressed in dark clothing who threatened staff with various “bladed weapons” at around 11:30am on June 6.…

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Mondaine finds British marketing device in John Lewis

The best marketing is that which doesn’t force the message down your throat. Better still, it should say something other than ‘buy our product’. Consumers are good at identifying marketing techniques so it is the job of the agencies to come up with something that offers more than the product itself. That’s…

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FEATURE: JewelStreet.com’s Rob Passmore

JewelStreet.com is an online jewellery shop with a twist. Founder and MD Rob Passmore insists that giving designers and manufacturers a bigger slice of the sale price is the future. First, though, he’s asking Joe Public to get it off the ground with £100,000 of crowdfunding investment. MICHAEL NORTHCOTT caught…

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