Ellie Goulding steps out in Bouton and Duepunti at BRIT Awards

Singer-songwriter and BRIT Award winner Ellie Goulding was seen at the awards evening sporting earrings by jewellery brand Bouton, created by Adrian Buckley of Buckley Jewellery. During her acceptance speech at the BRIT Awards, Bouton’s gold button earrings could be seen adorning Goulding’s ears. The firm says its range of…

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H&T pawnbrokers’ 2013 full year profits dip 60%

The UK’s largest pawnbroking group, H&T, has revealed that pre-tax profits slumped a hefty 60 per cent to £6.7m, for the full year to 31 December 2013.  Total sales for the full year were £49.9m, down by 19.9 per cent compared with the previous year’s £62.3m. The figures come as…

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Mastered to launch online jewellery academy

Jewellery education provider, Mastered, is set to launch a new online-only jewellery master-course in partnership with Holts Academy, that will focus on building a metal jewellery business. The firm, which provides online creative education in jewellery and fashion, aims to give jewellers both creative skills and business acumen to make…

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Argento goes for growth with £1m investment in seven new stores

Belfast-based jewellery chain Argento has announced a £1m investment plan that will include seven new shop openings in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland. The new premises are part of the company’s strategy to increase its representation in high-footfall locations, and will mean 50 new jobs are created…

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Signet tightens grip on US market with $690m Zale purchase

The US owner of British jewellery chains H Samuel and Ernest Jones has inched closer to market domination with the acquisition of smaller American chain Zale for a reported $690m (£414m). In a statement, Signet said it had stumped up for a $21-per-share cash deal, which represented a 41 per…

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CARAT* hails record number of customers at Spring Fair

Wholesale jewellery brand CARAT* says it expects its growth this year to surpass that of 2013, thanks to a strong order book and a successful exhibition and Jewellery & Watch Birmingham. The firm said it had welcomed “record numbers new and existing customers” onto its stand during the five-day event,…

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RJC certifies IWC and Panerai

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has announced that luxury watch manufacturers IWC Schaffhausen and Panerai have achieved certification by meeting the highest ethical, social and environmental standards established by the council’s Member Certification system. The RJC’s interim CEO, Catherine Sproule, said: “The successful verification assessment [for both manufacturers] was led by…

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China the world’s largest gold market in 2013, global demand strong

Consumers around the world bought gold in record amounts in 2013, led by demand in China and India, with China becoming the world’s biggest gold market, according to the latest World Gold Council Gold Demand Trends report. In Western markets consumer demand also remained strong with the US, in particular,…

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Inhorgenta attendance matches previous year with 30,000 visitors

Major trade show Inhorgenta Munich has confirmed that almost 30,000 visitors from 80 countries were in attendance for this year’s show, which represents “the same level as the previous year”. In a statement, the organisers said that around one third of the visitors came from abroad. Among the countries most…

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Birmingham Jewellery Quarter reaches another milestone in quest for £2m investment

Birmingham’s largest business improvement district (BID) has this week been successful in the first round of seeking a potential award of £2 million Townscape Heritage Grant, to be invested in the Jewellery Quarter. The grant, which assists communities in the regeneration of conservation areas and is awarded by the Heritage Lottery…

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