News
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Dec- 2016 -9 December
Hallmarking falls 4.6% in November
The total number of hallmarked items fell 4.6% in November, a decrease of 57,075 pieces when compared with the same month last year. The latest figures from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 1,196,702 articles hallmarked during…
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9 December
Consumers set to spend ‘£1.6bn more’ this Christmas
Retail sales this December are forecast to rise by 4% year-on-year, with consumers expected to spend £42.8bn – £1.6bn more than Christmas last year. The research – released by business advisory firm Deloitte – also found online retail sales are expected to grow by more than a fifth (21%) from…
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8 December
De Beers unveils £3.9m expansion of its Surat diamond grading centre
De Beers, the world’s largest diamond mining company, has unveiled an expansion at its Surat diamond grading and testing centre. The $5m (£3.9m) expansion plan at its International Institute of Diamond Grading and Research (IIDGR) – part of the De Beers Group of Companies – follows the group’s initial $10m…
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7 December
Raid at Edinburgh jewellers after thieves smash through neighbouring barbers
Jewellery has been stolen from an Edinburgh jewellers after a gang of raiders smashed their way through the wall of a neighbouring barbers to gain entry. Thousands of pounds worth of 18-carat diamond pendants and bracelets were stolen from Theodore David Jewellers in Inverleith, Edinburgh, on Sunday 4 December after…
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7 December
SME growth threatened by ‘unpaid debts’
Over three quarters (75%) of a small and medium-sized business (SMEs) have written off unpaid debts in the past year, according to research from Amicus Commercial Finance. The report found the average amount written off by UK SMEs in the last year was £11,708, representing just under £50bn in written…
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7 December
FF Group reports revenue jump despite “volatile” markets”
FF Group – owner of Links of London and Folli Follie – has posted revenues of €956.2m (£814m) in the first nine months of the year, despite “volatile” markets. The posted revenues were a 9.2% increase on the same period last year when the company reported revenue €875.5m. Earnings before…
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6 December
Polished diamond prices increase in November
Polished diamond prices increased in November, despite a slowdown in trading as Indian liquidity dried up and manufacturing shut down for Diwali. The latest RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) from the Rapaport Group sentiment improved as the month began, with stock markets rallying to record highs on Thanksgiving weekend (28 Nov)…
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6 December
Jewellery worth £35,000 stolen from Gainsborough jewellers
Jewellery worth £35,000 was stolen from a jewellers in Gainsborough during a Christmas-lights switch on event in the town. The theft took place at some point between 7.30pm and 8pm on Friday 18 November, when a diamond necklace and five diamond rings were stolen from Stanley Hunt Jewellers in Marshalls…
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5 December
Shop prices fall for 43rd consecutive month
Shop prices fell 1.7% in November, the 43rd consecutive month of declines and unchanged from October’s rate of deflation. The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Nielsen Shop Price Index also revealed non-food deflation accelerated to 2.3% during the month from the 2.1% recorded in the previous two months –…
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5 December
14-carat Kashmir sapphire fetches £1.38m at auction
An “extremely rare” Kashmir sapphire single-stone ring has gone under the hammer for £1.38m. The 14.13-carat stone was the subject to “fierce bidding” at the Bonhams Fine Jewellery sale in London on Sunday 4 December, selling for more than its pre-sale estimate of £600,000 to £800,000. Jean Ghika, head of…
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