News
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Feb- 2016 -24 February
Mobile devices account for 51% of all online sales in Q4
The percentage of online retail sales in the UK exceeded 50% for the first time ever in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2015, according to new figures released. According to data from the latest IMRG and Capgemini Quarterly Benchmarking report, smartphones and tablets accounted for 51% of UK online retail…
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23 February
Jersey Pearl sales jump 39% after creative Valentine’s campaign
Jewellery designer and retailer Jersey Pearl has reported a surge in sales over the Valentine’s Day period, following an innovative marketing campaign. The jewellers ‘Share the Love’ campaign, which culminated with an artist-lead window display, lead to a “peak in footfall” and a 39% increase in sales in the week…
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22 February
Armed man attempted to raid Surrey jewellers in women’s clothes
Surrey Police officers are appealing for witnesses after a man was arrested following an attempted armed robbery at a jewellery store in Leatherhead on Friday evening. Shortly after 5pm on Friday, 19 February, two men – one wearing a crash helmet and one dressed in women’s clothing – entered Cradlers…
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19 February
WFDB warns of synthetic diamonds fraudulently marked as natural
The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has announced it has been informed that a vendor on online wholesale trading platform, Alibaba, is offering fraudulent diamonds. WFDB said the vendor is offering CVD lab-grown synthetic diamonds inscribed with the numbers of genuine GIA-graded natural diamonds reports. The seller on Alibaba,…
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19 February
Executive Development Forum retail sales hit £41m
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ)’s Executive Development Forum (EDF) has reported combined retail sales exceeding £41m in 2015. The sales are a like-for-like growth of 4.7% compared with the previous year. Despite this, 42% of the individual members businesses were down, 42% up and 16% level with the previous…
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18 February
Hallmarking down 9.1% in January
The total number of hallmarked items fell 9.1% in January, a decrease of 67,252 articles when compared with January 2015. That is according to latest figures released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found during the month there was a total…
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17 February
Massive 404-carat diamond discovered in Angola
Lucapa Diamond Company has announced the discovery of a massive 404.2-carat, which it claims is the 27th largest diamond ever discovered. The type IIa D-colour diamond, which was discovered at the firm’s Lulo Diamond Project in Angola’s Lunda Norte Province, is the biggest recorded diamond ever found in Angola –…
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17 February
First safe deposit box service launches in Scotland
Scotland’s first independent safe deposit box service has launched in Glasgow following an investment of more than £1m. Based in the city’s southside, Glasgow Vaults claims it has been introduced in response “to the major banks withdrawing the service that safeguards people’s valuable possessions”. The venture is being led by…
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16 February
Stephanie Holt wins Weston Beamor design competition
Stephanie Holt, a mature student at Birmingham City University (BCU), has been named as the winner of Weston Beamor’s annual jewellery design competition. Holt, who won the award for her “elegant and unusual” matching wedding ring and engagement ring set, received a cash prize of £500 and a week’s worth…
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15 February
Watches worth ‘five-figure sum’ stolen in Edinburgh jewellery store raid
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for witnesses following a break-in and theft at a jewellers on George Street, Edinburgh. The incident took place at around 1am on Friday, 12 February, when entry was forced through a window of Laing Edinburgh, which recently opened what is believed to be the largest…
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