News

Petra and Ekapa Mining acquires De Beers’ Kimberley mines

Petra Diamonds and South African mining company Ekapa Mining have announced the acquisition of De Beers’ Kimberley mines. Petra, which owns the Finsch and Cullinan mines, said that deal of 102 million rand (£46.9m) will see it own a 49.9% interest in the mine, with Ekapa owning a 50.1% share.…

Read More »

Black Friday footfall down as shoppers turn to online

E-commerce stole the show over the Black Friday weekend as retail footfall fell unexpectedly across the UK, according to retail footfall analyst firm Springboard. Footfall across retail destinations in the UK for the weekend as a whole was down 9.6% compared with the same period last year, as shoppers increasingly…

Read More »

Petra recovers 23-carat pink diamond

Petra Diamonds has announced the recovery of a 23.16-carat pink diamond from its Williamson mine in Tanzania. The pink diamond is described as having “exceptional colour and clarity” and is an example of the high-quality pink diamonds for which Williamson is known. Petra said it is its “most significant” recovery…

Read More »

Watches of Switzerland hit by Black Friday smash-and-grab

Some £80,000 worth of watches have been stolen in a smash-and-grab raid at the Watches of Switzerland store in London’s Knightsbridge. The incident, which took place at 9:30am on Friday, 27 November, saw two raiders riding one motorcycle break into the luxury watch store on Brompton Road, smashing the front…

Read More »

IJL opens annual KickStart programme for entries

International Jewellery London (IJL) has announced that its annual KickStart mentoring programme is opens for entries. The initiative, which welcomes entries from young jewellers and emerging talents, will see 10 winning designers offered the chance to exhibit their products in a designated area at IJL 2016 for free. Supported by…

Read More »

Record auction sales boost jewellery investment performance

Record auction sales and strong demand for coloured diamonds and pearls have helped boost the investment performance of jewellery, according to estate agent Knight Frank. Launched at an event held at the Mayfair headquarters of auction house Bonhams, the latest edition of the firm’s Luxury Investment Index (KFLII) focused on…

Read More »

BRC welcomes extension of business rates review

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has welcomed the extension of the business rates review announced in Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement today.  A major overhaul of the business rates system was announced earlier this year, with uniform rates set to be abolished. Local councils will, by 2020, be able to…

Read More »

Signet Jewelers sales up 3.3% in Q3

Jewellery retail giant Signet Jewelers has reported a 3.3% increase in same-store sales in its third quarter financial results.  The group – parent company of H Samuel and Ernest Jones – reported that total sales were also up 3.3% for the 13 weeks ending 31 October, 2015, to $1.216bn (£805m)…

Read More »

Ernest Jones to open at London Designer Outlet

Ernest Jones, the diamond jewellery and watch retailer, is set to open a new store at London’s only outlet centre, London Designer Outlet (LDO). The retailer – owned by the Signet Jewelers group and was established in 1949 – will unveil its 1,786 sq ft outlet store at LDO in…

Read More »

Houlden launches ‘Jewellers of Excellence’

The Houlden Group has announced the launch of a new consortium for elite independent jewellers. ‘Jewellers of Excellence’ is the first such organisation to offer consumers the finest selection of jewellery, diamonds, and an internationally renowned collection of high-quality watches. The Houlden Group said that the consortium represents the “ultimate…

Read More »