News
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Apr- 2015 -17 April
Out-of-town footfall jumps 3.8%
Footfall in March was 0.2% higher than the same time last year, an improvement on the 0.5% fall in February. This is according to the BRC-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor which found footfall was above the three-month average of -0.5% and was the best overall footfall performance since March last…
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17 April
RJC celebrates tenth anniversary with AGM in Mumbai
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has celebrated its 10th anniversary this week by hosting its first annual general meeting (AGM) outside of Europe. Co-hosted by the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) and Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB), the AGM represented the organisation’s first conference held outside of Europe. The…
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16 April
Gemfields’ emerald and beryl production triples in Q1
Gemfields has reported an increase in its production levels as emerald and beryl production rose significantly during the first quarter (Q1) of 2015. Production of emerald and beryl almost tripled in the first quarter of the year (ending March 31, 2015) at its 75%-owned Kagem mine with 9.9 million carats…
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16 April
Gemporia unveils exclusive collection in House of Fraser
Online retailer Gemporia is launching its first high street product with retail stalwart House of Fraser. The previously online-only jewellery brand will be available in 20 stores from next week as part of a first-phase roll-out into House of Fraser. Gemporia will eventually be housed in 42 stores, including the flagship…
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15 April
Bystander catches armed raiders on camera
Two armed thieves who tried to raid the Uncle Jewellers and Pawnbrokers on Chapel Street, Wigan have been caught on a phone camera by a member of the public. The robbery took place at the jewellers just before 1:30pm on Saturday, April 11, when two offenders pulled up outside the…
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15 April
LDB to offer support to those affected by Hatton Garden Raid
The London Diamond Bourse (LDB) has today announced it will act as centralised point of contact for members of the trade affected by the recent robbery in Hatton Garden. The LDB said that it is concerned that there is no “coordinated effort” to manage the situation outside the consumer press…
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14 April
18ct gold grows 12% in Q1 hallmarking figures
The total number of articles hallmarked fell across all categories except platinum in March, according to figures compiled from all four UK assay offices, however 18ct gold stole a march for the Q1 period, taking up some of the slack. After a strong February – hallmarking figures were 7.9% up…
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14 April
UK inflation rate remains at zero
The UK’s inflation rate remained at zero in March, according to new figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Measured by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), this represents the lowest rate of inflation since records began in 1989 as a fall in clothing prices and a rise…
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14 April
Early Easter drives retail sales up in March
Like-for-Like retail sales in the UK increased by 3.2% from March last year, driven by an early Easter weekend. This is according to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor which found on a total basis sales were up 4.7%, against a 0.3% fall in March. Adjusted for the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price…
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14 April
Rapaport Melee Diamond Index down as polished sales continue decline
Rapaport sold over 135,000cts of polished diamonds for $28.9m (£19.7m) in Q1, as its Melee Diamond index for small diamonds decreased by 4% to 124.50. This is according to Rapaport’s Melee Index (RMI), which was down 9.5% year-on-year from 137.60 in March 2014 Rapaport said polished diamond prices continued to…
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