News

NAG and BJA to host unification meetings

The National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG) and the British Jewellers Association (BJA) have announced they will host two members’ meetings to discuss the planned unification of the two organisations. The trade bodies have written to their members inviting them to attend a members day where both will be making presentations to…

Read More »

WFDB express concern over undisclosed diamond treatment

The president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), Ernie Blom, today expressed his concerns over the discovery by the GIA of a shipment of allegedly treated diamonds.  Yesterday, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) said that some 500 colourless to near-colourless diamonds have been submitted primarily to its…

Read More »

World record jewellery auction for Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s has set a new world record total for a jewellery auction – breaking six other world auction records in the process.  The ‘Magnificent Jewels and Noble Jewels’ auction, which was held on Tuesday May 12 in Geneva, achieved a total of 149,851,375 Swiss Francs (£102.9m) – the world record…

Read More »

Hallmarking figures up 10% in April

The total number of hallmarked articles grew 10% in April following a disappointing March, according to new figures released from all four of the UK’s assay offices.  According to the data, which was compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office , there was a total of 810,831 articles hallmarked in April…

Read More »

GIA notifies trade of potential undisclosed diamond treatment

Approximately 500 colourless to near-colorless diamonds submitted primarily to GIA’s grading laboratory in Ramat Gan, Israel, were potentially subjected to an undisclosed temporary treatment, the body has announced. GIA said it believes that the treatment “temporarily masks the body colour of the diamond, resulting in a colour grade that can…

Read More »

Goldsmiths Trafford Centre store set for £800k refurbishment

Jewellery store chain Goldsmiths has announced that its Intu Trafford Centre store in Manchester is to undergo a £800,000 refurbishment.  The new-look store, which will be around a third larger than its current premise, will feature a brand new Rolex room with two seating areas, a branded area for luxury…

Read More »

Bremont announces America’s Cup deal

Luxury watch brand Bremont has announced its appointment as Official Timing Partner to the 35th America’s Cup and to the defending champion, Oracle Team USA. The America’s Cup, which has been called the ‘oldest trophy in international sport’, first took place in 1851 on the waters off England’s south coast. Today the…

Read More »

Retail sales damaged by early Easter

Retail sales fell in April as an early Easter “pulled” sales into March and impacted results, according to new figures released today.  This is according to the monthly British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG Retail Sales Monitor which found like-for-like sales decreased by 2.4% compared with April last year, when…

Read More »

Theo Fennell designs Al Shaqab Lockinge trophy

Jewellery brand Theo Fennell has designed and created the first Al Shaqab Lockinge trophy, to be presented to the winner of the inaugural Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury Racecourse.  The trophy, which will be presented at the event on Saturday May 16, was crafted by hand in from solid…

Read More »

Britain’s shop vacancy remains at 13% in April

Britain’s shop vacancy rate has remained at 13% in April, a level which, before March, had not been seen since 2010.  This is according to new figures released today from the Local Data Company (LDC) which found that the overall retail and leisure vacancy rate also remained the same as…

Read More »