July 2015 | Jewellery Focus

Jul- 2015 -

31 July

Hatton Garden jeweller jailed over stolen watches

Seven men including a Hatton Garden jeweller have been jailed for 64 years for their varying involvement in 10 smash and grab raids across London. Reece Dunford, 31 of Osprey Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, played a role in all the robberies at high-end shops in the West End. Sometimes he carried…

30 July

Events

Tom Davis

IJL unveils packed seminar programme

International Jewellery London (IJL) has unveiled a packed seminar programme which will feature leading entrepreneurs and retailers. The keynote speakers heading up this year’s programme have been named as Laura Tenison, founder of the mother and baby boutique global multi-channel brand JoJo Maman Bébé, and Sally Heath, e-commerce director of…

30 July

Product Launches

Tom Davis

VIDEO: Watch a new foam security system in action

A new security system that uses expanding foam to cover items of jewellery has been launched. The product, dubbed ‘Medusa’ was designed by Hilaire O’Shea, and assisted by co-founder of SaferGems and former CEO of the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG), Michael Hoare. The solution fills cabinet displays with a…

30 July

Appointments

Tom Davis

WFDB appoints Louise Prior to executive director

The World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) has announced that it has appointed Louise Prior to the newly created position of executive director. Formerly a senior executive at De Beers, where she was responsible for strategic development and implementation and management of global sightholder services, Prior will take responsibility of…

28 July

Trade Organisations

Tom Davis

Ernie Blom praises new ISO standard for diamonds

President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB), Ernie Blom, has praised the release of a new ISO standard for diamonds. ISO International Standard 18323: Jewellery – Consumer confidence in the diamond industry, provides a series of definitions which aim to provide clarity for traders and to maintain consumer…

28 July

International

Michael Northcott

LVMH jewellery division doubles profit

The jewellery division of luxury products group LVMH has doubled its profits in the first half of 2015 compared with the same period last year. Watches and jewellery recorded organic revenue growth of 10%. Revenue growth was 23% and profit from recurring operations increased by 91%. Bvlgari had an “excellent”…

28 July

Trade Organisations

Tom Davis

Birmingham Assay Office opens doors to new headquarters

The Birmingham Assay Office has officially opened its new purpose-built headquarters in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. After 137 years based in its previous headquarters in Birmingham’s Newhall Street, the assay office has now relocated to a newly built headquarters in Moreton Street. The building, which was supported by a European Regional…

28 July

Watch Focus

Tom Davis

Elliot Brown named Clipper yacht race timekeeper

British watch brand Elliot Brown has been named the official timekeeper of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race which will take place on August 30, 2015. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the race, which will see competitors take part in a 11-month long, 40,000, mile yacht race, Elliott…

28 July

Trade Organisations

Tom Davis

British Hallmarking Council to recruit four new members

The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has announced that it is looking to recruit four new members. Established by the Hallmarking Act 1973, BHC protects consumer interests in the jewellery industry by ensuring that there are adequate facilities for hallmarking in the UK and advising the Secretary of State for the…

27 July

Economy

Tom Davis

Petra Diamonds production up but revenue falls 10%

Independent mining firm Petra Diamonds has reported a fall in revenue despite an increase in production in its full year financial results, ending June 30. Revenue for the company was down 10% to $425m (£273.9m), which it put down to lower average diamond prices than in the same time last…