2016 | Jewellery Focus

Oct- 2016 -

17 October

Foreign spend on British high streets soars post-Brexit

UK retailers are enjoying a post-Brexit boom in spending from international consumers, according to the latest figures from Worldpay. In the 10 weeks following the referendum, growth in foreign card spend has increased by 5.8% compared to previous 10 week period. Whilst 6% of this growth increase was witnessed by traditional bricks and mortar retailers,…

13 October

Economy

Tom Davis

Hallmarking falls 11.5% in September

The total number of hallmarked items fell 11.5% in September, a decrease of 115,994 pieces when compared with the same month last year. The figure – from all four UK assay offices and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found the total number of hallmarked items in September stood…

12 October

Crime

Tom Davis

Essex jewellers hit by £10,000 armed robbery

A jewellery store in Brentwood, Essex, has been hit by armed raiders who are believed to have made off with at least £10,000 worth of jewellery. Police were called to the Bonds of Brentwood shop on Ingrave Road at around 12:50pm yesterday (Tuesday, 11 October), after four men on mopeds…

11 October

Current Affairs

Tom Davis

Iconic 100 Hatton Garden building to be sold by the end of the year

A Singaporean investment company, UOL Group, will acquire the 120 Holborn site in Hatton Garden by the end of the year. The site incorporates the iconic 100 Hatton Garden building, which houses many jewellery businesses including the London Diamond Bourse (LDB), along with retail units along Hatton Garden. UOL announced…

11 October

Designers

Tom Davis

Jewellery and watch profits up 4% for LVMH

The jewellery and watches division of luxury goods group (LVMH) has reported a 4% increase in revenues for the first nine months of the year. The division was boosted by a strong performance from Bvlgari, which continued to gain market share. The brand showed “major creative” momentum by enhancing its…

11 October

Events

Tom Davis

Deadline for Make Your Mark Awards draws near

Submissions for the inaugural Make Your Mark Awards are set to close next week on Friday, 21 October at 5pm. Entrants to the awards, which is run by The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, will have the opportunity to win various prizes as well as having their work seen by a…

11 October

Auctions

Tom Davis

‘Extremely rare’ blue diamond Cartier ring could fetch £20.3m

Sotheby’s has announced it will auction an “extremely rare” fancy-vivid blue diamond ring by Cartier, which could fetch up to $25m (£20.3m). ‘The Sky Blue Diamond’ will be one of the star lots at Sotheby’s Geneva Jewellery sale on 16 November and will be exhibited in the auction house’ New…

10 October

Current Affairs

Tom Davis

Brexit strategy ‘must focus on fair deal for consumers’, says BRC

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has called on the government to put consumers first in the forthcoming Brexit talks. In a letter to Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox, the BRC said the government’s strategy must focus on finding opportunities for lowering import costs as well as avoiding…

10 October

Editor's Blog

Michael Northcott

Something in the water

I’ve been at this magazine for three years, and, if I am being honest, after joining I quickly became accustomed to a downbeat atmosphere at the major trade shows in the industry. Long after the ONS told us that the technical definition of ‘recession’ was no longer applicable to the…

7 October

Brand Profiles

Tom Davis

Bullion and manufacturing from Baird & Co

Family-owned Baird & Co is a full-service bullion merchant and manufacturer of precious metals. We learnt more about the company [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Family owned, proudly independent, and now approaching its 50th anniversary, Baird & Co was established as a firm in 1967 dealing in numismatic gold coins of…