Year: 2018

Strong double-digit growth for gold and platinum in October hallmarking

Hallmarking increased by an average of 1.6% in October 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. This was supported by double-digit growth in gold, increasing by 60,849 to 509,390 hallmarked pieces, and platinum, rising by 4,593 to 28,652 items…

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Winston Pink Legacy sold for £38.5m at Christie’s Geneva

The Winston Pink Legacy diamond has been sold for €44,423,358 (£38.5m) at Christie’s November Luxury auction in Geneva. Registered bidders from 51 countries, across six continents, participated in the ‘Magnificent Jewels’ sale. The Winston Pink legacy, the largest and fancy vivid pink diamond ever offered at auction by Christie’s, realised…

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Voice on the High Street – Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery

Give us some background about Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery began in 1998, but moved into its first studio in the North Hertfordshire village of Weston in 2000. In 2004, after a period of growth, the company moved into its newly converted Tudor barn in Halls Green,…

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Selling Advice: Tune up your salespeople in time for Christmas

Golden selling opportunities are missed during the holiday season because it is too easy to sell. In fact, how much actual selling will you see? Not much because in December, some store owners think all they need are warm bodies to take care of the traffic. “Get those part timers”…

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Historic Chester jewellery store saved from closure

Lowe & Sons, located in Chester, has been saved from closure after its lease was bought by Powells Fine Jewellery, and is set to reopen on 16 November 2018. The independent and historic jewellery store has been trading in the region since 1770 and has occupied its existing premises in…

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The importance of gift wrapping

When I first worked in my family store, Zell Brothers, in Portland, Oregon I knew how important the beauty of our gift wrapping was to the image of our store. My aunt and two other ladies made beautiful full bows of all sizes. The maroon ribbons had an elegant effect…

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Jewellery & Watch to host ‘consolidated’ 2019 show

The Jewellery & Watch exhibition has announced a ‘consolidated 2019 show’, as its new owner, ITE Group, develops a plan to boost the show in 2020. Having purchased the exhibition and its sister show, Spring Fair, in May 2018, the exhibitions and conferences organising firm has outlined plans to grow…

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Birmingham gold bangle scam trio jailed

Three jewellers who falsely claimed that sets of gold bangles they manufactured and sold were made from higher quality gold have been jailed for a total of 14 years. Ibrar Hussain, 38, and Sabhia Shaheen, 40, of Shiza Jewellers, based at 681 Stratford Road, together with 47-year-old Mohammed Afsar, known…

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Holts Gems reveals joint venture with Hearts of London Group

Holts Gems, one of the oldest jewellers in Hatton Garden, is launching a joint venture with diamond specialists Hearts of London Group, focusing on the growing demand for coloured gemstones in personal and bespoke fine jewellery. The new retail business will launch in the first quarter of 2019 under the…

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Pandora reduces FY expectations amid ‘unsatisfactory Q3’

Pandora has reduced its full-year expectations after experiencing an “unsatisfactory” third quarter in 2018. In Q3 group revenue decreased 3% in local currency due to “timing of shipments, change of inventory levels in the wholesale channel and negative total like-for-like”. Revenue from its estore increased 52% in local currency, up…

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