Year: 2019

Guinness World Record set for ‘most diamonds set in one ring’

Prince Bhandari, a Mumbai-based jeweller, has set a new Guinness World Record for the ‘Most Diamonds Set in One Ring’ in 2019. Recreating the Lotus Temple in Delhi, in two-tone 18ct white and rose gold, the ring is studded with 7,777 pieces of round, brilliant-cut natural diamonds of EF colour…

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Vintage Patek Philippe watch could fetch £65,000 at auction

An “extremely rare” Patek Philippe watch could fetch in excess of £65,000 at Fellows Auctioneers. Lot 185 in Fellows’ upcoming Watch Sale, taking place on Tuesday 13 August 2019, is the 18ct yellow gold chronograph wrist watch which has been dubbed “spider lugs” due to its unusual back. According to…

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Alrosa raises $6.5m at Vladivostok rough diamond auction

Diamond mining company Alrosa has summed up the results of the international auction for special size rough diamonds (over 10.8 carats) held in Vladivostok, Russia, this July. The company sold 112 gem-quality diamonds weighing 1,780 carats, and the total revenue from the sale of stones amounted to $6.5m (5.2m). Evgeny…

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Number of insolvencies fall over second quarter

The number of insolvencies in the UK has fallen by 14% for the second quarter of this year. The study compiled by ‘Big Four’ firm KPMG found that 310 companies filed for administration between April and June, a fall of 14% compared with the first quarter. The results are on…

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Jewelstreet to host interactive jewellery pop-up shop in July

Jewelstreet, the online marketplace for independent jewellery, is hosting a unique one-week pop-up shop at Westgate Oxford from Monday July 22 to Sunday July 28, 2019. The event will feature handcrafted rings, necklaces, earrings and more from 28 of the world’s leading independent designers, including Alison Fern Jewellery, Allumer and…

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Online retail sales bounce back in June

Online retail sales rose by 8.5% year-on-year, the strongest growth this year, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini eRetail Sales Index. Sales bounced back after a slump in May, which saw online sales suffer their worst growth on record at +1.9%. Clothing recorded the highest growth so far this year…

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David M Robinson announces inaugural Jewellery Design Awards

Jewellers David M Robinson has announced the launch of its inaugural DMR Jewellery Design Awards, in celebration of its 50th anniversary. In order to enter, schools are invited to design a necklace inspired by the theme of ‘family’, and the competition will be split across two categories, awarding a prize…

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Watches of Switzerland sees profits surge 181% in FY results

Watches of Switzerland has reported a 181% rise in profits before tax to £20.1m, in its first set of results after the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange. For the year ending 28 April 2019, the group also revealed its revenues surged by 22.5% to £773.5m during the period, and…

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Hallmarking figures slump 4.7% in June

Hallmarking figures fell across all major categories in June 2019, compared with the same period the previous year, with overall volumes decreasing by 4.7% according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The number of gold pieces hallmarked decreased from 289,377 in June 2018 to 263,881 in 2019, down…

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Around 16% of UK shops lie empty according to FOI

Corporate restructuring advisor Duff and Phelps has revealed that close to 16% of all UK retail and shop outlets remain empty, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made to local councils. Its research found that over 50,000 units in 418 councils remain closed, an average of 121 empty…

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