Watches
Watches hold a unique position in the jewellery trade, blending craftsmanship, design, and technology to create enduring appeal for consumers and lucrative opportunities for retailers. From luxury Swiss timepieces to emerging British watch brands, the sector continues to evolve with shifting trends, innovation in materials, and changing customer expectations. Jewellery Focus covers the watch industry from a trade perspective, offering news on brands and launches, market analysis, retail insights, and updates on supply chain and distribution. Our coverage equips jewellers, distributors, and suppliers with the intelligence needed to navigate this dynamic segment.
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Dec- 2015 -7 DecemberBrand Profiles
A case in point
Celebrating history, cultivating quality and offering value for money simultaneously is no mean feat, but family-owned watch manufacturer Pointtec has hit the mark. TOM DAVIS sits down with managing director of Pointtec UK, the company’s UK distributor, to learn about the brand’s ambitions. [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] It’s rare for…
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7 DecemberCrime
Gang jailed for 51 years over £1m of watch thefts
An organised gang of criminals from Estonia who flew into the UK in order to steal more than £1 million pounds worth of watches have been jailed for 51 years. Taimar Uibopuu, 30, from Estonia was found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment; Alar Kalyurand, 43, from…
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7 DecemberRetailers
Goldsmiths WestQuay to reopen after £1m refurbishment
Goldsmiths WestQuay in Southampton is to reopen this week after an extensive £1m refurbishment. The high street jeweller has carried out a ‘luxury refit’ and also introduced a brand-new ’boutique.Goldsmiths’ iteration. The premises will be open to the public on 10 December. The refurbished Goldsmiths store will feature dedicated Omega, Breitling,…
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2 DecemberCrime
VIDEO: Have-a-go-heroes tackle jewellery robber in Leeds
Armed robbers who targets a Leeds jewellers in a million pounds raid were tracked down after ‘have-a-go-heroes’ intervened and detained one of the gang. The Estonian gang, who flew into the country just days before the raid, stole more than 150 watches worth more than £935,000 when they struck at…
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1 DecemberWatch Focus
Phillips holds inaugural watch auction in Hong Kong
Auction house Phillips has broken the record for the highest auction price ever paid for a wristwatch in Asia at its inaugural Hong Kong auction. The auction saw the sale of a Patek Philippe branded watch, which went for a record HK$12,040,000 (£1m). Overall, the Hong Kong auction realized HK$117,760,750…
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Nov- 2015 -30 NovemberCrime
Watches of Switzerland hit by Black Friday smash-and-grab
Some £80,000 worth of watches have been stolen in a smash-and-grab raid at the Watches of Switzerland store in London’s Knightsbridge. The incident, which took place at 9:30am on Friday, 27 November, saw two raiders riding one motorcycle break into the luxury watch store on Brompton Road, smashing the front…
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27 NovemberEconomy
Record auction sales boost jewellery investment performance
Record auction sales and strong demand for coloured diamonds and pearls have helped boost the investment performance of jewellery, according to estate agent Knight Frank. Launched at an event held at the Mayfair headquarters of auction house Bonhams, the latest edition of the firm’s Luxury Investment Index (KFLII) focused on…
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25 NovemberRetailers
Ernest Jones to open at London Designer Outlet
Ernest Jones, the diamond jewellery and watch retailer, is set to open a new store at London’s only outlet centre, London Designer Outlet (LDO). The retailer – owned by the Signet Jewelers group and was established in 1949 – will unveil its 1,786 sq ft outlet store at LDO in…
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25 NovemberRetailers
Houlden launches ‘Jewellers of Excellence’
The Houlden Group has announced the launch of a new consortium for elite independent jewellers. ‘Jewellers of Excellence’ is the first such organisation to offer consumers the finest selection of jewellery, diamonds, and an internationally renowned collection of high-quality watches. The Houlden Group said that the consortium represents the “ultimate…
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19 NovemberWatch Focus
Swiss watch exports slip 12.3% in October
Swiss watch exports fell 12.3% in October compared with the same month last year, according to new figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH). The report found that exports of Swiss watches scraped past the 2bn Swiss francs (£1.3bn) mark, a level that FH said has traditionally…
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