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.
-
Dec- 2015 -14 DecemberCrime
VIDEO: Five jailed following smash-and-grab jewellery raid
A gang of five have been jailed for over 30 years after carrying out a smash-and-grab raid on an East London jewellery store. The incident took place at around 10:50am on 9 October 2014, when four men on two mopeds drove on to the pavement outside Attenborough Jewellers on Bethnal…
Read More » -
9 DecemberEvents
Jacobs the Jewellers named UK’s ‘best jewellery retailer’
Jacobs the Jewellers in Reading has been named the UK’s ‘Retailer of the Year’ at the first-ever National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) awards. Jacobs, which won the award at the 80th Benevolent Society Ball held in Solihull on 3 December, was selected from a shortlist of five companies through a…
Read More » -
8 DecemberEconomy
November retail sales slow as Black Friday shoppers turned to digital
Retail sales in the UK slowed down in November as consumers turned to e-commerce across the Black Friday weekend. That is according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and KPMG Retail Sales Monitor, which found UK retail sales decreased 0.4% on a like-for-like basis from the same month last…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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,…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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…
Read More »
