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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Nov- 2015 -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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16 NovemberWatch Focus
Fossil Group acquires wearable tech firm Misfit
Fossil Group has acquired wearable technology company Misfit in a bid to improve its ‘connected accessory’ offering. The group, which is the parent company of Fossil watches and licensee of other watch brands including Michael Kors and Skagen, said the purchase will allow the company to offer consumers both traditional…
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11 NovemberCrime
Gang convicted for ‘violent’ jewellery raids in Manchester and London
Three men have been convicted following a string of commercial robberies on jewellery stores and money transfer shops. Over the course of a year the gang targeted seven stores, using rubber blocks and hammers to smash shop windows and steal jewellery from window displays. It is believed that the men…
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10 NovemberWatch Focus
TAG Heuer unveils ‘connected’ smartwatch in New York
TAG Heuer, Intel Corporation and Google have unveiled a ‘connected’ watch. The Connected Watch with Intel Inside was revealed at a press conference at the LVMH (owner of TAG) Tower hosted by the watch firm’s CEO Jean-Claude Biver (also president of the LVMH Group’s watches division. Biver was accompanied by Brian Krzanich,…
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9 NovemberAuctions
Military-issue Rolex could fetch £70,000 at auction
A military-issue Rolex wristwatch, originally purchased for under £1,000, could be auctioned for £50,000 to £70,000. The watch was discovered when the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow visited Lincolnshire in early 2015. The owner, who had seen a similar watch valued at a considerable amount more than he’d anticipated, took the timepiece…
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6 NovemberWatch Focus
Huawei launches smartwatch in UK
Chinese electronics company Huawei has announced the launch of its new smartwatch in the UK. The Huawei Watch takes its design and inspiration from traditional wristwatches. It measures 42mm in diameter and has a fully circular face with the crown located at the two o’clock position. Powered by Android Wear,…
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6 NovemberEvents
Gems of Time to return to SalonQP
Gems of Time, an exhibition celebrating the art and craft of high-jewellery watches, is set to return to SalonQP. Building on the success of its inaugural exhibition last year, Gems of Time: The Art of Colour aims to explore the jewelled watch and will highlight the current mood for unique…
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Oct- 2015 -30 OctoberWatch Focus
Farer launches in UK with explorer-inspired collection
New British watch brand Farer has launched in the UK with an explorer-inspired collection. Each of the watches in the collection is named after a British explorer, selected to define the spirit of the brand, which it said is “daring, courageous, and filled with wanderlust”. The watches, which are designed…
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