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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Mar- 2015 -27 MarchAnalysis
Watch out for the Swiss franc
Swiss watchmakers have reacted to the strength of the franc by raising their prices in the Eurozone, but this is not necessarily bad news for UK retailers, finds TOM DAVIS Swiss watch exports have been soaring in recent years and in 2014 they reached a record high, bringing in a…
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27 MarchRetailers
Signet delivers highest Q4 sales growth in 13 years
Signet’s UK division, which owns H Samuel and Ernest Jones, has experienced its highest Q4 sales increase in 13 years and its best operating profit in three years. In the 13 weeks to January 31, the company reported a same-store sales increase of 7.5%, with total sales reaching $278m (£186.6m).…
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26 MarchWatch Focus
IWC celebrates 10-year partnership with Mercedes-AMG with new watch
IWC Schaffhausen is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its partnership with Mercedes-AMG with the launch of a motoring inspired watch. The Ingenieur Automatic Edition ‘AMG GT’, is made of solid boron carbide – one of the hardest materials in existence – and is limited to just 25 pieces. It features…
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25 MarchCrime
Shoppers tackle armed robber in Leeds jewellery store raid
Members of the public tackled and detained an armed robber as he tried to flee the scene of a jewellery store raid in Leeds city centre yesterday. The incident took place at Berrys Jewellers, in Albion Street, when three masked men entered the store at 3:20pm and threatened staff with…
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24 MarchCelebrities
Schwarzenegger reveals watch range at Basel
Legendary movie star and politician Arnold Schwarnzenegger made an appearance at Baselworld yesterday to reveal his new range of cinema-inspired watches. Making his way through a throng of photographers and fans, the former governor of California posed for ‘selfies’ with members of the public before heading over to the stand to…
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23 MarchCrime
1,000s’ worth of jewellery taken in Dorking smash-and-grab
Jewellery and watches worth several thousands of pounds have been stolen in a smash-and-grab at a high street jewellers in Dorking, Surrey. Police believe the thieves smashed through the front door of Blacks II, located on High Street, between 5:15am and 5:30am on Thursday, March 19, before smashing a number…
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20 MarchWatch Focus
Tag Heuer partners with Google and Intel to develop smartwatch
Tag Heuer has announced that it will partner with Google and Intel to create an Android Wear powered smartwatch. The collaboration was made official at Baselworld during a press conference held yesterday at the Tag Heuer booth. The company, which is owned by the luxury goods maker LVMH Group, said…
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18 MarchQ&A Sessions
Q&A: Orbitvu (photography equipment)
[intro]Jewellery Focus chats to Andrew Dibben, owner of AJ’s Studio & Camera Supplies, the official supplier of Orbitvu in the UK, on what makes this innovative photography technology so unique.[/intro] Could you tell me a little about Orbitvu, how it works, and what it does? The Orbitvu Alphashot Micro is a…
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12 MarchRetailers
Watchfinder posts record £36m turnover
Watchfinder has announced a record-breaking year in 2014, chalking up annual turnover of £36m. The company has been profitable since founding in 2002, however growth over the past year has been more rapid thanks to a round of external investment, a new store opening, growing trust in the brand, and…
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6 MarchCrime
Man arrested in connection with jewellery store robbery
Police and Edinburgh have arrested and charged a 24-year old man in connection with an armed robbery on a jewellery store in Edinburgh. The robbery took place at around 9:30am on March 2, when a robber went into Laing The Jewellers on Frederick Street before threatening staff with a gun…
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