Precious Metal – Precious Stone

 

Everyone knows it has been a tough old time on the High Street. Although the figures reflect caution average spends on luxury items such as watches, jewellery and giftware have seen a slight increase. The luxury sector is playing on its desirability by introducing exclusive lines, fashion-led ranges and slick advertising. Diamonds, it seems are a girl’s best friend, not forgetting to mention a guy’s, as they are re-introduced into contemporary and unique designs.

 

Luxury News…

 

Fashion & Luxury Conference 5

 

The International Herald Tribune has recently announced that its fifth ‘Fashion and Luxury Conference’ will take place in Dubai this December. Hosted by the renowned fashion editor, Suzy Menkes, the conference brings together speakers from the fashion and luxury markets such as Bernard Arnault, Patrizio Bertelli and Sir Paul Smith.

 

Held at the new Park Hyatt in Dubai, the conference will be principally sponsored by Emaar Properties PJSC. The huge real estate company recently announced that it had signed a deal with Giorgio Armani to develop seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts around the globe. Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said: “The development of the luxury retail sector in Dubai especially in the past 10 years has been phenomenal. It has become one of the great luxury cities of the world and is the ideal venue for Modern Luxury.”

 

Suzy Menkes also commented: “With such a considerable amount of global luxury brands sales coming from the Middle East, it is a natural move for this year’s IHT conference to take place in Dubai. Modern Luxury will examine the exciting opportunities and potential pitfalls of fashion’s 21st century Gold Rush.”

 

The Fashion & Luxury Conference, organised by the International Herald Tribune, will take place on 5^th & 6^th December 2005.

 

 

Pascal Jewellery Grows with In-store Four {mosimage}

 

 

Jewellery brand Pascal will be opening four more concessions in the UK before the year is out. Pascal will soon be available in Selfridges – Manchester, Fenwick – Brent Cross, House of Fraser on Oxford Street and House of Fraser in Glasgow. Specializing in fine jewellery the brand is busy creating a new 18ct gold collection and has also just launched a user-friendly website where products can be purchased online.

www.pascaljewellery.com

 

 

 

Charmed by Monopoly

 

Board-game Monopoly will be 70 this year and has created a unique sterling silver charm bracelet to celebrate. Riordan Goldsmiths & Silversmiths, in Hampshire kept getting numerous requests for bespoke Monopoly pieces so approached Hasbro International, the makers of Monopoly, for their permission. Hasbro loved the idea and thought that a charm bracelet would be most fitting for Monopoly’s 70^th Birthday. The hand finished charms have been recreated in miniature from the original playing pieces. The bracelet will be strictly limited to an edition of 1,500, all of which will be numbered and issued with a certificate of authenticity. Prices range from £150.00 upwards, for more information, or to place an order, visit www.riordanjewellers.co.uk

 

 

 

Celebrity Endorsement

 

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Nicole Kidman is to extend her advertising contract with watch brand Omega. Kidman has been the face of Omega for the Far Eastern market since the start of the year. The new deal will spread to the rest of the world including Australia and the US.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, tennis champion Boris Becker has been appointed as brand ambassador for IWC. To celebrate a limited-edition, Stainless Steel Chrono-Automatic Boris Becker watch has been created. Retailing at a cool £4,250 the piece features a green crocodile leather strap and only 250 have been made.

 

 

Trends…

 

Diamonds – remain the prized stone. 

 

–          Designer brands such as – Vivienne Westwood, Roland Mouret and Vera Wang have injected the sector with a serious dose of cool.

–          Coloured diamonds are starting to make an impact, especially pink. Kate Moss reportedly bought a pink diamond ring when her daughter was born. Other popular colours include yellow, blue and black diamonds – particularly for men.

–          Fresh design plus mixing diamonds with other materials such as crystal and leather has introduced the gem to a younger audience.

 

 

{mosimage}Pink Sapphires – top selling coloured stone

 

     

      – One’s to watch over the up-and-coming months – pink gemstones, like watermelon (pink surrounded by green) and tourmaline, green and greenish blue gemstones such as chalcedony.

 

 

Platinum – still a top choice for wedding bands.

 

 

{mosimage}Gold – yellow gold is set to make a strong comeback with many brands noticing an increase in demand.

 

 

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Catwalk Trend to Watch – wearing 2 or 3 necklaces wrapped and twisted together, mixing up a variety of pearls with crystals and semi-precious stones.

 

 

 

 

 

Best-Sellers at the Top-end of the Market

 

Watches:

 

1 Rolex

2 Omega

3 TAG Heuer

4 Breitling    

5 Rado

 

{mosimage}Jewellery:    

 

1 Opus

2 Chopard

3 Hearts On Fire

4 Faberge

5 Bvlgari

 

 

 

Up & Coming Shows…

 

September 2 – 5 MACEF Autumn

Fiera Milano International, Milan, Italy.

www.fmi.it/macef

 

September 3 – 6 Premiere Classe

Port de Versailles, Paris, France.

www.premiere-classe.com

 

September 4 – 7 Autumn Fair

NEC Birmingham,UK

www.autumnfair.com

 

 

 

By JoJo Iles