LVMH jewelry and watch sales rose by 24 percent

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton Jewelry and watch sales rose by 24 percent in the first half of the year, with the luxury giant citing a "robust rebound in orders," from jewelers and customers as a reason for the double-digit rise. The watches and jewelry category sales totaled 443 million euros (about $576 million under current exchange rates), up from 346 million euros in the same period in 2009. Profits rose a whopping 145 percent, from 20 million euros in the first half of 2009 to 49 million euros (about $63.8 million) in the first half of 2010.