French Watch and Jewellery Market posts sales increase in Q1 2011

In France, global sales in the watch and jewellery sector rose by 6 percent in March, an increase equal to that recorded in March 2010. For the first quarter as a whole, sales were up 3 percent. The upturn in March benefited both non-gold jewellery (silver, gold-plated, steel, non-precious metals), which recorded growth of 17 percent by volume and 16 percent by value, and watches which posted increases of 10 percent by volume and 16 percent by value. During the first quarter, in value terms, non-gold jewellery rose by 10 percent and watches by 7 percent.