Market Report

Girard-Perregaux celebrates its 220th anniversary

To mark its 220th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux is organizing a travelling exhibition that features a selection of its Museum pieces and contemporary creations. It is the largest collection of Girard-Perregaux watches ever to be presented outside Switzerland. The exhibition, entitled “A tale of inspiration – unveiling 220 years of watchmaking Art”, was held at the Singapore ArtScience Museum from 16 to 18 September 2011. Inside this gem of contemporary architecture, several thousand people discovered rare creations, documents and unique watchmaking tools from Girard-Perregaux’s collection. The exhibition is continuing its round-the-world trip, with forthcoming stops in: Shanghain - Sinan Mansions from 20 to 23 October and New York - Girard-Perregaux Boutique on Madison from 18 to 26 November 2011.

Market News

LVMH posts sales growth in Q3 of 2011 despite downturn fears

LVMH has posted forecast-beating third-quarter sales growth and said it was confident for the rest of 2011, showing no signs of a slowdown in the luxury industry despite the slowing economy. The company said like-for-like sales rose 15 percent to €6.01 billion (Dh30.5 billion) in the three months to September 30, based on forecasts from five analysts. The maker of Louis Vuitton handbags added that the first nine months of the year had confirmed its confidence for the remainder of 2011.

Mouawad launches the new Rosette Collection at Abu Dhabi Jewellery & Watch Show

Mr. Fred Mouawad, Co-Guardian of Mouawad unveiled the brand’s new Rosette Collection during a VIP reception held at the Mouawad booth on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Jewellery & Watch Show at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on 17 October 2011. Featuring rose-cut stones set in 18 k white gold, the Rosette Collection is a gorgeous line of contemporary and opulent jewellery that takes its inspiration from the fabulous rosette jewellery beloved in European fashion from the 14^th to the 18^th centuries. Along with the new Rosette collection, the Mouawad booth also showcased the award-winning Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse, certified by the Guinness World Records as the most valuable handbag in the world, as well as Mouawad’s stunning haute joaillerie, watch collections and a selection of their exquisite Objet D’art.

UAE's non-oil foreign trade climbs 14 percent in 2010

According to the latest report of UAE Foreign Trade Ministry (MoFT), UAE non-oil foreign trade has climbed 14 percent in 2010 to Dh754.4 billion from Dh660.4bn in 2009. Exports without crude jumped 27 percent from 2009 to Dh83.1bn, while re-exports grew 26 percent. Non-oil imports increased by 8 percent year-on-year to Dh485.4bn in 2010, the data also showed. In 2010, India, China and the United States were the key exporters to the UAE. Re-exports, the bulk of the UAE trade, were led by India, Iran, and Iraq. The top commodities by value were gold, diamonds, cars and telephone sets, MoFT's reports showed. The report showed that more than a third of the UAE's imports are re-exported. The figure went up to 38 percent of imports in 2010, it said.

Christies showcase Elizabeth Taylor's jewels and art works for the upcoming sale

Christie's photo call and press preview is being held today, 24th of October at Godolphin Ballroom – Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel where they are showcasing exquisite highlights from the Elizabeth Taylor jewellery collection, as well as works from the Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art auction.

Company News

Breitling Jet Team soars at Lebanon

Breitling Jet Team has soared and looped through the skies above the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend. For a spellbinding 25 minutes, the seven jets, sponsored by Breitling flew in synchronized formations, demonstrating high-speed barrel rolls, loops, vertical splits and apache rolls. Reaching speeds near 740 kilometers per hour, the jets shifted seamlessly from formation to formation, executing stunning tricks with a balletic quality belying the swift pace of the show. “It’s our aim to entertain spectators, to get their attention and give them positive emotion – like watching a stage or musical (performance),” said Jacques Bothelin, the team’s chief pilot who flies plane No. 1 to lead the formation.

Jaeger-LeCoultre certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council

The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) announced that Jaeger-LeCoultre has achieved certification meeting the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards as established by the RJC’s Member Certification System. Ideally situated between the forests and lake of the Joux Valley, Jaeger-LeCoultre remains both wedded to its historic site and committed to the preservation of its environment. The firm has always kept the environmental impact of its activities under control and is involved with its workforce and other eminent personalities in a number of local and international actions. The project known as “Making Time more Beautiful” carries with it the hopes of ecological responsibility that the company intends to promote.

RJ-Romain Jerome announces its first collaboration with DeLorean Motor Company

RJ-Romain Jerome has announced its first collaborative endeavor with DeLorean Motor Company, the manufacturer that brought us the legendary DeLorean DMC-12. This stunningly spectacular car, which played the dominant hero figure as the time machine in one of the most memorable cinema trilogies of all times, has made a lasting impression on generations of viewers. Its futuristic technology and the magic of its journeys through different time-frames remain as fascinating as ever. Today, the DeLorean DMC-12 is merging its DNA with that of the Manufacture RJ-Romain Jerome, even going so far as to entrust the latter with the metal of the original bodywork. This sci-fi inspired partnership is soon to be revealed under a name evoking a resolutely contemporary saga: DeLorean-DNA.

Montegrappa partners with Incroci di civilta

Incroci di civilta, the international literature festival of Venice is a true “trip around the world” through writing. Each year, authors of the widest variety of backgrounds, languages and cultures come together in the most beautiful city in the world to meet their readers and to discuss the most topical issues of contemporary life. Promoted by the Ca’ Foscari University and by the Municipality of Venice, which host the events in their most prestigious premises, Incroci has found a perfect partner in Montegrappa. This emerges in that very special moment when, at the end of the meetings, readers queue up to receive the gift of an autograph by their favorite writer in the book dearest to them. In point of fact, a Montegrappa pen marks this moment and remains with the guest as a prestigious memento of their Venice experience.

Product Launch

A World Premiere Concept Watch by Blancpain

On Tuesday, 25 October 2011, Blancpain will launch, in Dubai, a World Premiere Concept Watch, the “most extreme” watch Blancpain has ever produced, the X-Fathoms. This brand new and unique mechanical system will be immersed in the biggest aquarium of the world at the biggest Mall in the world, along with Mr Marc A. Hayek as well as champion freediver, Mr Gianluca Genoni. The press conference will start at 6 pm at the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, The Dubai Mall followed by a dinner in front of the biggest and incredible fountain show at the feet of the tallest tower of the world, the Burj Khalifa at the Armani Hotel Pavillon.

Chopard unveils the Happy Diamonds campaign

Chopard unveiled the new Happy Diamonds campaign, capturing the inspiration and energy of the contemporary independent young woman. The interactive campaign introduces new ways to share your happy moments with your friends and with the Chopard community. Like the Happy Diamonds collection, it embodies the brilliance and allure of diamonds that take on lives of their own, unfettered by settings and allowed to float, dance and twirl about at will. Chopard’s very first application on Facebook and for iPhone, iPad and Android allows you not only to explore the finest details of the trendy watches and jewellery collection, but also to seize the most cherished moments of your life and to share them with the Chopard community.

DeWitt launches the Golden Afternoon collection

With the Golden Afternoon collection, DeWitt has tried to poetically and artistically retrace the different stages in the life of a woman and her changing perceptions of the world around her. The Golden Afternoon is a purely feminine 39 mm timepiece housing an automatic calibre with 42 hours power reserve. The dial of the Golden Afternoon is a delicate mother of pearl garden with a gentle breeze blowing across its colourful beds of flowers. Of different dimensions and tonalities, the flowers pour out of the centre and are dispatched poetically across the dial. In the background, a mother of pearl sky with discrete puffy clouds mingles with a dozen water lily diamonds to form a painting in which reflection is reality.

The RICHARD LANGE TOURBILLON "Pour le Merite" HANDWERKSKUNST

It was only last January at the Watch Salon in Geneva that A. Lange & Sohne showcased its Richard Lange Tourbillon with the distinction “Pour le Merite”. So far at Lange, this hallmark has been reserved for four exceptionally complicated watches endowed with the unique fusee-and-chain transmission. The ingenious mechanism assures that the going train is driven with a constant force across the entire power reserve duration, keeping the rate accuracy of the watch stable. Inspired by a historic predecessor, this regulator takes horological artistry to a new level that merits the attribute “HANDWERKSKUNST”: With exquisite dial and move­ment decorations, the Saxon masters demonstrate impressive new facets of traditional craftsmanship.

GRAHAM new SILVERSTONE Stowe GMT Blue & Yellow

The colorful GRAHAM high-powered Silverstone chronograph distinguishes itself by its sporty carbon fibre dial base, enhanced by dashing blue and yellow colors, and an impressive array of racing skills. In addition to showing the hours, minutes and seconds with “lemon-ized” hands, it sports 30-minute and 60-second chronograph counters, a tachymeter scale - useful for calculating speed over a given distance - a twin date aperture, as well as a GMT display indicated by an outer blue ring and a dedicated black bold hand with red pointer. Driven by the ultra-reliable GRAHAM bi-compax chronograph movement, with a 48-hour power reserve, this is a watch that can definitely take the heat and knows all about endurance. This watch is limited edition of 250 pieces.

Jaquet Droz introduces the New Petite Heure Minute

Stone, mother-of-pearl and enamel. For the first time, Jaquet Droz is celebrating its venerable history of craftsmanship by introducing a new format that pays tribute to the beauty of design, timeless yet always very up to date. Jaquet Droz is presenting three new timepieces whose watch-case is only 35 mm in diameter, a tribute to the skill and excellence of each craftsman involved in its fabrication. To help watch connoisseurs seize each passing moment, Jaquet Droz has endowed the Petite Heure Minute and its new case with the 2653 self-winding mechanical movement. Mechanical virtuosity meets deliciously feminine refinement.

David Morris reveals its Winter 2011 Paraiba Collection

This unique collection celebrates the beautiful and rare Paraiba tourmaline, a turquoise blue-green gemstone with a vividness and intensity of color unequalled in any other gem. As most of the stones uncovered in the Brazil were fragments, Paraiba tourmalines of significant size are incredibly rare, especially as the mine has now yielded all of its gems. This makes the Paraiba Collection, including a 25.40 carat pear-shape mounted in a white diamond pendant, all the more sought-after and enviable. Each piece in the Paraiba Collection has been hand-crafted to follow the natural contours of these electric gemstones. The results include butterfly design earrings and pendant, tourmaline and white diamond bangles, and a selection of striking one-of-a-kind rings.

Vertu presents Constellation at Palazzo Serbelloni, Milano

Vertu has celebrated the highly anticipated launch of its first touchscreen handset, Constellation in Milan. The brand’s friends including international guests from across the arts and fashion world were gathered for the evening and were able to admire the new touchscreen smartphone by Vertu at the magnificent Palazzo Serbelloni. Palazzo Serbelloni is the perfect venue of choice by Vertu as it is one of the most significant buildings in Milanese Neo-classicism, a setting rich in cultural traditionalism and heritage. History meets modernity with a state of the art and awe inspiring installation designed by Vertu brand ambassador and Chinese architect, Ma Yansong.

REUGE launches the iReuge and Nomad

iReuge is the first mechanical music station for mobile phones a premier expression of the music boxes of tomorrow. The iReuge music boxs mechanical musical movement is activated and plays a melody once a mobile phone, set to the vibrate mode, starts to vibrate. Developed by REUGE in collaboration with the design duo, Philippe Loup and Eric Meyer. Nomad is like the nomadic lifestyle that symbolizes the ease by which we travel today, through many miles and time zones to the rhythm of their days, in-between city, sea and mountain, nomad embodies the concept of the mobile music box. The fruit of the collaboration between Xavier Perrenoud and his team (atelier XJC).

Exhibitions & Events

Dubai International Jewellery Week to showcase Finest Jewellery

With an unrivalled showcase of some of the most exclusive and valuable pieces in the world and a stunning line up of trendsetting designs, Dubai International Jewellery Week is a not to be missed event for jewellery lovers in the Middle East. The exhibition will run from 10-13 November 2011 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) and is organized by the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Jewellery aficionados can browse unique treasures from over 300 different exhibitors representing more than 25 countries including Hong Kong, India, Italy, Korea, Lebanon, Singapore, Turkey, Thailand and USA. The show is open for ladies only on Thursday 10 November from 11am-3pm, and from 3pm-10pm for the general public. On Friday 11 November the show is open from 3pm-10pm and from 11am -10pm on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November.

GJEPC to organize 3rd Indo Euro Jewellery Summit in mid November 2011

Post successful completion of two Indo-Euro Jewellery summit, in 2009 and 2010, the stage is set for 3rd edition of the Summit scheduled from 15^th- 20^th November, 2011 in Mumbai. The Indo-Euro summit will have a series of high level meetings between Top 20 European Retailers and leading Indian jewellery manufacturers. The final Summit will once again see participants from such diverse horizons as France, Germany, Poland and Eastern Europe, as well as the major jewellery retail chain from South Africa. For the first time, the participants will also include Wholesalers, TV jewellery channels and one of the leading luxury retailers of France. It shows the potential of these Summits to attract all the different segments of the jewellery retail sector of a given market.

Celebrity News

Catherine Zeta- Jones dazzles in Van Cleef & Arpels

Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Tony Award-winning actress Catherine Zeta- Jones was glowing on the red carpet for the 6th Annual ‘A Fine Romance Event’, a tribute to Hollywood and Broadway in Culver City, California. Complementing her Elie Saab couture gown, Ms. Zeta-Jones is stunning selection of VAN CLEEF & ARPELS pieces included: “Snowflake Lampion” earclips set in platinum featuring diamonds, “Orseis” ring set in 18K white gold featuring diamonds and “Jeu de Ruban” bracelet set in 18K white gold featuring diamonds.

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