Market Report

Vacheron Constantin presents Métiers d'Art Savoirs Enluminés

The new Métiers d'Art Savoirs Enluminés timepieces, The Aberdeen Bestiary are painted on a gold background. They reveal colours, mainly blues and pinks and which remain extremely intense, with white. The first of this trio is the "Altion", a beautiful seabird linked to Water, The care given to its blue green plumage. The second model, "Vultures", is adorned with two fowl back to back the quintessential ambassadors of the Skies. The third model, "Caper" is devoted to the Earth. It presents a midnight blue goat with a piercing gaze. The case in white gold. It has double sapphire crystals. The dial has two-levels. The upper dial: hand-textured champlevé gold base. Lower dial: polished letters in relief on a grained gold base. It comes on a brown Mississippiensis alligator leather strap, hand-stitched, saddle-finish, a white gold triple blade folding clasp with a polished half Maltese cross-shape.

Market News

Apple expects smartwatch demand to exceed supply at launch

Apple Inc. said it expected the 'tremendous interest' in its new smartwatch to result in demand outstripping supply when the gadget hits stores on April 24. Apple said it would take orders for the watch exclusively online during the initial launch period. The watch have been available for preview and preorder since last Friday. Based on a survey in the United States on consumer interest in buying the Apple Watch BMO Capital Markets has cut its estimate for sales to 39 million units though September 2016. Previously the analysts had estimated sales of 55.5 million units. About 735 people responded to the survey. The watch the first new product to be launched by Apple under CEO Tim Cook has been given poor marks by reviewers for its relatively low battery life and slow-loading apps. Apple is among several companies including Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Sony Corp that are jumping into the nascent market for wearable devices.

Four UAE families in the Forbes Middle East’s list of the 100 richest Arabs 2015

Four people from the UAE and their families made Forbes Middle East’s list of the world’s top 100 richest Arabs for 2015, which was published recently. The UAE’s Abdulla Bin Ahmad Al Ghurair and family were ranked fourth, with Al Ghurair’s fortune valued at $6.4 billion. The chairman and president of Mashreq Bank was ranked 220 globally in Forbes’ recent 2015 Billionaires list, up from 305 last year. Majid Al Futtaim ranked 6th with $6.2 billion, Saif Al Ghurair and family were 10th at $3.4 billion, and Abdullah Al Futtaim was ranked 13th with $3.2 billion. Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Al Saud took the top spot. He was followed by Joseph Safra and Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al Amoudi. Robert Mouawad. The Lebanese diamond connoisseur has diversified into real estate and holds an estimated wealth of $1.5 billion. The world’s top 100 wealthy Arabs had a combined wealth of $174.37 billion, an $8.3 billion increase on 2014.

Company News

Ulysse Nardin Set Sail with New Kruzenshtern Enamel Timepiece

Ulysse Nardin honors the Kruzenshtern in its new Classico Collection limited-edition enamel cloisonné timepiece. Ulysse Nardin employed the intensely intricate enamel cloisonné technique. Captured on its 40mm-diameter dial is a scene straight from the sea. With blue sky above and crashing waves beneath, the Kruzenshtern slices through the water with fortitude. Handcrafted from rose and white gold and powered by the UN-815 caliber, a self-winding movement. Case back is open with sapphire crystal fixed with screws and bracelet is made of Leather.

Tiffany & Co. celebrates the opening of the relocated boutique

Tiffany & Co. celebrates the opening of its newly relocated boutique in Dubai’s most prestigious shopping resort, Mall of The Emirates. The new boutique celebrates Tiffany’s exquisite design heritage which is reflected in the jeweler’s store environments throughout the world.

Product Launch

Armenian pen ‘Erebouni’ by Montegrappa in limited edition

Montegrappa announces the launch of a new Armenian pen, ‘Erebouni,’ at BaselWorld in Switzerland. The release of the limited edition pen was accompanied with the launch of a book entitled, ‘Rebirth Towards Eternity.’ The collection is available in three lines- Erebouni HOKEVOR (the Armenian word for Spiritual) of Fountain pens in Silver and Gold, Erebouni HAVERJ (the Armenian word for Eternal), which comes in Fountain Pen and Roller Ball option and the Erebouni KRAGAN (the Armenian word for Literary) an edition of fountain pen, roller ball and ball pen in black etched resin with Rose Gold trim.

Van Cleef & Arpels introduces Magic Alhambra® 1-motif long necklaces

Van Cleef & Arpels has created a new line of Magic Alhambra® 1-motif long necklaces. Adorned with mother-of-pearl, onyx, carnelian or diamonds. The 1-motif Magic Alhambra long necklace is decorated in White mother-of-pearl which is embellished with yellow gold to epitomize a gentle femininity. Carnelian – a symbol of love – enlivens the neckline with its red hue. Onyx of an intense black reflects the light like a mirror.

Hermes presents Slim d’Hermès Koma Kurabe watch

The Slim d’Hermès Koma Kurabe watch is graced with a porcelain dial from the French Manufacture Nationale de Sevres.  A representation of a festive scenery and horse race (Koma Kurabe), using a traditional Japanese technique of miniature painting in various shades of red, called Aka-e. The case material is in white gold. Buckle pin in white gold and Strap is Matt Havana alligator.

Cerruti 1881 presents timepiece collections

LA SPEZIA watch is especially evident in the bottomless blue hue of the watch face and repeated in the bezel. Golden, tapered indices draw inward to three subdials counterbalanced with a refined black band featuring the Cerruti 1881 name. A smart, blue leather strap with visible stitching completes the sartorial elegance. CAMERINO watch Gold and silver tones combined with sporadically set crystals, the double-rimmed crystal embedded dial of this wristwatch intentionally omitting robust numerals; silver and gold linked bracelet. VOLTERRA watch the rugged midnight blue band is embellished by two raised ridges, leading the eye to the polished copper details on the watch dial. Rich bronze colours compliment the deep ethereal blues of the watch face while luminescent white hands and strong numbers create a striking contrast.

Montegrappa pays tribute to Khalil Gibran

Montegrappa collaborates with the Gibran National Committee, and the Dubai International Writers’ Centre, to host a celebration evening dedicated to Gibran Khalil Gibran, on April 19, 2015, this special cultural initiative will be attended by the President of the Gibran National Committee of Lebanon, Dr. Tarek Chidiac; Georges Kordahi, the renowned media personality and TV presenter. The tribute to Gibran will conclude with the unveiling of ‘The Prophet’ – a limited edition pen collection created by Montegrappa and designed by Lebanese artist Katya Traboulsi, as homage to Gibran’s legacy. The pens are made of resin, in a spectacle of rich colours and feature a bevy of astounding engravings in yellow gold. The fountain pen nib is also made of solid gold and bears the famous face believed by many to be Gibran’s ultimate self-portrait.

TAG Heuer introduces Monaco V4 Phantom

The new feature of the 2015 version is found on the case, which is made from CMC (Carbon Matrix Composite) and the 7 bridges of its movement, also in CMC. The entire dial is composed of shades of dark grey and black; the hands are faceted and satin-finished, with a Titanium Carbide Coating and anthracite grey SuperLuminova™. Only the jewels reveal discreet little touches of red, Black micro-belts in viscoplastic polyamide. Strap is Matt black alligator Deployant buckle and safety push-buttons with Titanium Carbide Coating.

Exhibitions & Events

Storm failed to diminish lure of 38th MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show

The 38th MidEast Watch & Jewellery show was held from March 31 to April 4, 2015 at Expo Centre under the patronage of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. According to the organizers, the show featured nearly 500 exhibitors and brands from across the world. Though dust and sand storms led to low visibility across the UAE on April 2, the rest of the days made up for it, with the 38th MidEast Watch & Jewellery Show registering 49,874 visitors during its five-day run.

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