Mall of the Emirates' Evolution 2015 now underway; Movado Group’s sales up 4 percent in Q2; Frederique Constant record first half year results with 26% growth compared to 2013

Market News

Mall of the Emirates' Evolution 2015 now underway

Majid Al Futtaim, the owner of Mall of the Emirtaes, has announced the phase two of Mall of the Emirates’ strategic redevelopment, Evolution 2015. Currently underway, this stage will see the mall expand by a gross leasable area of 25,000m2 to include the introduction of a new, major VOX Cinemas experience, retail anchor stores as well as new lifestyle options, and a diversity of dining choices. With a phased completion with elements unveiling by mid-2015, Evolution 2015 will see the launch of brands making their debut in the Middle East at Mall of the Emirates alongside the expansion of existing luxury and lifestyle shopping brands, at an overall estimated investment of more than AED 1 billion.

Movado Group’s sales up 4 percent in Q2

Movado Group’s net sales rose 4 percent year-over-year in its fiscal second quarter, from $138.3 million to $143.6 million, reports say. The company noted its performance to be spurred by rise in its brands and that of the licensed brand and retail categories, while also noting good activity at its outlet retail stores. It also noted that retail sell-through still is ahead of shipments and the overall market, reports added.

Frederique Constant record first half year results with 26% growth compared to 2013

Frederique Constant sees a significant increase in its activity across most of its regions in 2014. With its Accessible Luxury positioning, the brand has been gaining market share in the US$ 1,000 to 5,000 segments. This year, Frederique Constant celebrates its 10th anniversary of its in-house handcrafted movements. Since 2004, Frederique Constant is delivering timepieces with manufacture movements that are in-house developed, in-house manufactured and in-house assembled. The company developed 15 in-house handcrafted calibers, including the last 2014 creation: the Heart Beat Manufacture FC-945 with Silicium Escapement Wheel, Silicium Anker and Silicium Plateau for improved accuracy and reliability.

Company News

F.P.Journe Boutique in Lebanon will be officially inaugurated on 5th of September

F.P.Journe and Claude Sfeir will launch the first F.P.Journe boutique in Lebanon on Friday, 5th of September. The boutique is located in the prestigious area of Achrafieh, Beirut. VIP dignitaries and watch collectors have already been invited to attend this boutique opening event. Claude Sfeir, a renowned watch collector and a jeweller will reveal a new F.P.Journe limited edition watch specially made for this occasion.

New Adler boutique in Doha with Amiri Gems

The new Adler boutique has recently unveiled in Doha, Qatar in association with its local partner Amiri Gems. The boutique will showcase the brand’s collections of fine jewellery to its Qatari customers.

Hublot signs with America’s famed Dallas Cowboys Football Team

Hublot has recently announced an exclusive partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, making the Swiss luxury watch brand the Official Luxury Watch & Timekeeper of America’s legendary football team. Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe joined together with Dallas Cowboys owner and General Manager Jerry Jones in Dallas, TX to kick off the start of an exciting multi-year partnership, as the two iconic brands fuse the worlds of luxury and sports. Hublot is celebrating this partnership by launching three custom, limited edition, Dallas Cowboys-branded timepieces, inspired by the teams iconic Blue and Silver.

LVMH pays tribute to Yves Carcelle

With profound sadness, Bernard Arnault and the LVMH Group announced the death of Yves Carcelle on 31 August 2014, following a long and courageous struggle with illness. During more than 20 years as its chief executive, and with his remarkable vision, energy and sense of strategy, Yves Carcelle established Louis Vuitton as the world’s foremost brand in the luxury sector. Yves Carcelle joined the LVMH Group and its Executive Committee in 1989, and following his departure from Louis Vuitton in 2012, he served as Chairman of the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

AEROWATCH names its new Brand Ambassador

AEROWATCH had recently participated in Miss Polonia Krakow beauty contest and presented its new brand Ambassador in Polonia. As the Miss selection, each Aerowatch timekeeper is confirmed according to extremely demanding criteria. This year's Miss Polonia Krakow, Magdalena Malochleb has been honored by wearing with grace the Miss Luna from the Renaissance collection.

Panerai showcased its SIHH 2014 Novelties in Lebanon

Officine Panerai in association with its agent in Lebanon Wadih Mrad have hosted recently a press lunch for the Lebanese and regional media at the "Indigo on the roof” restaurant of the prestigious le Gray Hotel in downtown Beirut. The recently launched 8 days in house movement watches were the star of the collection. Brand Director Milvin George along with his team and Wadih Mrad team were present to welcome their guests and take them through the new collection.

Product Launch

de GRISOGONO presents the Grappoli Collection

Highly precious, magnificently generous and eye-catching, the de GRISOGONO exquisite new jeweled timepiece is made of playful grapes of gems. Set in an arrangement of shades to form a lively composition – white diamonds, emeralds, amethysts, orange or blue sapphires – make a subtle snow set jewelling. Each of the Grappoli pieces is hand-made, 30 hours per watch are required to set one stone by stone. An incredible amount of high quality stones and carats is used (from 60 to more than 80 carats per piece). Around 1000 brilliant-cut stones are hand-set by the de GRISOGONO craftsmen on each piece. The snow setting on the dial enhances the brightness and color variation. 70 moving briolette-cut stones are sewed on the case.

OMEGA unveils the new Speedmaster Mark II “Rio 2016”

Rio 2016 Olympic Games will witness the launch of the Speedmaster Mark II “Rio 2016” as a tribute to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and perfectly celebrates the excitement and captivating spirt of this incredible competition that will bring together more than 200 nations. Inspired by the 1969 model of the original OMEGA Speedmaster Mark II, the polished and brushed stainless steel case is barrel-shaped and has a polished crown and pushers. Beneath a flat scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is a matt black dial featuring a 30-minute recorder at 3 o’clock, a 12-hour recorder at 6 o’clock and a small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock. The sub-dials are decorated with a bronze ring, 18K yellow gold ring and 925 silver ring respectively – a design that recalls the medals awarded to Olympic champions.

GRAHAM introduces the Chronofighter Oversize Superlight Carbon

GRAHAM achieved a remarkable technological timepiece which brings Superlight technology to its peak and to high-end watch making. The Chronofighter Superlight Carbon is the first Chronofighter carbon-fibre-made watch combining complex and unprecedented machining processes. The superlight black carbon nanotube composite case is enhanced by a carbon trigger, bezel, dial and buckle. Light, soft and comfortable to wear, the Chronofighter Oversize Superlight Carbon will survive rough treatment and the passage of time. The Chronofighter Oversize Superlight Carbon complete watch weighs lighter than 100g.

Bremont launches the Wright Flyer Limited Edition

Bremont has unveiled the Limited Edition Bremont Wright Flyer. The new timepiece features some of the original fabric used on the 1903 Wright Flyer aircraft. Just as significantly, it showcases Bremont’s first ever unique movement, the BWC/01, part-developed and designed in Britain with its Swiss partners. A number of the key constituent movement parts are also planned to be manufactured at the company’s workshops in Henley-on-Thames, which is the first step for Bremont towards manufacturing movements in their entirety in the UK. The 25 jewels, 33.4mm movement features, 50+ hour power reserve, Glucydur balance and a hairspring adjusted via a micro-metric screw. Utterly reliable and extremely robust, the BWC/01 is elegant and beautifully finished, with a central hour and minute hand and a running second hand at 9 o’clock.

F.P.Journe presents the new God Dial

New F.P.Journe dial in massive 18K Gold, with embossed numbers integrated in the dial which are surfaced with a diamond tool to make them appear like mirrors. Silver layer, print transfer for the time indications and the F.P.Journe logo, golden F.P.Journe drop shaped hands. The new Gold dial is dedicated to the Chronomètre Souverain, the Octa Automatique Réserve and the Octa Automatique Lune. These 3 watches are available in the 10 F.P.Journe Boutiques.

Bloomingdale’s-Dubai introduces new Azza Fahmy fine jewellery collection

Bloomingdale’s-Dubai has introduced the latest collection of Azza Fahmy Jewellery, Fashion ‘14 by designer Amina Ghali. The Fashion ’14 collection fashionably echoes a bond between Eastern and Western architecture extending beyond various historic eras, featuring clean-cut lines and ultra-contemporary abstract forms. Skillfully hand-made, several pieces are inspired by architectural muses from “The Walt Disney Concert Hall’ in Los Angeles to the fine work of Polish architect, Daniel Libeskind. The work is combined with structural motifs from the reigns of the Mamluk Sultanate in Egypt and the Middle East (1250–1517).

Celebrity News

Celebrities wear Chopard at the 71st Venice International Film Festival

Italian actress and Godmother of the Festival Luisa Ranieri was wearing a pair of 18cts white gold earrings set with pear-shaped diamonds (14cts) and brilliants, an 18cts white gold bracelet set with fancy-cut diamonds (36cts) and an 18cts white gold ring set with a round cut diamond. While Italian top model Bianca Balti was wearing a pair of 18cts white and rose gold Grape earrings from the Nature collection set with spinels cabochon (19cts), tsavorites (7cts) and coloured diamonds (3cts). Finally, French top model Constance Jablonski was wearing a pair of 18cts blackened white gold floral earrings set with onyx (9cts), heart-shaped pink sapphires (6cts), marquise-cut spinels (3cts) and black brilliants (2cts).

Zhao Wei wears Jaeger-LeCoultre at the 71st Venice Film Festival

Chinese actress and Friend of the Brand, Zhao Wei, wore the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Cordonnet watch at the opening ceremony and Birdman premiere during the 71st Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Cinema in Venice, Italy. The entirely gemset Reverso Cordonnet Duetto encircles the wrist with its perfectly flowing cordlet-style bracelet. Each of the links, paved with several diamonds, supply interlock to form a delightfully rounded Art Deco inspired design.

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