Market Report

Piaget opens its new boutique in Dubai

Piaget recently opened the doors to its 3rd boutique in the UAE at Mall of the Emirates, in the presence of the brand’s Middle Eastern Ambassador, Arab singer Yara and the CEO of Piaget, Mr. Philippe Leopold-Metzger. The boutique is clothed in black and gold as contrasting materials in gloss and matte perfectly complement the dramatic lighting that falls on the pieces in the boutique. The ribbon-cutting by the guests of honor was carried out in front of an audience consisting of select media and VIP guests.

Market News

Christie’s 17th sale in Dubai touched on almost US$ 16 Million

The 17th sale season for Christie’s in Dubai totaled $15,827,500, following the sale of Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art last week and sale of Important Watches. This was the highest annual sale total for Christie’s Dubai since 2010. The sales were 94% sold by lot, an indication of the continuing strength of the market with interest from collectors around the world. Of those collectors who registered to bid across the sales this week, 25% were new to Christie’s. Next season Christie will again hold March sales to co-incide with Art Week in Dubai.

Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates its fourth year as major partner of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival

Jaeger-LeCoultre continues its four-year as major partner of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. For the last four years, Jaeger-LeCoultre pays tribute to Arab talent in supporting the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Jaeger-LeCoultre will be actively involved in all the highlights of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, adorning the stars with its latest and finest creations, and presenting a personalised Reverso watch to the winners of the Best Actress and Best Actor of the year in the Narrative Competition. The Abu Dhabi Film Festival runs until November 1 screening total of 197 films, of which nine are feature length world premieres and 48 short film premieres.

LVMH plans to try its luck in the smartwatch business

LVMH is considering a partnership with a tech company to build a smartwatch of its own. Smartwatches have gained ground over the past year, as the computer industry seeks the next big thing, as technology reaches new levels, and as consumers have begun to show interest. LVMH, a luxury goods conglomerate that owns everything from Dom Perignon to Louis Vuitton to Fendi to De Beers, plans to try its luck in the smartwatch business through a partnership with a technology company.

UAE is 15th expat destination in the world according to HSBC report

The UAE ranks 15th among the most favored expatriate destination in the world. Switzerland, Singapore and China ranked as the top three expat destinations, while Bahrain ranked fifth. According to HSBC’s Expat Explorer 2014 survey, the UAE continues to be seen by expats as one of the top destinations in the world due to its buoyant economic climate and high potential for financial gain. Better job prospects and higher salaries are major draws for living in the country.

Bell & Ross presents BR-X1 SKELETON CHRONOGRAPH

Bell & Ross launched its latest timepiece:  the BR – X1, at the “Hotel National des Invalides” in Paris, France. The square case of the BR-X1 is covered with ceramic and rubber. The BR-X1 features the titanium, ceramic and rubber which make it light, virtually scratch-proof and ergonomic. The sapphire glass has an anti-glare coating. Made from grey-tinted mineral glass and featuring appliqué metal indices with photo-luminescent inserts, the dial forms a clear window through which the exceptional movement. Made from rubber, the black strap is decorated with a braid, which echoes the woven canvas straps. Made from steel and featuring a moulded black rubber insert, the buckle is both robust and refined. It is fixed to the strap using a pin and two hex-head screws.

Company News

Van Cleef & Arpels re-opens its boutique in Dubai - UAE

Van Cleef & Arpels celebrated its 10th Anniversary in the Middle East at its newly transformed boutique at the prestigious Dubai Mall. The inauguration was held in the presence of Mr. Alban Belloir, Van Cleef & Arpels Managing Director of Middle East and India.

Chopard supports a prestigous renovation project at Cinecittà

Chopard continues its commitment in the realm of the 7th Art by supporting a prestigious renovation project of the legendary Cinecittà studios. On the eve before the 9th edition of the International Rome Film Festival, Caroline Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard, Roberto Cicutto, President of the Istituto Luce Cinecittà, and Luigi Abete, Honorary President of Cinecittà Studios, unveiled the new façade of the famous Italian studios. The renovations and the inauguration of the façade built in 1937 represent the first stage of a three-year partnership between Chopard, Cinecittà Studios and the Instituto Luce Cinecittà, who, together with other activities planned, aim to renovate the premises as well as rolls of cult films that were shot here.

Vacheron Constantin opens its first Latin American Boutique in Brazil

Vacheron Constantin is opening its first Latin American boutique in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new boutique, located at the prestigious Shopping Cidade Jardim. The interior design of the boutique uses elegant materials, such as wood, bronze and leather.

Bremont presents its brand ambassador Ben Saunders in Dubai

Bremont’s CEO Giles England in a recent trip to Dubai presented Ben Saunders and its iconic Terra Nova timepiece. British polar explorer Ben Saunders and his team mate Tarka L’Herpiniere in early 2014 rewrote history with their world record-breaking Antarctic expedition. One of the most ambitious polar expeditions in a century, it marked the first time Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova expedition had ever been completed. On the outside of their polar jackets the two polar explorers wore their new Bremont Terra Nova chronometers. The watches were to become an essential tool in their navigation. Far too cold for any type of battery operated device, the light titanium Supermarine with GMT functionality and specially oiled mechanical movement became indispensable.

Ginette NY launch in collaboration with the Cartel

Christian Bernard Group presents, for the first time in Dubai the extraordinary fine jewelry collections of Maison Martin Margiela and Ginette New York in an exclusive private event organized by the Cartel showroom. This alluring jewelry assortment, inspired by the French heritage, and the Parisian elegance, style and modernity will be available at the Cartel concept showroom starting from November 2014. The exclusive preview event occurred on October 21, 2014 at the Okku Restaurant, in Dubai, gave major exposure to Maison Martin Margiela unconventional jewelry designs, where emblems of eternal love, family bonding, and traditions are restyled for the new era. 

Corum launches five watch collections at Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons

Corum launches five watch collections this quarter through Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. The Corum AC-One 45 Squelette with a skeleton movement open-worked in a modern, geometric style, the AC-One 45 Squelette retains the traditional Admiral’s Cup shape, but executed in lightweight, grade 5 titanium. Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Tides with its mechanical movement driving indications of the time and strength of the tides, the lunar cycle, as well as the strength of the currents and the height of the tides. The Feather Watch is in red gold case comes in a finely wrought 39 mm diameter. The dials are preciously set with peacock feathers and on one model the feathers are framed by round-cut diamonds. Corum Golden Bridge Dragon, a mythical creature symbolizing life and power. It features a red gold main plate and bridges, including an upper bridge bearing the hand-engraved Corum signature. Corum Golden Bridge Automatic in titanium born of an alliance between gold and titanium, combining the gold of a fabled movement with the titanium of a sleek, a case in titanium grade 5 with black DLC treatment.

Product Launch

Arnold & Son presents Royal Collection

Arnold & Son announces two spectacular new references as fitting additions to the HMS1 line. Both of the new timepieces feature gorgeous, silvery-white guilloché dials in two distinct patterns. These combine with the indices, starkly three-dimensional hands, and recessed subdial to create a spectacular illusion of depth that is in sharp contrast to the ultra-slim case. The rhodium treated calibre is meticulously fashioned, featuring Haute Horlogerie finishing and manually chamfered bridges with polished edges as well as blued screws and fine circular graining. Secured by a brown or black alligator strap, the two new HMS1 references are available in rose gold and white gold, and are also available with a diamond-set bezel.

JEANRICHARD presents “New Year’s Eve Black Tie Selection”

JEANRICHARD reveals the New Year – the all dark “New Year’s Eve Black Tie Selection”. JEANRICHARD special Black Tux selection is the perfect start into 2015. This extraordinary edition includes four selected all in black pieces chosen from the JEANRICHARD collections – a Terrascope timepiece and one Aquascope, Aeroscope and 1681 each – all featuring varied versions of their dial and strap in black. The Hokusai Aquascope timepieces stands especially out with its rhodium-coated hands with red luminescent material and its PVD-coated stainless steel case in all black. The JEANRICHARD Aeroscope Chronograph model strikes with a black DLC-coated lightweight titanium bezel and case. All four timepieces come with a black strap either in rubber or Barenia calf skin and feature a black case.

OMEGA’s unveils the new De Ville Central Tourbillon

OMEGA’s new De Ville Central Tourbillon dazzles with a diamond-set bezel complete with a golden case and Co-Axial calibre. The intriguing dial of the timepiece is visible through the sapphire glass.  The red gold alpha-shaped seconds hand is set in the tourbillon cage while the red gold “flying” alpha-shaped hour and minute hands are etched onto the sapphire crystal. The De Ville Central Tourbillon’s bridges and plates are finished in a striking chocolate brown colour. One of the timepiece’s most brilliant design elements is its bezel, which is adorned with baguette diamonds cut into trapezoidal forms. The wristwatch is presented on a luxurious brown leather strap with a polished foldover clasp.

Celebrity News

The Hilton sisters wore AVAKIAN jewellery in New York

The Hilton sisters adorned exclusive AVAKIAN jewellery for The Angel Ball - Paris Hilton wore a spectacular flower necklace with matching earrings pink sapphire and diamonds. Nicky Hilton went for a striking diamond necklace and matching earrings set with diamonds all part of the AVAKIAN High Jewellery Collection.

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