Market Report

Swiss watch exports record 6.3% in March 2015

The month of March gave a boost to Swiss watch exports. Their value rose 6.3% compared to the previous year, registering the highest monthly increase since January 2014. At nearly 1.8 billion francs, the result helped the sector to a very good first quarter, surpassing the level of 5 billion francs and recording growth of 3.1%. All materials showed an upward trend in March. Value was lifted by precious metal watches. The total number of timepieces leapt up 13.2%, the likes of which have not been seen for more than three years. This figure was buoyed by the categories of other metals and other materials, as well as steel.

Market News

Bahrain’s real GDP growth hit 4.5 percent

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s real GDP growth hit 4.5 percent in 2014, according to official statistics. The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) released its latest Bahrain Economic Quarterly report on Sunday, the government announced. While the hydrocarbons sector expanded by three percent during the year, the report also highlighted that non-oil sectors rose markedly from three percent in 2013 to 4.9 percent in 2014.

The launch of Bulgari Resort and Residences in Dubai

The launch event of Bulgari Resort and Residences Dubai was held at Dubai World Trade Centre. The homes will be a part of the 1.7 million square foot Bulgari Resort and Residences development, which will be located on Jumeirah Bay Island, just off the coast of Jumeirah Beach Road. It is scheduled to open in 2017. The Bulgari resort will join the two designer hotels in Dubai, including the Armani Hotel in Downtown Dubai and the Palazzo Versace, which is expected to open in the first half of this year at Culture Village. Bulgari plans to have 12 properties worldwide by 2020, according to Ursini.

Company News

Hublot and Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons open Dubai Mall boutique

Last week, Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot and Abdulhamied Ahmed Seddiqi, Vice Chairman and Mohammed Abdulmagied Seddiqi, Senior Vice President of Sales and Retail were among celebrities and members of the Seddiqi family and Hublot employees gathered at Dubai Mall to officially inaugurate the new Hublot boutique and special Big Bang pieces from the past decade. With the Dubai Mall new boutique, Hublot celebrates the opening of its 10th boutique in the Middle East.

Audemars Piguet Golf Invitational combines world-class golf with the best of San Francisco

Audemars Piguet hosted its fourth International Golf Invitational tournament in San Francisco. The Audemars Piguet Golf Invitational coincided with the pro-tour’s only match play tournament held in the United States this season. A series of events hosted by Audemars Piguet included a tasting of Napa Valley’s best-rated wines, a cocktail reception in the Penthouse at The Fairmont San Francisco, and culminated in a round of golf attended by seven of the brand’s exceptional golf ambassadors.

Jaeger-LeCoultre to launch their new communication campaign

Jaeger-LeCoultre will be launching a new communication campaign in this month through which Jaeger-LeCoultre reveals its true essence via visuals inspired by individuals in sync with its values. The campaign is a reflection of its desire to connect with an audience of men and women brought together by a certain art of living and united by a passion for beauty. An imaginary world in which the product is no longer the end result – but instead the beginning of an inspirational story- unfolds in the “Open a whole new world” message.

Damas celebrates the opening of its new Damas Collections store

Damas celebrates the opening of its new Damas Collections store in Nakheel, Saudi Arabia. The store’s design reflects the brand’s new global strategy and direction, offering discerning jewellery enthusiasts in the country a range of in-house collections and selected international brands. With the opening of the new store which is Damas’s second store opening in Saudi Arabia in 2015, the outlet takes the brand’s total number of stores in the country to 25 reflecting Damas’ new interior design as well as the brands vision of expansion in the region.

Al Manara International Jewellery celebrates its Third Anniversary

Al Manara International Jewellery is celebrating the third anniversary since its acquisition by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons. Over the course of three years, Al Manara International Jewellery has experienced momentous growth and expanded its footprint across the Emirate, opening 14 new boutiques in landmark locations. Today, Al Manara International Jewellery encompasses seven mono-brand boutiques and seven multi-brand boutiques inclusive of coveted brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Graff, Chopard and TAG Heuer.

UAE among Top Ten most important markets globally for luxury brand Oris

The UAE ranks among the top ten most important markets for the Oris globally. This was announced at a special event in Dubai by senior officials from Oris. A team of Oris pilots made a stopover in Dubai as part of a 12.000 km-long mission to fly the brand’s new collection closer to fine watch connoisseurs across the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The three-man Oris Aviators’ Team has been put together by Karim Gerber, Oris’s Middle East Region Manager.

Product Launch

Apple watch users report tattoo problems

It's an annoying problem for the unlucky few: the Apple Watch's heart rate monitor and even some other features might not work if you have a tattoo on your wrist.  Inked and irked Apple fans have dubbed the issue 'TattooGate' on Twitter complaining that they must choose between their body art and their stylish gadget. Apple for its part acknowledged the issue on its support website. 'Permanent or temporary changes to your skin such as some tattoos can also impact heart rate sensor performance' the site reads. 'The ink pattern and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor making it difficult to get reliable readings.' Several watch owners complained about the problem on social media this week even posting videos that show the watch working well on an undecorated wrist but repeatedly locking or pausing when worn on an arm with a tattoo.  Some said it appeared the watch's screen-lock feature was triggering because the sensors thought the watch was not sitting on their wrist.

Chopard presents Happy Fish

Chopard presents Happy Fish collection with the first features a turquoise textured mother-of-pearl dial with subtle colour nuances creating a blue lagoon effect. In the dial centre, a delightful fish that remains extremely discreet by day lights up and reveals itself when night falls. A small rose gold fish dance as if in the most precious of aquariums, while a turquoise alligator leather strap picks up the dial colours. Setting the cadence for this aquatic ballet is a self-winding movement housed in a steel and pink gold case.

de GRISOGONO showcases a ‘divine’ touch

For the 13th consecutive year, from May 13th to 24th 2015, de GRISOGONO will be ‘divinely’ highlighting High Jewellery creations, the collection will be presented for the first time this year’s Cannes film festival. Cushion-cut blue sapphire unique high jewellery ring its rectangular outline, this stunning stone asserts its distinctive look with rounded corners. This magnificent blue sapphire with a heavenly stone carried by a constellation of pear-cut and oval-cut emeralds and blue sapphires divinely exults. Melody of Colours Turquoise & Amethyst ring is designed as alternating rows of navette-cut amethysts,superbly matched with tube-cut turquoises. Melody of Colours Turquoise & Amethyst Creole Hoops a row of elliptical bands made of pink gold, titanium and turquoises, as well as a band set with amethysts, reinvents the classic creole hoops in a Melody of Colours creation.

Tiffany & Co. launches “The Art of the Sea”, the first Blue Book collection

Tiffany’s 2015 Blue Book arrives with a breathtaking celebration of the sea in all its power and mystery. The 2015 collection, Design Director Francesca Amfitheatrof’s first, combines audacious style with fluid grace and the sea’s boundless energy. Amfitheatrof creates whirlpools of baguette and round diamonds that flow along the neckline and drape the wrist. She designs a ring with pear-shaped diamonds layered like the feathers of seabirds riding the waves, and anchors waterfalls of diamonds with gleaming black opals. Each is hand-cut and set in a curvaceous mounting that reflects the sea’s power to sculpt stones over millennia. Other rings include a Fancy Intense Blue diamond that beckons like a tropical isle; blue-green diamonds that blend the colors of sea and sky; and yellow diamonds sparkling like sunlight on the water.

IWC presents Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month

The Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month from IWC Schaffhausen is available in an red gold case and titanium aluminide, black dial with sapphire-glass inlays, the strap is in black rubber with alligator leather inlay, pin buckle in titanium  Glass sapphire, flat, antireflective coating on both sides. The Ingenieur Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month features a perpetual calendar together with a digital date display and leap year indicator. Every night, when the date display advances, the integrated IWC quick-action switch siphons off a little of the energy stores it and then discharges it precisely at the end of the month.

Celebrity News

Rebecca Lim wears Chanel Jewellery at the 21st Star Awards Ceremony in Singapore

Rebecca Lim wore a "Lion Mosaïque" necklace and ring in white gold and diamonds by Chanel Fine Jewellery and she also wore "Lion Vénitien" earrings and bracelet in white gold and diamonds by Chanel Fine Jewellery.

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