Market News

Jewels of Arabia and Times of Arabia coffee table books by MPP-ME will take center stage at BaselWorld

The “Jewels of Arabia” & “Times of Arabia” in its two editions, the Arabic and the Chinese editions will be presented at the upcoming BaselWorld 2013 at the exhibition’s official LIBRAIRI –WatchPrint News. Please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit Watch print News at the upcoming BaselWorld to pick up your copy of the only coffee table books on highend Jewellery and watches in the Middle East published by MPP-ME and Arabian Watches & Jewellery Magazine.

LVMH - Q1 jewelry, watches sales up 2%

LVMH Group recorded a weak quarter, posting the lowest year-over-year sales gain of any of the luxury conglomerate’s business groups. Revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 for LVMH’s watches and jewelry sector increased from $823.4 million to $831.3 million, a 2 % rise in organic revenue. Globally, LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton recorded 7 percent organic revenue growth, with sales reaching $9.11 billion. During the first quarter, TAG Heuer marked the 50th anniversary of its Carrera line. LVMH said that Hublot and Zenith “had a good start to the year” and that Bulgari saw continued success with its Serpenti line and strong revenue growth in its own stores. In addition to TAG Heuer, Zenith, Hublot and Bulgari, LVMH owns Chaumet, Dior Watches, Fred and De Beers Diamond Jewellers.

UAE 2012 oil income hits record $ 124.7 billion and $ 351.2 billion of Saudi Arabia

Strong oil prices allied with higher output to boost the UAE’s hydrocarbon revenues to their highest level of around $124.7 billion (Dh457.6 billion) in 2012, according to a western report. The income was nearly five per cent higher than the previous record revenue of $119 billion (Dh436.7 billion) in 2011 and more than double the 2005 earnings of about US55 billion. The report showed higher earnings would ally with expansion in some non-oil sector to boost the UAE’s gross domestic product by 6.5 per cent in current prices to a record US375 billion in 2012 from $352 billion in 2011. IIF figures showed Saudi Arabia, the world’s dominant oil exporter, netted a record US351.2 billion in 2012 and projected revenue to fall back to $342 billion in 2013.

Cartier announced its new Regional Managing Director

Cartier has announced the appointment of Mr Laurent Gaborit as the new Regional Managing Director of Cartier for the Middle East, India and Africa. Mr. Laurent Gaborit will replace Mr. Louis Ferla who has been reallocated to Cartier china.

BMW posts 28% rise in Q1 Middle East sales

BMW the German luxury car maker has posted a 28 percent increase in sales in the Middle East in the first quarter of 2013. The company said its outlook for 2013 was "looking optimistic" on the back of its best ever first quarter in the region. A total of 6,303 BMW and Mini vehicles were sold to customers in 13 Middle East markets. The UAE remained the largest market for BMW Group Middle East sales in the first quarter, accounting for just over half (51 percent).

Company News

Jacob & Co Launches New Global Advertising Campaign Featuring World Renowned Soccer Star Cristiano Ronaldo

Jacob & Co, the luxury watch and diamond jewelry house, announced today the launch of its new global advertising campaign featuring international soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. The campaign, which will launch later this spring both domestically and internationally, will feature a new range of eye catching Jacob & Co. timepieces. Along with Ronaldo, the new Ghost Watch will be the centerpiece of the campaign. “We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo who we feel is the ultimate representation of the brand. We have long admired Cristiano’s commitment to excellence, determination, drive and passion to win. These are core values that we also share.” Said Jacob Arabo. The fashion photographer, José Manuel Ferrater, shot the campaign in Madrid, Spain. Fans of Ronaldo and the brand can expect to see a series of new images introduced throughout 2013 and 2014. “This new campaign is just the first in a series of changes for the Jacob & Co. brand,” said newly appointed CEO of Jacob & Co. Worldwide Chris Del Gatto. “I’m thrilled to be a part of what is the next chapter for this amazing brand. We are committed to becoming a global luxury house, by delivering unmatched product in both the watch and jewelry worlds.”

Chronoswiss celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2013

The Chronoswiss celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and there is also another reason to celebrate the legendary Régulateur will turn 25. This anniversary watch is actually an “untypical” Régulateur, it includes a window at the 12 o’clock position. The Régulateur 30 will be available only in a limited edition of 130 pieces in a red gold case and 300 pieces in a stainless steel case.

1st Race of Blancpain Endurance Series in Monza

The 60 GT3 cars started the endurance competition season at Monza in one of the biggest grids seen at the famous Italian circuit in recent times. the Blancpain Racing team of Marc A. Hayek, President and CEO of Blancpain, and Peter Kox started the season in their new #24 Lamborghini Gallardo. At the end of the three hour-long race, the Ferrari 458 Italia of Kessel Racing claimed victory in the PRO Cup while AF Corse won the first place on the PRO-AM podium.

Carl F. Bucherer opened a new boutique in Macau

Carl F. Bucherer has opened a new store in Macau. The location selected for the new sales outlet is the famous Venetian Hotel. Carl F. Bucherer is expanding its presence in the Asian market due to consumer demand.

Jaeger-LeCoultre inaugurates Maison d'Antoine

Named Maison d’Antoine in tribute to Antoine LeCoultre who in 1833 created his first workshop in a room of the family farmhouse. This exclusive hospitality area located on the top floor and bathed in the natural light of the Vallée de Joux that is for watchmakers, has been designed as a convivial meeting place. On the occasion of its inauguration, British actor Clive Owen was one of the first to immerse himself in the unique atmosphere of this peerless watchmaking location.

Bayco Jewels to reveal its gemstones on the opening of Baselworld

Bayco Jewels LLC of New York has announced that it will be revealing one of the most precious gemstones at the opening day of Baselworld. The most important annual event for the watch and jewelry industries will begin on April 25th and continue through May 2nd in Basel, Switzerland.

Swatch marks 7th year with Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour

Swiss watchmaker is official partner of Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour 2013, marks 7th year in a row for FMX event. Swatch connects with the thrills, chills and high-risk excitement that mark every stop on the World Tour. Growing popularity and fan demand have led to the World Tour's expansion in 2013 to Japan and South Africa, with six stops in all. Along with stops in Dubai (UAE), Glen Helen (USA) and Madrid (ESP), the X-Fighters are competing for glory this year in Osaka (JAP) and Pretoria (RSA).

Product Launch

deLaCour launches the Tourbillon Reflect

deLaCour watch designer Pierre Koukjian, was inspired once again by the beauty and artistry of leading-edge architecture and has created deLaCour Tourbillon watches. This timepiece contemplates a contemporary blueprint which contains a cylindrical design not commonly used, it is extremely complex in its application and it is completed with perfect visual harmony. The deLaCour Tourbillon contains a chassis that has a “weightless” effect although this structure consists of ruby made cylinders which makes them extremely unyielding. The movement base is composed of stained black mirrors, which act as a reflection of light and gives the movement an absolute transparency as it is showcased and emphasizes the effect of weightlessness. It was a tremendous feat to place the rubies within the cylinder, which act as bridges as it was absolutely necessary to adjust these bridges to a structure, perfectly conjoining the axes perpendicular to each other in order to give maximum rigidity to its movement. This Fusion of materials, such as the rubies for the bridges and stained mirrors for the movement base, is a unique first in the world of contemporary watchmaking.

Greubel Forsey presents its new Double Tourbillon Asymétrique timepiece

Greubel Forsey presents the Double Tourbillon Asymétrique. With its distinctive design, the power reserve is indicated by a rotating disk. The asymmetric case is available in white gold or 18K 5N red gold and measures 43.5 mm in diameter and 16.13 mm in height. It features asymmetric synthetic sapphire crystals on the dial side and for the display back, as well as a lateral window set into the case band. The black alligator strap is hand stitched with a white gold or red gold folding clasp to match the case.

Hublot introduces the King Power Juventus of Turin

The partnership started between Hublot and Juventus F.C. is today marked by a watch bearing the famous colours of the club. The King Power piece is made from carbon fibre, ultra-light and hyper-strong, which was chosen by the team. It is equipped with the chronograph movement with the two central chrono hands making for excellent readability. The ‘45-minute’ counter developed especially by Hublot for football fans.

Omega introduces its new Ladymatic Collection

Omega’s Ladymatic timepiece features the combination of red or yellow gold and stainless steel. The dial is available in deep brown or pure white mother-of-pearl. The 34 mm case is polished or diamond paved with stainless steel bezel.

Ulysse Nardin reveals its latest Black Sea watch

Ulysse Nardin reveals its latest model in the Black Sea line of watches. The Black Sea has an athletic structure presenting a stainless steel case coated with vulcanized rubber. The unidirectional turning bezel that further safeguards divers; a rubberized screw crown for added water resistance to depths of 200 meters; and a rubber strap with two ceramic elements and folding clasp.

DeWitt launched the new Academia timepiece

DeWitt on its 10th anniversary launched the first steel version of its iconic Academia timepiece in a limited series of 200 in 2013 with its sporty chic New Academia Steel. Presented in two avant-garde versions of the dials - the Grande Date and Hora Mundi. The 43mm New Academia Steel Grande Date houses the Calibre Reference DW1501 offering hours, minutes and big date functions, while the New Academia Steel Hora Mundi is powered by the Calibre Reference DW2021 offering hours, minutes, date and dual time zone.

Halda Race Pilot - The First Real Racing Watch

The Halda Race Pilot Racetrack is developed featuring information about 150 of the most popular racetracks in the world, such as lap length. The module also features an advanced racing chronograph that shows lap times and average speed, which registers the fastest lap with accuracy down to 1/100 of a second. This module features some really innovative functions like Countdown referring to FIA Formula 1 regulations and the Race Pilot program, which gives you information of the most popular tracks in the world.

Exhibitions & Events

The Glittering IIJW 2013 held in New Delhi, India

The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) inaugurated the first Delhi edition of India International Jewellery Week. The event was inaugurated by Bollywood’s most stylish Diva, Sonam Kapoor, GJEPC’s brand Ambassador, along with Mr. Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC, Mr. Pankaj Parekh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC.

Sotheby’s Geneva first Saturday Watch Auction

The group of vintage and modern wristwatches such as Rolex and Patek Philippe, as well as timeless legendary models, such as the IWC Ingenieur and Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, which have been constantly reinvented over the past several decades. The sale includes Patek Philippe from 1997; the No.10 Royal Oak Chronograph Leo Messi sold to benefit the Leo Messi Foundation. The group of vintage wristwatches with two Patek Philippe timepieces that belonged to Georges Simenon.

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