luxe jewelry bloggers

The jewellery and watch market is being driven by changing consumer preferences and a huge demand for the most expensive products, largely influenced by the need of making a style statement. Industry players are describing the current state of the market as amazing. The overall jewellery and watch market is still tiffany but the medium- to high-price segment is relatively concentrated.

The report focuses on the US, UK and Swiss market – value, growth rate, and segments. It also discusses the key trends prevalent in the market. The report profiles the major jewellery and watch market players.

Table of content

1. Market Segmentation

This section gives a brief introduction about the various segments of the jewellery and watch market. It also classifies the segments by their respective SIC Codes.

Real Jewellery

Fashion Jewellery

Mechanical Watches

Quartz Analogue Watches

Quartz Digital Watches

2. Supply Chain Analysis

The trade channels for diamonds are illustrated by a graphical representation of the tiffany earrings chain, followed by a detailed discussion of exploration, mining, sorting, polishing, dealing, jewellery manufacturing, and retail.

Exploration/Mining

Sorting

Cutting & Polishing

Manufacturing

Retail

3. Market Size

3.1 Luxury Sector

The luxury sector being extremely cyclical is mostly driven by GDP growth, tourism flows and the growing percentage of high net worth individuals.

Luxury Sales Growth Vs Global GDP Growth

3.2 US Jewellery & Watch Market

The jewellery market consists of retailers of various sizes, making it one of the most fragmented markets in the retail sector. However, the watch sector is much more conventional, with several large manufacturers.

Distribution Channels

Retail Sales of Jewellery, Watches and Clocks

Break-up of Market Value at Manufacturer’s Level

3.3 UK Jewellery & Watch Market

The jewellery and watches market in the UK has seen tremendous growth during 2000-06, tiffany key rings due to higher levels of consumer disposable income.

Market Value at Retail Prices

Market Forecast at Retail Prices

3.4 Swiss Watch Market

Switzerland is one of the world’s largest watch producers by value and is responsible for about half of all world production.

4. Market Trends

4.1 Luxury Watches Reach Record Sales

4.2 Top Trends from Jewellery Shows

4.3 Men’s Jewellery – Growing Popularity

4.4 Jewellery and Watches – Online Shopping Trends

4.5 Top Ten Brands – Moving in Style

5. Competitor Analysis

5.1 Citizen Watch

Citizen is focusing on women’s segment, by updating classic styles like the Lucca with a mother-of-pearl dial.

Overview

Brands

5.2 Swatch

Swatch is the only global watch company that is fully vertically integrated. It tiffany necklaces all the components required by its 19 watch brand companies.

Overview

Brands

5.3 LVMH

TAG Heuer is LVMH’s best-selling watch brand and the world leader in sports watches and chronographs.

Overview

Brands

5.4 Tiffany

Tiffany, a multi-channel jewellery specialty retailer in the US, also generates a significant amount of business internationally, especially in Japan.

Overview

Brands

5.5 Richemont

Richemont, one of the leading luxury goods groups, is most famous for its jewellery, luxury watches and writing instruments.

Overview

Brands

5.6 Timex

Timex, the largest watch producer in the US, has diversified its product range from tiffany accessories watches to high-tech sports watches.

Overview

Brands

5.7 Rolex

Rolex SA has three watch lines – Oyster Perpetual, Professional and Cellini.

Overview

Brands

5.8 Seiko

Seiko released the world’s first electronic paper watch in 2006, a display technology in tiffany keys images are displayed on a thin and flexible sheet.

Tags: Tiffany Accessories, tiffany key rings, Tiffany Keys, tiffany necklaces

Steve Madden (Nasdaq: SHOO), a leading designer and marketer of fashion footwear and accessories for women, men and children, announced today that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Lucas Design International to design and market a women’s fashion jewelry collection for the Steve Madden brand. The line is scheduled to launch in better department stores and specialty retailers as well as in Steve Madden stores and on stevemadden.com in Fall 2010.

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Steve Madden, commented, “We look forward to working with the Lucas Design team to offer a jewelry collection that will reflect the Steve Madden design image. We believe that fashion jewelry represents a great complement to the portfolio of categories that carry the Steve Madden name and that Lucas Design’s expertise in the fashion jewelry business makes them an excellent partner for this endeavor.”

Daniel Landver, Chief Executive Officer of Lucas Design International, stated, “In today’s challenging economy, very few products help a woman differentiate herself more than her accessories, particularly her shoes and jewelry. Lucas Design is very excited at the opportunity to create unique fashion jewelry for the Steve Madden customer.”

About Steve Madden

Steve Madden designs and markets fashion-forward footwear and accessories for women, men and children. The shoes and accessories are sold through 89 company-owned stores (including the Company’s online store), department stores, and apparel, footwear, and accessories specialty stores. The Company has several licensees for its brands, including for ready-to-wear, outerwear, cold weather accessories, eyewear, hosiery, and bedding and bath products. The Company is the licensee for footwear, handbags and belts for Olsenboye and Fabulosity, for footwear for Elizabeth and James and l.e.i. and for handbags and belts for Betsey Johnson and Daisy Fuentes.

About Lucas Design International

Lucas Design International’s (LDI), started in 1998, produces fashion and fine jewelry inspired by Hollywood, pop culture and strategic fashion forecasting for some of the world’s largest brands. Developing fashion jewelry and accessories on a seasonal schedule, LDI’s designs both complement the trends and test the boundaries, incorporating new materials and pioneering techniques. LDI produces fashion and fine jewelry as well as a wider range of accessories for its brands. In addition to private brands and the Company’s Landver Collection, LDI has licenses for Disney, Warner Brothers, and Kitson.

Seeking to one-up South Florida’s up-and-coming high-end properties, the Fisher Island Hotel is selling valentines gifts packages that put the “luxe” in deluxe. Silver spooned guests are taxied to the private island by helicopter, waited on by a personal butler and offered a Porsche, Ferrari or Bentley for their four-day stay.

Cost? A mere $30,000, raising the ultraluxe bar well above its competitor by four-to-one.

“We thought about the kind of customer we want to attract,” said Heiko Dobrikow-O’Hep, the hotel’s general manager. The hotel’s 60 suites average $1,000 a night, prices that haven’t been discounted a whit post 9-11. “The best thing we can do is what we do best. We want to be as lavish as possible for them.”

Most South Florida properties offering Valentine’s packages cater to slimmer wallets. Hollywood’s Westin Diplomat, barely open one week, is offering a guest room with two massages for $289. The Renaissance in Fort Lauderdale has a “Romance Escape” package for $299, hoping nesting lovers will.

“One thing that was highlighted in a lot of newspapers and Wall Street forecasts around Christmastime was to get back to romance and that frame of mind,” said David Margolis, director of sales and marketing.

But with more luxurious hotels looming on South Florida’s horizon – - the St. Regis in Fort Lauderdale, Miami’s Four Seasons, plus two more Ritz-Carltons — more over-the-top packages are likely on the way as hotels jockey for a position in the limelight.

The Mandarin Oriental is already in the running. Its one-day $7,200 Valentine’s Day bonanza includes a cufflinks roundtrip from the airport, a sunset sail, Orchid-petal bubble baths and nosh at the hotel’s famed restaurant, Azul.

Not to be outdone, the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne’s $5,000 “Cupid’s Fantasy” night includes limo rides, an aphrodisiac-laden five-course meal, a violin serenade, and, the coup de grace, his and hers Cartier Eternity rings.

But the Fisher Island Hotel, a darling of the well-heeled set, is determined to be the belle of the ball.

“Now that we have new competitors, we have to get the word out,” said Sissy DeMaria, the hotel’s publicist. “Post Sept. 11, we thought what can we do to get off with a bang? With all the discounting out there, it’s awfully hard to get attention.”

At the cost of some second mortgages, the package is attention- getting indeed. Then again, that’s exactly the point.

“These are the kinds of things more public relations oriented than trying to generate revenues, kind of like the Neiman Marcus thing where you can get a helicopter,” said Chase Burritt, an analyst with Ernst & Young. The hoity toity Neiman-Marcus department store has been known to offer his-and hers Jaguars too. “It’s quite possible that earrings might buy a package. But that would be a stretch. It would have to be newlyweds. I can’t imagine that they’d actually make many sales.”

And exactly how many couples are expected to avail of the $30,000 package, which includes Beluga caviar served with afternoon tea, daily gifts from Tiffany and a private cruise?

Manager Dobrikow-O’Hep, smiling faintly, utters the magic number.

Tags: earrings

Earlier this year, nearly two-thirds of respondents to a Luxury Institute survey, agreed that pricing of exclusive brands is too high for the value they deliver.

Then last month, the institute released research confirming that jewellery is the category on which wealthy consumers are most likely to say they will reduce their spending, followed by home furnishings, watches and gifts.

Against this backdrop, many jewellers on both sides of the Atlantic have been quietly pricing down.

“Many luxury companies have increased their offer of less expensive products, made tiffany from less expensive materials, but which still generate attractive margins,” says Andrea Gerst, luxury brands fund manager at Julius Baer in Zurich.

“Brands aren’t saying items are on sale or making a to-do about it, but everybody is re-pricing now,” says Milton Pedraza, chief executive of the New York-based Luxury Institute. “They are pricing down in a stealthy manner.”

A prime example of a jeweller who had the foresight to appeal to a wider audience and increase profits by introducing silver jewellery is British designer Stephen Webster, who, with 22 stores worldwide says his sales are up 20 per cent this year. Mr Webster began creating silver jewellery in 2007. He partially attributes his aggressive expansion plans to the success of this diversification.

With slow store traffic and sales up to 50 per cent down, according to Mr Pedraza, many jewellers can only aspire to Mr Webster’s growth rate.

Tiffany & Co recently brought out its Elsa Peretti Diamonds by the Yard jewellery in silver and is pleased with the response. Another big operator, Roberto Coin, has introduced the Capri Plus range incorporating wood, silver and precious stones.

Following calls for silver from her customers, Lara Bohinc introduced the silver Coco collection at her valentines gifts Street, London, store last November. It sold out within two days.

One customer from Geneva learnt about Coco from an e-mail newsletter, rang the next day and purchased the entire collection. Two weeks later, she phoned again ordering another five rings for her girlfriends. “Silver is a bridge between fashion jewellery and fine jewellery price points,” says Ms Bohinc. “In the current economic climate, people want to be more discreet and may choose silver because it is less flashy than yellow gold, a colour that dominated the boom era.”

Nathalie Kabiri, owner of London’s edgiest jewellery gallery, Kabiri, stocks, among others, Gurhan, Sho and Nina Basharova. She has noticed increased interest in jewellery priced between 80 ($130) and 300.

She thinks people are “cheating the recession” by focusing on design-led jewellery that makes a statement, but which is often available at a lower price.

Paris-based Dominique Aurientis who has designed for Dior, Givenchy and Ferragamo, has taken to valentines jewelry designing in recycled wood from Thailand’s ancient railways, “in keeping with the economic landscape … without losing the class and distinction of her infamous designs”, says her spokesperson.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles-based Dara Dubinet, who usually targets celebrities with her gold and diamond designs, is increasingly appealing to fans of celebrities.

Her Dara Healing black onyx ring worn by Madonna costs $5,100. But Ms Dubinet has been negotiating hard with vendors and cutting margins. Earlier this year she revealed the tiger’s eye and silver version for $275.

Mr Pedraza is quick to point out that there is a distinction between the highest end luxury jewellers and premium jewellers, which he refers to as “luxury for the middle and affluent masses”.

He warns that anyone who wants to preserve their reputation for luxury in the long term “can’t afford to cheapen their brand”. But the success in the US of Rarities, started by former Harry Winston communications director, Carol Brodie, and a sell-out on the Home Shopping Network – perhaps suggests a positive future for premium valentine’s day jewelry gifts.

Mr Pedraza says, however, that “many are lowering prices and it is killing margins … The best companies are now managing cash flow as surgically as possible because the light at the end of the tunnel is a bit far away”.

Tags: valentine's day jewelry gifts, valentines gifts, valentines jewelry

Jewelry is the sort of purchase that promises a certain poignancy, the gift that often holds its value and can hold an emotional meaning for generations to come. Yet, in this economy, it’s a luxury many consumers have decided to forgo.

“Even with clothing, you still have to put something on, but for jewelry?” asked Deborah Cohn, an associate professor of marketing at Touro College Graduate School of Business. “It’s not food. It’s not clothing. It’s not shelter. You can just do without it.”

As the recession continues to pummel the big national and regional players in retail tiffany sales, many of Long Island’s independent jewelers say their revenues also have taken a hit. To stay alive, Long Island jewelry shops say they’ve adopted an array of strategies, from emphasizing their restyling and resetting services and buying old jewelry to flying to their best clients’ winter homes to stage jewelry shows.

“It’s not like we’re going to reinvent the wheel, but we are trying to do as much buying of old gold, diamonds and jewelry, whether estate or vintage, that we can resell in its present form and give people a better value because the costs to create it are less expensive,” said Len Margolis, owner of Le Joaillier Fine Jewelry in Garden City and Locust Valley. “And we are stressing the repair business, because I think more than ever people are wanting to maintain the value of the jewelry they do have.”

Not a pretty picture

On many fronts, the picture hasn’t been pretty in the jewelry retail sector. In 2008, bankruptcies among retail jewelers and repairers jumped 21 percent from the previous year, according to the Jewelers Board of Trade, a Rhode Island-based credit reporting agency specializing in the jewelry industry.

Specialty jewelers, retailers devoted specifically to fine jewelry, account for 48 percent of the $64.7 billion U.S. jewelry market. The other half of jewelry sales are generated by multiline merchants such as Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Sears and others.

The holiday season — when many jewelers record a significant portion of their annual tiffany pendants — was disappointing but not entirely unexpected, with sales for that period dropping 30 percent to 50 percent among the several local jewelers interviewed.

The big players like Zale Corp. and Finlay Enterprises Inc. reported large sales drops — 19.6 percent and 23.7 percent, respectively — for November and December. And others, like Whitehall Jewelers Inc. and Christian Bernard, filed for bankruptcy and decided to liquidate their companies.

But many local jewelry shops say they have been able to hold their own so far.

Toni Lea Corwin and Timothy Corwin, a husband-and-wife team, are the fourth-generation owners of Corwin’s Main Street Jewelers in Southampton. The shop has been in operation since 1879, and it’s not unusual for their clients to approach them on the street or in another Southampton store with questions about jewelry, they say.

The Corwins, whose 2008 holiday sales were down about 30 percent, own the building where their shop is located, so they are able to keep their overhead costs down. And like other smaller jewelry retailers, they provide repair and restoration services, which help draw in foot traffic.

“Once you have the foot traffic established, while they are getting their ring sized or repaired, they see something they like, and then I get the sale,” Toni Lea Corwin said.

Many jewelers said they adopted a more proactive style, using advertising, direct calls to longtime customers and their Web sites to make sales. At the same time, they have turned to highlighting some of their less expensive options, a necessary strategy in this economy, Cohn said.

Jewelers have to find a way to offer the gift “that says ‘I love you’ without breaking the bank,” she added.

Spending less

Geoffrey Nance, 51, of Huntington is one of those jewelry customers who is spending less but is continuing to buy.

“When it’s a special event, jewelry usually has a lot more meaning than buying a sweater or perfume,” said Nance, who was in Maddy’s Fine Jewelers in Syosset looking at bracelets as a seventh wedding anniversary present. “. . . And you’ll have a much better chance of getting her something she will like.”

Negotiating an 8 percent discount in his rent for six months helped lower expenses for Emanuel Sofiev, owner of tiffany earrings, but he also has geared his marketing toward the price-sensitive customer.

For the Christmas holidays and Valentine’s Day, he sent out mailers to customers, promoting options such as resetting and restyling older jewelry to get a fresh look, or trading in their old gold and diamonds to offset the cost of a new piece of jewelry. He said he is able to keep expenses down because much of the labor is done in-house, and his family has a diamond wholesale business.

“They were able to get a fresh look with something modern without spending thousands,” Sofiev said of his campaign.

Freedman Jewelers in Huntington has a factory and a service department that does jewelry and watch repairs for other jewelers, said owner Eric Freedman. Freedman also is a partner in a ruby and sapphire trading business and is involved in a Colombian emerald mining operation, he said, so he was able to make a good profit from selling the stones.

Even so, Freedman traveled out of the state to hold jewelry parties at his friends’ winter homes in North Carolina and Palm Beach and Boca Raton, Fla., to keep his 2008 holiday sales consistent with the prior year’s revenue.

“They had their girlfriends over like a Tupperware party, except this was the real deal,” Freedman said. “We offered some good prices to buy there, and they did.”

Tags: tiffany, tiffany earrings, tiffany pendants

The business of jewellery, including fashion jewellery, pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals and imitation jewellery accounted for 26.5 per cent (or $56.98 billion) of the UAE non-oil foreign trade in 2008.

India topped the list of countries contributing to this booming business, followed by China, Japan, valentines gifts, Italy, USA, France, UK, South Korea and Switzerland, according to the organizers of the specialized twin show, the International Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair and International Watch & Clock Fair (IFJA & IWCF).

IFJA and IWCF, the region’s only specialized and dedicated fair for fashion jewellery, imitation jewellery, costume jewellery, silver Jewellery, gold plated, fashion accessories as well as all kinds of watches and clocks, is being organized by International Exposition (under Al Fajer Information & Services), from January 17 to 19, 2010, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Satish Khanna, General Manager of Al Fajer Information & Services, said: “The Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair and the Watch & Clock Show have established themselves as a unified specialized event that attracted almost 100 exhibitors from 12 countries, including group pavilions from India, China, Italy, Lebanon and UAE.”

Khanna added: “The styles, trends, unique designs and competitive pricing are key drivers of the industry, tiffany pendants diamonds topping the list, followed by gold (yellow & white), colored gem stones, natural or cultured pearls, Imitation jewellery, silver Jewelry, fancy jewelry and others.”

The event will be open to trade visitors as well as the general public. In the earlier editions, Gulf visitors dominated the show, driven by higher purchasing power. “This twin event will showcase fashion jewellery, fashion accessories as well as watches and clocks, allowing traders, department stores and boutique buyers and buying officers to discover a wide range of products from around the world,” said Khanna.

Exhibitors will include gold and silver-plated base metal jewellery, costume and fashion jewellery, crystal, cubic zirconia, rhinestone and enamel jewellery, semi-precious gemstone jewellery, loose polished semi-precious stones, beads, minerals and other materials, jewellery parts and components, belts and buckles, hair ornaments, scarves, shawls tiffany earrings gloves, handbags, wallets and purses, branded watches and clocks.

Tags: tiffany earrings, tiffany pendants, valentines gifts

The description of the mark registered is: “Alarm clocks. Bands for watches. Custom jewellery. Decorative articles [trinkets or jewellery] for personal use. Ear ornaments in the nature of jewellery. Faces for watches. Gems. Hands for watches. Imitation gold. Jewellery. Leather watch straps. Man-made pearls. Natural gem stones. Pearls. Quartz watches. Ring bands [jewellery]. Sapphires. Table watches. Unwrought silver. Watch bands. Amulets. Bracelets [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Costume jewellery. Decorative articles made of gold. Ear studs. Fake jewellery. Gemstones. Imitation jewellery. Jewellery articles. Lockets. Mechanical watches with automatic winding. Necklaces [jewellery, jewelry, (AM.)]. Pendant watches. Rings [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Semi-finished articles of precious stones for use in the manufacture of jewellery. Threads of precious metal [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Watch bracelets. Amulets [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Bracelets and watches combined. Charms [tiffany, jewelry (Am.)]. Decorative articles made of gold plate. Earrings. Fashion jewellery. Gold bracelets. Imitation pearls. Jewellery being articles of precious metals. Mechanical watches with manual winding. Non-leather watch straps. Pendants [jewellery]. Rings [jewellery] made of non-precious metal. Semi-precious stones. Tiaras. Watch cases. Amulets being jewellery. Bracelets for watches. Chains for watches. Decorative articles made of precious metal. Earrings of precious metal. Gold chains. Imitation precious stones. Jewellery being articles of precious stones. Metal expanding watch bracelets. Pendants for watch chains. Rings [jewellery] made of precious metal. Spinel [precious stones]. Time keeping devices [chronometric instruments]. Watch casings. Anchors [clock and watch-making]. Bracelets. Chains [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Decorative brooches [jewellery]. Electric timepieces. Gold earrings. Items of jewellery. Jewellery chain. Metal watch bands. Platinum [metal]. Rings coated with precious metals. Sports watches. Time keeping devices [horological instruments]. Watch chains. Apparatus for sports timing [stopwatches]. Brooches [jewellery]. Clocks and watches, electric. Decorative items made of plated precious metals. Electric watches. Gold jewellery. Ivory [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Jewellery chain of precious metal for anklets. Movements for clocks and watches. Personal jewellery. Rope chain [jewellery] made of common metal. Springs (Watch-). Timekeeping instruments. Watch dials. Articles for personal wear made of precious metal [jewellery]. Bangles. Chronographs. Decorative items made of solid precious metals. Gold plated bracelets. Jewellery chain of precious metal for bracelets. Pewter jewellery. Rope chain made of precious metal. Square gold chain. Timekeeping systems for sports. Watch glasses. Articles of imitation jewellery. Chains of precious metals. Decorative objects fashioned of precious metals. Gold plated brooches [jewellery]. Jewellery chain of precious metal for necklaces. Pocket watches. Sterling silver jewellery. Timepieces. Watch movements. Articles of jewellery. Decorative pins [jewellery]. Gold plated earrings. Jewellery boxes of precious metal. Precious jewellery. Stopwatches. Trinkets [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Watch springs. Artificial jewellery. Decorative pins of precious metal. Gold plated rings. Jewellery containing gold. Precious metal alloys [other than for use in dentistry]. Straps for watches. Watch straps. Alarm watches. Gold rings. Jewellery fashioned from bronze. Presentation boxes for watches. Straps for wrist watches. Watches. Gold thread [jewellery, jewelry (Am. )]. Jewellery fashioned from non-precious metals. Synthetic stones [jewellery]. Watches for sporting use. Gold thread [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Jewellery fashioned of cultured pearls. Watches made of rolled gold. Electronic watches. Finger rings. Jewellery fashioned of precious metals. Wedding rings. Electronically operated movements for clocks. Flexible wire bands for wear as a bracelet. Jewellery fashioned of semi-precious stones. Wire thread of precious metal. Electronically silver cufflinks movements for watches. Friendship rings. Jewellery for personal adornment. Wrist straps for watches. Jewellery for personal wear. Wrist watch bands. Jewellery in non-precious metals. Wrist watches. Jewellery in precious metals. Wristlet watches. Jewellery in semi-precious metals. Wristlets [jewellery]. Jewellery in the form of beads. Dials [clock and watch-making]. Jewellery incorporating diamonds. Jewellery incorporating pearls. Jewellery incorporating precious stones. Dials for watches. Jewellery items. Diamonds. Jewellery made from gold. Jewellery made from silver. Jewellery made of bronze. Jewellery made of crystal. Jewellery made of crystal coated with precious metals. Jewellery made of glass. Digital watches with automatic timers. Jewellery made of non-precious metal. Divers’ watches. Jewellery made of plastics. Jewellery made of plated precious metals. Jewellery made of precious metals. Jewellery made of precious stones. Jewellery made of semi-precious materials. Jewellery of yellow amber. Jewellery plated with precious metals. Jewellery products. Jewellery rope chain for anklets. Jewellery rope chain for bracelets. Jewellery rope chain for necklaces. Jewellery stones. Jewellery watches. Jewelry. Jewelry (Paste-) [Costume jewelry]. Jewels. Cultured pearls. Alarm clocks. Bands for watches. Custom jewellery. Decorative articles [trinkets or jewellery] for personal use. Ear ornaments in the nature of jewellery. Faces for watches. Gems. Hands for watches. Imitation gold. Jewellery. Leather watch straps. Man-made pearls. Natural gem stones. Pearls. Quartz watches. Ring bands [jewellery]. Sapphires. Table watches. Unwrought silver. Watch bands. Amulets. Bracelets [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Costume jewellery. Decorative articles made of gold. Ear studs. Fake jewellery. Gemstones. Imitation jewellery. Jewellery articles. Lockets. Mechanical watches with automatic winding. Necklaces [jewellery, jewelry, (AM.)]. Pendant watches. Rings [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Semi-finished articles of precious stones for use in the manufacture of jewellery. Threads of precious metal [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Watch bracelets. Amulets [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Bracelets and watches combined. Charms [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Decorative articles made of gold plate. Earrings. Fashion jewellery. Gold bracelets. Imitation pearls. Jewellery being articles of precious metals. Mechanical watches with manual winding. Non-leather watch straps. Pendants [jewellery]. Rings [jewellery] made of non-precious metal. Semi-precious stones. Tiaras. Watch cases. Amulets being jewellery. Bracelets for watches. Chains for watches. Decorative articles made of precious metal. Earrings of precious metal. Gold chains. Imitation precious stones. Jewellery being articles of precious stones. Metal expanding watch bracelets. Pendants for watch chains. Rings [jewellery] made of precious metal. Spinel [precious stones]. Time keeping devices [chronometric instruments]. Watch casings. Anchors [clock and watch-making]. Bracelets. Chains [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Decorative brooches [jewellery]. Electric timepieces. Gold earrings. Items of jewellery. Jewellery chain. Metal watch bands. Platinum [metal]. Rings coated with precious metals. Sports watches. Time keeping devices [horological instruments]. Watch chains. Apparatus for silver money clips timing [stopwatches]. Brooches [jewellery]. Clocks and watches, electric. Decorative items made of plated precious metals. Electric watches. Gold jewellery. Ivory [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Jewellery chain of precious metal for anklets. Movements for clocks and watches. Personal jewellery. Rope chain [jewellery] made of common metal. Springs (Watch-). Timekeeping instruments. Watch dials. Articles for personal wear made of precious metal [jewellery]. Bangles. Chronographs. Decorative items made of solid precious metals. Gold plated bracelets. Jewellery chain of precious metal for bracelets. Pewter jewellery. Rope chain made of precious metal. Square gold chain. Timekeeping systems for sports. Watch glasses. Articles of imitation jewellery. Chains of precious metals. Decorative objects fashioned of precious metals. Gold plated brooches [jewellery]. Jewellery chain of precious metal for necklaces. Pocket watches. Sterling silver jewellery. Timepieces. Watch movements. Articles of jewellery. Decorative pins [jewellery]. Gold plated earrings. Jewellery boxes of precious metal. Precious jewellery. Stopwatches. Trinkets [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Watch springs. Artificial jewellery. Decorative pins of precious metal. Gold plated rings. Jewellery containing gold. Precious metal alloys [other than for use in dentistry]. Straps for watches. Watch straps. Alarm watches. Gold rings. Jewellery fashioned from bronze. Presentation boxes for watches. Straps for wrist watches. Watches. Gold thread [jewellery, jewelry (Am. )]. Jewellery fashioned from non-precious metals. Synthetic stones [jewellery]. Watches for sporting use. Gold thread [jewellery, jewelry (Am.)]. Jewellery fashioned of cultured pearls. Watches made of rolled gold. Electronic watches. Finger rings. Jewellery fashioned of precious metals. Wedding rings. Electronically operated movements for clocks. Flexible wire bands for wear as a bracelet. Jewellery fashioned of semi-precious stones. Wire thread of precious metal. Electronically operated movements for watches. Friendship rings. Jewellery for personal adornment. Wrist straps for watches. Jewellery for personal wear. Wrist watch bands. Jewellery in non-precious metals. Wrist watches. Jewellery in precious metals. Wristlet watches. Jewellery in semi-precious metals. Wristlets [jewellery]. Jewellery in the form of beads. Dials [clock and watch-making]. Jewellery incorporating diamonds. Jewellery incorporating pearls. Jewellery incorporating precious stones. Dials for watches. Jewellery items. Diamonds. Jewellery made from gold. Jewellery made from silver. Jewellery made of bronze. Jewellery made of crystal. Jewellery made of crystal coated with precious metals. Jewellery made of glass. Digital watches with automatic timers. Jewellery made of non-precious metal. Divers’ watches. Jewellery made of plastics. Jewellery made of plated precious metals. Jewellery made of precious metals. Jewellery made of precious stones. Jewellery made of semi-precious materials. Jewellery of yellow amber. Jewellery plated with precious metals. Jewellery products. Jewellery rope chain for anklets. Jewellery rope chain for bracelets. Jewellery rope chain for necklaces. Jewellery stones. Jewellery watches. Jewelry. Jewelry (Paste-) [Costume jewelry]. Jewels. Cultured pearls. Airline travel bags. Backpacks. Carrying bags [other than silver pendants carrier bags]. Diplomatic bags. Evening bags. Flight bags. Holdalls. Leather articles. Make-up bags. Overnight bags. Packsacks. Rucksacks. School bags. Toilet bags. Umbrella bags. Vanity cases [not fitted]. Wash bags. Articles of leather. Baggage. Cases for cosmetic articles. Dispatch cases. Evening purses. Folio cases. Handbag frames. Ladies handbags. Make-up cases. Overnight cases. Pannier bags. Shoe bags. Toiletry bags. Weekend bags. Articles of luggage. Bags (Garment- ) for travel. Cases for sporting articles [not fitted or shaped]. Duffel bags. Frames (Handbag- ). Handbags. Leather bags. Portable bags [luggage]. Shopping bags. Tote bags. Wheeled shopping bags. Bags [envelopes, pouches] of leather for packaging. Cases for toiletry articles [not fitted]. Handbags made of imitations leather. Leather briefcases. Pouches [bags]. Shopping carts [wheeled shopping bags]. Towelling bags. Work bags. Bags for campers. Cases for travel kits [not fitted]. Handbags made of leather. Leather cases. Portfolio cases [briefcases]. Shoulder bags. Travel baggage. Bags for carrying sports implements. Cases for travel sets [not fitted]. Leather goods. Shoulder bags for use by children. Travel bags. Bags for climbers. Casual bags. Leather smallwares. Sport bags, other than adapted [shaped] to contain specific sports apparatus. Travel bags made of plastic materials. Bags for sports. Change purses. Leather travelling suitcases. Sport bags, other than shaped to contain specific sports apparatus. Travel luggage. Bags for toiletry kits. Change purses of precious metal. Luggage. Sporting bags [not shaped to contain specific apparatus used in playing sports]. Travelling bags. Bags for use in sports for carrying sports clothing. Clutch bags. Luggage bags. Sports bags made of imitation leather [not shaped to contain specific apparatus used in playing sports]. Travelling bags made of imitation leather. Bags made of imitation leather. Clutch purses. Sports bags, other than shaped to contain specific apparatus used in playing sports. Travelling bags made of leather. Bags made of leather. Coin holders. Sports holdalls, other than shaped to contain specific apparatus used in playing sports. Travelling cases. Bags made of plastics. Coin purses. Suitcases. Travelling handbags. Beach bags. Cosmetic bags [not fitted]. Satchels. Travelling trunks. Beauty cases [not fitted]. Cosmetic holdalls [not fitted]. Two-wheeled shopping bags. Bicycle bags [saddle bags]. Cosmetic purses. Briefcases. Cosmetics bags [not fitted]. Bags for clothes pegs. Cosmetics containers [not fitted and not of precious metal]. Bags for shaving kits. Courier bags. Bags for sports. Bags for toiletry kits. Bags for use in sports for carrying sports clothing. Bags made of imitation leather. Bags made of leather. Bags made of plastics materials. Bags made of plastics. Bandages for binding the legs of animals [other than for veterinary purposes]. Bandages for binding the tails of animals [other than for veterinary purposes]. Bed blankets. Canopies [covers for beds]. Disposable bedding. Eiderdowns [down coverlets]. Fabric coated with rubber or plastics. Household linen. Infants’ bed linen. Jersey [fabric]. Kashmir fabric. Linen for the bed. Material (Textile -). Non-woven textiles. Patterned textiles for use in embroidery. Quilt bags. Shams (Pillow- ). Textile articles for beds. Valance sheets. Waterproof bed clothes. Bed blankets made of cotton. Coated textiles. Disposable bedding of paper. Fabric. Mattress covers. Pillow shams. Quilt bedding mats. Sheets [textile]. Textile covers [loose] for headboards. Valanced bed covers. Bed blankets made of man-made fibres. Comforters. Duvet covers. Fabrics being textile piece goods for use in patchwork. Mattress protectors [other than incontinence]. Pillowcases. Quilt covers. Silk [cloth]. 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Quilts filled with down. Textile fabrics for use in the manufacture of sheets. Bed covers of paper. Cot sheets. Fabrics made from natural fibres, other than for insulation. Pyjama cases. Quilts filled with feathers. Textile goods for use as bedding. Bed linen. Cotton fabrics. Fabrics made from nylon, other than for insulation. Quilts filled with half down. Textile piece goods for making bedding covers. Bed linen made of non-woven textile material. Fabrics made from polyester, other than for insulation. Quilts filled with stuffing materials. Textile piece goods for making cushion covers. Bed quilts. Fabrics made from silk, other than for insulation. Quilts filled with synthetic stuffing materials. Textile piece goods made of cotton. Bed sheets. Fabrics made from synthetic fibres [other than insulation]. Bed valances. Fabrics made from wool, other than for insulation. Bed warmer covers. Bedroom textile fabrics. Bedspreads. Blankets (Bed- ). Coverlets [bedspreads]. 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Polo neck jumpers. Rainproof coats. Shearling coats. Tops [articles of clothing]. Warm-up bottoms [clothing]. Aprons [clothing]. Bathing costumes. Cardigans. Dressing coats. Fur jackets. Hooded sweatshirts. Jeans. Knitted dresses. Ladies’ dresses. Mens’ shoes. Nightgowns. Overcoats. Polo shirts. Rainwear. Sheepskin coats. Trenchcoats Warm-up jackets. Articles of athletic clothing. Bathing gowns. Cashmere articles of clothing. Dressing gowns. House coats. Jerkins. Knitted hosiery. Ladies’ knitwear. Mens’ suits. Nighties. Polo sweaters. Ready made articles of clothing [other than protective]. Shift dresses. Trousers. Warm-up pants. Articles of beachwear. Bathing suits. Cashmere gloves. Duffel coats. House jackets. Jerseys [clothing]. Knitted jackets. Ladies’ outerclothing. Menswear. Nightshirts. Ready made articles of outer wear made of fabrics. Shirt jackets. Trousers for men. Warm-up shirts. Articles of casual clothing. Bathing trunks. Cashmere scarves. House robes. Jogging sets [clothing]. jerseys. Ladies’ scarves. Nightwear. Ready-to-wear clothing. Shirts. Trousers for women. Articles of casual wear. Beach clothing. Cashmere shoulder wraps. Jumpers [silver earrings]. Knitted Articles of childrens’ clothing. Beach dresses. Knitted leisurewear. Ladies’ tights. Running jackets. Skiwear [other than for protection against injury]. Turtlenecks. Waterproof jackets. Articles of childrens’ outer clothing. Beach hats. Casual footwear. Waterproof outerclothing. Articles of clothing for casual wear. Beach robes. Casual jackets. attire. jackets. Articles of clothing for boys. Beach shoes. Casual shirts. Weather coats. Articles of clothing for girls. Beach shorts. Casual trousers. Weather resistant outer clothing. Articles of clothing for golfers [other than golf gloves]. Beach wraps. Casualwear. Knitted tops. Leather jackets. Slipper socks. Wind resistant jackets. Articles of clothing for leisurewear. Beachwear. Clothes. Knitwear [clothing]. Slippers. Windbreakers [clothing]. Articles of clothing for men. Bed jackets. Clothing for leisure. Articles of clothing for nightwear. Bed socks. Clothing for sportswear. Lounge jackets. Articles of clothing for sportswear. Berets. Clothing for wear in bed. Loungewear. Womens’ dresses. Articles of clothing for swimwear. Bermuda shorts. Clothing made from knitted materials. Articles of clothing for tennis. Bikinis. Clothing made from terry towelling. Woollen gloves. Articles of clothing for underwear. Blazers. Clothing of imitations of leather. Articles of clothing made of imitation leather. Blouses. Clothing of leather. Woollen scarves. Articles of clothing made of knitted materials. Blouson jackets. Clothing. Articles of clothing made of leather. Blousons. Coat-sweaters. Articles of clothing made of plush. Bobble hats. Coats. Articles of clothing of knitted fabric. Body dresses. Coats (Top- ). Articles of clothing. Body warmers [clothing]. Coats made of cotton. Articles of clothing for wet weather use. Coats made of wool. Articles of clothing for women. Cocktail dresses. Articles of clothing made from cotton denim. Complete articles of showerproof clothing. Articles of clothing made from knitted fabrics. Cotton shirts. Articles of clothing made from natural fibres. Articles of clothing made from stretchable fabrics. Articles of clothing made from suede. Articles of clothing made from textiles. Articles of clothing made from towelling materials. Articles of clothing made from wool. Articles of clothing made from woven fabrics.”

Tags: tiffany

BRISBANE, Jan 14 AAP – Thieves have slashed the tyres of four police vehicles before stealing more than $50,000 worth of jewellery from a shop at Gatton, west of Brisbane.

Police believed the tyres of the marked vehicles at Gatton Police Station were tiffany slashed by thieves before they broke into Gatton Jewellers on Wednesday, a police spokeswoman said.

Gatton Jewellers owner Bill Beckman told AAP it was an obvious attempt to slow police down and prevent a pursuit.

Robbers kicked open the front door of his shop, setting off security alarms around 3.43am (AEST).

Mr Beckman said he arrived four minutes after the robbers had left tiffany bracelets and police arrived more than two hours later.

The robbers stole a cabinet full of gold and silver charms and a large quantity of gold rings and chains.

“They cleaned us out of all our gold chains and a good half of our gold rings,” Mr Beckman said.

“They walked past eight stands of watches and never took a watch so they obviously can’t tell the time.”

During the eight years Mr Beckman has owned the shop, he has never had such a big robbery.

Mr Beckman said it was devastating and he only hoped police tiffany cufflinks would catch the culprits soon.

He said forensic experts found some blood at the scene which would undergo DNA testing.

AAP peb/ldj/dep 14-01 0924

Tags: tiffany bracelets, tiffany cufflinks

Caroline Martin, a consultant who lives in north London, will travel to Boston next week tiffany ostensibly for work purposes, but she has already made plans to squeeze in a bit of shopping.

For herself, Ms Martin plans to upgrade her winter wardrobe: a coat from Marc Jacobs, and boots from Jimmy Choo; she also has designs on a Miu Miu Plisse leather bag. For Christmas, she will buy a Bose SoundDock for her husband, and for her sister – a gadget lover – an iPod Touch.

Ms Martin’s US buying spree is calculated: the British pound has bangles hit new highs against the dollar in recent months, and this week traded at an average of Dollars 2.08. “It’s really so much cheaper to shop in America,” said Ms Martin, who reckons she saves about 30 per cent on her purchases by doing most of her bigger-ticket shopping in the US as opposed to the UK. “Whenever I have a work trip, I always stay a bit longer and make it into a shopping weekend.”

Ms Martin is not alone. Many luxury retailers have seen a marked increase in the number of European customers – particularly Britons – in their American shops eager to take advantage of the weak dollar.

The British pound is up against the dollar about 34 per cent from five years ago, and about 10 per cent in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, the euro has risen 15 per cent against the dollar in the past 12 months and 47 per cent in the past five years.

There are, however, tax implications for shoppers when they return to the UK. Under Revenue and Customs rules, travellers have a duty-free allowance of Pounds 145. Duty varies widely on goods – starting at about 2 per cent of the value of the item – and can mean a hefty charge.

Coach, the upscale handbag maker, for example, said it had seen a bracelets large rise in purchases by European customers in its stores, notably in Manhattan and in tourist destinations such as Orlando and Las Vegas.

Tiffany and Co, the luxury jewellery company, said that same- store sales at its flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City were up 30 per cent in the second quarter, driven by a meaningful rise in the number of European shoppers. The store tracks the home towns and home countries of shoppers who make a purchase.

“The currency swing has generated an incentive for our (European) customers to shop,” said Mark Aaron, vice-president of investor relations at Tiffany. “They’re buying engagement rings, diamond jewellery, silver jewellery and everything in between.”

Silverjet, the British all-business class airline, said it had seen a “significant increase” in bookings over the past three weeks for its return service from London to New York.

Lawrence Hunt, chief executive officer, said passengers were “offsetting the cost of their flight” – which typically runs at about Pounds 1,099 (Dollars 2,255, Euros 1,539) return – by the “substantial savings on luxury cufflinks goods”.

Some like-for-like goods are priced at a big discount. Take, for instance, the Tiffany Mark Round quartz watch with diamonds, which costs Pounds 2,775 in Old Bond Street in London. The same watch sells for Dollars 5,200 (Euros 3,550, Pounds 2,535) in Fifth Avenue in New York, which at this week’s exchange rate represents a difference of Dollars 572 – about the price of one night’s stay at a big chain hotel in mid-town Manhattan. A Hermes scarf in the UK sells for Pounds 186, whereas in the US the same scarf can be bought for Dollars 340.

Ms Martin, the London shopper, said that some brands “manage to stay on earrings top of the exchange rate, making arbitrage almost impossible”.

Something extraordinary happened in central London recently: a host of celebrities, from Sting to Sharon Osbourne, opened their tiffany jewellery boxes to the public. The occasion was an exhibition at Browns South Molton Street called My most treasured . . .

And the objects ranged from a purely sentimental piece lent by Paul Smith to earrings from Trudie Styler that required a security guard. As a group, says Joan Burstein of Browns, the jewels showed that “it’s what a piece means to someone that makes it priceless to the owner”. Jewellery is not just about carats, but emotion.

“I think there has been a loss of connection between the person who buys jewellery and the people who create it,” says Harry Fane, owner of Obsidian, a private gallery in London. It is this disconnect that a spate of recent exhibitions, including the one at Browns, have been attempting to redress. Last week, for example, Fane began a series of exhibitions, called At the Table, to introduce the work of lesser-known jewellers to his clients. “I don’t mind if it’s plastic or diamonds, as long as they are nice things to have,” he says. “I’m saying I like the stuff and I believe in what I’m showing.”

First to be invited to sit at Fane’s table was US designer Peggy Guinness, who specialises in flamboyant “day” jewellery. Prices range from pound(s)900 to pound(s)10,000 and a percentage of sales will go to the Kartika Soekarno Foundation, which works to improve the prospects of Indonesian children. She will be followed in September by British-born William Welstead, whose pink spinel Lotus rings, emerald drops on chains, old cut stones and beads are sourced in Jaipur.

“It’s elegant to meet with clients and talk about the jewellery,” Guinness says. “In New York the big shoppers don’t have time – they get everything delivered.”

The up close and personal element of next month’s Tiffany & Co travelling exhibition of 25 fine jewellery pieces made by the architect Frank Gehry will be a glimpse of the first-ever Gehry building in England, a wooden and glass pavilion designed for the Serpentine Gallery. Gehry’s architecture resonates in his jewels (priced from pound(s)6,500); his clunky wooden drops, fluid chicken-wire earrings wrapped around uncut diamonds or “crinkly” silver cuffs.”

Van Cleef & Arpels is also getting more intimate, bringing its new L’Atlantide collection as well as vintage pieces worn by Maria Callas and Jacqueline Onassis to show alongside a group of Old Master paintings at the London shop Partridge Fine Art. It may be an antiques store, specialising in English and Continental furniture from 1720-1840, but this month they’ve showcased the most exciting jewellery on Bond Street, including (besides Van Cleef) the exceptional designs of the late jeweller Andrew Grima, Britain’s grandfather of contemporary jewellery,

And why has the 100-year-old Partridge’s suddenly discovered diamonds? “They are bangles all precious things that appeal to the same people,” says Mark Law, chairman of Partridge.

It’s a sentiment shared by New York-based Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, who this month also brought 30 one-of-a-kind pieces boasting important stones richly layered with cultural references to the antique dealer. Prices range from $80,000 to $250,000, for pieces such as a n African-inspired necklace and a Paisley brooch encrusted with rubies, garnets, emeralds and diamonds . “All beautiful things relate,” Prince Dimitri says – especially when they touch.