MONTH IN REVIEW
www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk
HALLMARKING
Gold hallmarking
drops 10.1% in
February
Gold hallmarking fell by 10.1% in
February 2019 compared with the
same period the previous year, with
overall volumes decreasing by 5.4%
according to figures compiled by the
Birmingham Assay Office.
The number of gold pieces
hallmarked decreased from 313,532
in February 2018 to 281,938 in 2019.
Additionally, silver and platinum both
decreased by 0.2%. The total number
of silver items hallmarked decreased
from 344,845 in 2018 to 344,104 in
February this year. Platinum totalled
22,392, down from 22,446.
Palladium was also down by 61.8% to
2825 items hallmarked this year. Overall
the volumes decreased from 688,220 in
2018 to 651,259 in February 2019.
TOP 3
FROM THE
WEBSITE
1. Links of London
on ‘verge of
collapse’
2. New northern
jewellery and
silversmithing
show
announced
3. Institute of
Professional
Goldsmiths
appoints new
chairman
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JEWELLERY FOCUS
1
COLLECTIONS
Arabel Lebrusan
launches Hera
‘Goddess’
Collection in
Brighton
UK-based
boutique jeweller
Arabel Lebrusan
has launched her
Hera Collection
of women’s
engagement rings in her new
showroom in Brighton.
The Hera Collection is a selection of
ethical engagement rings in designs
including bezel-set solitaire and trilogy
arrangements of traceable Canadian
diamonds, lab grown yellow diamonds
and Malawi sapphires and rubies. The
rings are crafted from ethical 18 carat
gold or recycled platinum.
The Collection celebrates “the goddess
within”, and individual pieces are named
after goddesses in Greek mythology,
including Hera, Demeter and Hestia.
Speaking of her Hera Collection,
Lebrusan said: “An engagement is
such a special time in two people’s
lives, and the Hera Collection of
engagement rings is a reflection and
celebration of women as goddesses.
In designing these unique pieces, I
found inspiration in the goddesses
of Greek mythology, but also the
goddess in each of us. Fine jewellery
has the ability to make us feel
empowered, and this is exactl y
what the Hera engagement rings are
designed to do.
“The shoulders of each ring bear
beautiful scrolls, exquisitely hand-
engraved by artisans in the heart of
London’s famed jewellery district,
Hatton Garden. I am so proud to have
worked with these fine jewellers on this
very special Collection.”
The Collection’s pieces are crafted
from Fairtrade and Fair-mined
ecological gold and platinum as well
as traceable gemstones. The Hera
Collection is now available for viewing
by appointment in the UK.
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RETAILERS
Links of London
on ‘verge of
collapse’
British jewellery brand Links of London
is on the verge of collapse, according
to reports.
The Times said the jeweller, which
has around 350 stores, is now working
with Deloitte, and has looked into a
company voluntary arrangement (CVA)
to cut rents and close stores, putting
500 jobs at risk.
Links of London, which is owned
by Greek global jewellery, watch and
accessory brand Follie Follie, reported
pre-tax loss of £20.6m for the year
ending December 2017.
Follie Follie was fined earlier this
month (March) after the discovery of an
alleged $1bn (£750m) fraud involving
overstated sales in its home country.
Links of London was founded in
1990, and was acquired by Folli Follie in
July 2006.
Jewellery Focus has contacted
Deloitte for comment.
QUOTE OF
THE MONTH
“This is one of several
extremely rare watches we
have up for auction on
2 April. When Louis Moinet
created The Whisky Watch,
they combined their Swiss
accuracy with the traditions
of the Scottish art of
distillation”
That’s what Michael Jagiela, watch
specialist at Fellows Auctioneers,
said about the auction of a timepiece
containing what is reputed to be the
world’s oldest whisky.
April 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk