Jewellery Focus December 2018 | Page 11

MONTH IN REVIEW GO ONLINE www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk FINANCIAL RESULTS Beaverbrooks operating profit increases to £13.7m Operating profit before discretionary payments at Beaverbrooks the Jewellers increased to £13.7m during the 53 weeks ended 3 March 2018, its newly published accounts reveal. The company’s annual report and financial statements showed a £1.4m operating profit increase from £12.3m to £13.7m in the 2017/18 period. Annual turnover also increased by 6.2% from £119.2m to £126.5m (compared to prior year 52 weeks). Despite competitive trading conditions during this 53-week period, profit margins were maintained with gross profit of £21.9m. The 99-year-old family-owned company attributed its performance to “remaining focused on quality diamonds, watches and jewellery, and excellent customer service”. Beaverbrooks also continued with its programme of investment during the period. This included the continued refurbishment of key retail stores and development of its website. The company also continued to invest significantly in its people with specific product training and further performance linked bonus structures being implemented. As part of its mission to “enrich lives”, the company donates 20% of retained profits to charity and this year donated £1.11m to charity. Since the year 2000, Beaverbrooks has donated in excess of £12m to over 700 charities. Beaverbrooks is also the UK’s second biggest supporter of Payroll Giving on the high street. 39% of its employees were involved in Workplace Giving at the year-end. This year Beaverbrooks said it has increased to 45%, for which it won the first ever ‘Diamond Quality Award’ in 2018 from H M Government for Payroll Giving. During the period Beaverbrooks employees gave £42,765 (2017: £29,069) through Payroll Giving. December 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk AUCTIONS Winston Pink Legacy sold for £38.5m at Christie’s Geneva The Winston Pink Legacy diamond has been sold for €44,423,358 (£38.5m) at Christie’s November Luxury auction in Geneva. Registered bidders from 51 countries, across six continents, participated in the ‘Magnificent Jewels’ sale. The Winston Pink legacy, the largest and fancy vivid pink diamond ever offered at auction by Christie’s, realised a world auction record price per carat for a pink diamond. After five minutes of “spirited” bidding, the diamond previously belonging to the Oppenheimer family, was acquired by the Harry Winston collection. Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s international head of jewellery, said: “This exceptional diamond captured the imagination of international collectors across the globe, with over 30,000 people visiting Christie’s sale previews to see this remarkable stone. It has taken its rightful place among the world’s greatest diamonds, and setting a world auction record per carat.” Art adviser Joseph Friedman, representing the vendor of The Pink Legacy, added: “My client is extremely pleased with the result and Christie’s expert handling of every aspect of the auction. She is especially pleased that so many people were able to view the diamond when it travelled on exhibition to London, Hong Kong, and New York, ahead of the auction in Geneva.” Nayla Hayek, president and CEO, Swatch Group/ Harry Winston said: “We are proud to continue in the Winston tradition of acquiring the finest gems in the world and tonight The Winston Pink Legacy joins our incredible legacy collection, which began with the acquisition of the 101 carat, D Flawless, Winston Legacy diamond at Christie’s in 2013.” 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 STAT OF THE MONTH £6.6m That’s the total amount achieved at Christie’s London ‘Important Jewels’ auction JEWELLERY COLLECTIONS Raw Pearls celebrates diamond and pearl range success with exclusive offer Raw Pearls is celebrating the success of its new diamond and pearl range by launching an upcoming exclusive offer for its customers to mark the occasion. The group will be offering its customers a 10% discount on any order from its diamond and pearl collection, which will run from the end of November and into December. The group’s diamond and pearl pieces are available set on 18ct white or yellow gold and many are available as earring and pendant sets. Trade prices range from £51 to £800 (ex VAT). According to the jewellers one of the most popular earring designs in the range features a pearl sitting in a wave of sparkling diamond, but the choices from the collection also include “simple and petite pieces to glamourous showstoppers” like the natural coloured nucleated 14mm cultured river pearl sitting under a pave diamond bale. You can contact Raw Pearls about their collections or this offer by emailing [email protected] or by heading over to their website www. rawpearls.com. JEWELLERY FOCUS 11