Jewellery Focus December 2018 | Page 13

MONTH IN REVIEW GO ONLINE www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk AUCTIONS Gemfields Singapore Emerald auction generates $24.8m Gemfields has announced the results of an auction of higher quality rough emeralds held in Singapore from 14 - 17 November 2018, with revenues totalling $28.4m (£22m). The emeralds were extracted by Kagem Mining in Zambia, which is 75% owned by Gemfields and 25% by the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia. The proceeds of the auction will be fully repatriated to Kagem in Zambia, with all royalties due to the government of the Republic of Zambia being paid on the full sales prices achieved at the auction. The auction saw 40 companies placing bids with an overall average value of $68.03 per carat. Of the number of lots offered, 77% were sold (versus 59% in the May 2018 auction). Gemfields’ has held 30 auctions of emeralds and beryl mined at Kagem since July 2009 generating $556m (£432.8m) in total revenues. Sean Gilbertson, CEO of Gemfields, said: “Kagem and Gemfields believe coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values - legitimacy, transparency and integrity. We also believe that Zambia should benefit equitably from its natural resources through the taxes we contribute to the government, the foreign exchange earnings we generate, increased local employment, and the social impact of our community projects.” Adrian Banks, Gemfields’ managing director of product and sales, added: “The results of what was our first Singapore emerald auction in more than three years clearly reflect the emerging recovery among our trade customers after a protracted period of difficulty. The marked increases in the percentage of carats and number of lots sold, combined with the uptick in per carat price, bode well for further improvement in 2019.” December 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk INTERNATIONAL Breitling marks expansion into Chinese market with gala celebration Breitling, the Swiss watch brand, hosted a celebration of its entry into the Chinese market with a red carpet gala night at Beijing’s Phoenix Center on November 20, 2018. International movie stars and Breitling Cinema Squad members Brad Pitt and Daniel Wu were on hand to mark the occasion, along with surfer Sally Fitzgibbons and photographer and filmmaker Peter Lindbergh. They were joined by personalities from the worlds of fashion, high society, sport, music, and film, including Japanese fashion designer Motofumi “Poggy” Kogi, South Korean actress Shin Se-Kyung, Chinese actress Qi Wei, and Chinese actor Li Zonghan. Inside the Phoenix Center, the stunning decor recalled Breitling’s brand worlds of air, sea, and land. Breitling also took the opportunity to introduce the watches in the new Premier family. The new Premier family reintroduces the brand’s link to the land environment. One of the standout pieces in the family is the Premier B01 Chronograph 42 Bentley British Racing Green, a chronograph that honors Breitling’s partnership with the great British automobile brand. The brand also previewed two special pilot’s watches that will be launched next year, commemorating the history of the legendary Curtiss P-40 Warhawk plane. On hand to help celebrate were pilots from two different generations, Taylor Stevenson and 93-year-old Ollie Crawford, the oldest living pilot to have ever flown a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk plane. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 NEW COLLECTIONS Blossom Copenhagen launches new collection Blossom Copenhagen has released a new jewellery collection based on designer Christina Elbro and her husband Holger Elbro’s perception of life. Christina ElbroI said: “I am a true romantic and I design jewellery for women who love a feminine touch. My favourite symbol is the heart, and that is the focal point of the entire collection.” The collection is in line with the classical Danish jewellery tradition, where the designer and craftsman work closely together. The jewellery designs of Blossom Copenhagen are all drafted by hand, and then handmade using traditional goldsmith techniques. The end result is clearly visible in the organic and personal expression. The jewellery is designed with “a great zest for life”, and there is a connection between patterns and shapes for all designs. Blossom Copenhagen only use sterling silver, 9, 14 and 18ct gold combined with beautiful special selected precious - and semiprecious gemstones. Christina and Holger Elbro said: “The purpose of the collection is to make it a joy to wear the jewellery from Blossom Copenhagen, and all women around the world should feel beautiful and confident when looking at our jewellery show your love, and let it Blossom. “It is our clear intention to enable the choice of personal additions such as wearing the same pendant on a bracelet or in a chain. So we are proud to present a collection where the focus is on the individual expression and where a woman truly shows her feminine sides.” END: THAT’S ALL. YOU ARE NOW UP TO DATE JEWELLERY FOCUS 13