MONTH IN REVIEW
www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk
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RETAIL DIAMONDS AUCTIONS
The retail sector has seen its worst
Christmas performance in 10 years,
despite a number of businesses
reporting positive trading for the period.
According to the British Retail
Consortium, over the festive period
retail sales growth was at 0% for for the
first time in 28 months as “squeezed
customers” decided not to spend.
The total three-month average
year-on-year sales for non-food items
dropped by 0.4% while food items
fared slightly better with 1.8% change.
The total three-month average year-
on-year difference showed an uptick
of 0.5%. Like-for-like sales for the
period fell by 0.7%.
Helen Dickinson OBE, chief
executive, BRC, said: “The worst
December sales performance in ten
years means a challenging start to 2019
for retailers, with business rates set to
rise once again this year, and the threat
of a no deal Brexit looming ever larger.
“Retail makes up 5% of the economy,
yet pays 10% of all business taxes and
25% of all business rates. This is neither
fair nor sustainable. The government
should urgently look into reforming
the broken business rates system and
champion the future of retail in the UK.”
Paul Martin, UK head of retail, KPMG,
added: “Retailers experienced little
festive cheer this year, with total sales
in December delivering zero growth
on last year. This comes despite some
retailers desperately attempting to
generate sales through slashed pricing,
which has seemingly not been enough
to encourage shoppers.
“Growth in food did provide a
glimmer of hope, being among the
few categories to notice an uptick.
However, the continued contrast
in performance between the high
street and online remained evident
in December - albeit 2018 did also
see a continued slowdown in online
retail sales.” Tiffany & Co. has announced it will
begin sharing the provenance of its
newly sourced, individually registered
diamonds with consumers.
It added that by 2020, it will also
share the diamond’s craftsmanship
journey – which it says will be an
industry first.
Named the ‘Diamond Source
Initiative’, Tiffany is tracing each of
its individually registered diamonds
(0.18 carats and larger) through a
“T&Co” serial number etched by laser
and invisible to the naked eye, and
providing consumers geographic
sourcing information specific to their
diamond. Beyond general assurances
of “conflict free”, Tiffany said that
knowing provenance is “critical to
ensuring its diamonds are among the
most responsibly sourced in the world”.
Provenance information will also be
merchandised in Love & Engagement
caselines in Tiffany stores around the
world, alongside a selection of diamond
rings with their individual provenance
clearly displayed. In addition,
geographic sourcing information for all
individually registered diamonds will
be made available to consumers via
Tiffany & Co. sales professionals and
customer service.
Additionally, from Q1 2019 Tiffany
will begin including provenance on
the Tiffany Diamond Certificate for
individually registered diamonds,
alongside the stone’s other
specifications, information not made
available on other industry lab reports
or by other global luxury jewellers. Watches belonging to Stuart Devlin, a
gold and silversmiths who held a royal
warrant to supply gold and jewels to
the Queen, are due to go under the
hammer at Fellows in Birmingham on
24 and 29 January.
Worst Christmas
for retail in a
decade, says the
BRC
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JEWELLERY FOCUS
Tiffany & Co
to disclose
provenance of its
diamonds
Diamonds , formed up to three
billion years ago and brought to
the earth’s surface by a miracle
of nature, are symbols of the most
important moments in our lives
Alessandro Bogliolo,
chief executive officer, Tiffany & Co
Fellows to
auction watches
from the Queen’s
goldsmith
A diamond watch by Jaeger
LeCoultre and a gentleman’s 18ct white
gold watch by Ebel are up for auction
from Devlin’s estate, and were originally
given to Devlin by brands which
wanted him to promote their items.
According to Fellows, Devlin
(October 9, 1931- April 12, 2018), is seen
as one of the most “innovative and
highly regarded jewellery and silver
designers of the 20th Century”, and
was described by prince Philip, duke
of Edinburgh, as “probably the most
original and creative goldsmith of his
time, and one of the greats of all time.”
Laura Bishop, watch manager at
Fellows Auctioneers, said: “We are
delighted to be able to begin the new
year on a high with watches that
belonged to such a famous jewellery
designer and silversmith. Devlin’s work
is incredibly influential and a part of our
country’s design history.
“The watches from his estate are
very appealing, both in terms of their
provenance and style. It is amazing to
think that these watches were worn by
one of this country’s greatest designers
on a regular basis. I’m sure their history
will mean that they gain a lot of interest.
Whoever buys these pieces is acquiring
a piece of history.”
February 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk