Jewellery Focus June 2019 | страница 14

MONTH IN REVIEW MAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 STORE OPENINGS Ora Pearls launches new store in Chelsea Ora Pearls has opened its first store in Chelsea located at 304A Fulham Road, London. The “elegant store” design and interiors have been created to reflect the brand’s identity as a fashion-focused modern approach to pearls. Ora Pearls was founded by pearl expert and designer, Bibi Southwell. Southwell personally selects the pearls at the sources, ensuring the finest quality, and every piece is handcrafted by the designer herself in her studio in Chelsea. HALLMARKING Gold, silver and platinum up in April hallmarking Both the number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked in April 2019 increased by 6.6% and 3.3% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. Gold hallmarked pieces increased from 299,542 to 319,410 and silver items increased from 335,827 to 346,798 during the month. Additionally, the average volume of platinum grew by 11.7% from 24,462 to 27,317. However palladium decreased significantly by 62.4% to 2073 hallmarked items. APPOINTMENTS RJC appoints new board and committee members at its 2019 AGM The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) held its first virtual annual general meeting this week – appointing a series of new board members. The event, held in partnership with leading software and audience engagement technology provider, Lumi, was broadcasted to all RJC member companies globally from Chatham House in London on Tuesday 14 May 2019. During the meeting, David A. Bouffard, RJC chair, announced a series of appointments to the RJC board of directors and its standards, assurance and communications committees. WATCHES Timex launches re-envisaged Q Timex watch Global watchmaker Tiex has launched Q Timex, a diver-inspired reissue of the 1970s original. The brand said that to modernise the watch for present day wear, Q Timex features a stainless-steel case and bracelet with a domed acrylic crystal and a modern quartz movement. It also features a “diver-inspired” look that incorporates blue, red and gold accents. Originally named to signify the end of the mechanical movement and Timex’s entrance into quartz, the reissue maintains the original features including the ‘Q’ below the 12 o’clock position, “true-to-the-era” woven stainless-steel bracelet, functional battery hatch, rotating top ring and luminescent infill hour markers and hands. 14 JUNE 2019 | WWW.JEWELLERYFOCUS.CO.UK 11 12 13 14 15