Australians dubious about buying jewellery online

Eighty six percent of Australian consumers are “dubious” about purchasing jewellery online, according to a survey by Moi Moi Fine Jewellery. The online survey of…
Eighty six percent of Australian consumers are “dubious” about purchasing jewellery online, according to a survey by Moi Moi Fine Jewellery.
The online survey of 650 people found that 43.8 per cent would only buy jewellery online if they knew that the store also had a physical outlet while 42 percent said they wouldn’t buy jewellery online at all. 
In addition 86 percent of women aged between 26 and 45 said they preferred ‘clicks and mortar’ (an online store with a physical outlet) because they wanted to test the quality of the jewellery before spending a large amount of money.
“Many consumers coming into our store are becoming fearful of purchasing jewellery online when others have been left out of pocket due to dodgy websites,” said Moi Moi Fine Jewellery co-director Alana Chang Weirick.
“Fine jewellery is an investment. The experience of buying fine jewellery in-store offers a high level of customer service and expert opinion that you just can’t get from a website.
“In particular, when couples are buying an engagement ring, they want to enjoy the experience of trying on rings and choosing the right one together, as well as having the help of a professional jeweller to advise them on styles, types of stones, etc,” she said.
“Clicking on a button to buy an engagement ring doesn’t offer quite the same experience. Fine jewellery has many variables. It’s important to compare apples with apples.”
The survey also noted that 33 per cent of the men said they would spend over $5000 at an online jewellery store while just 11 per cent of the women said they would.

The 2011 SEIKO Premier collection

A new look, a new mechanical movement and a perpetual appeal

Premier is SEIKO’s leading dress watch collection and has been a consistent and significant success worldwide for many years, first in Europe but now all over the world. Its appeal lies in the synthesis of the modern with the classical. The exterior design is inspired by the architecture of classical times, but with the addition of touches from the world of modern buildings. Similarly, the duality of Premier is expressed in the movements within. The Premier range includes both traditional mechanical calibers and also the very latest Kinetic movements. In every sense, where classicism and modernity meet, there lies the essence of SEIKO Premier.
A new look
For 2011, the collection offers a new interpretation of this classic and modern duality. The cases are slightly more rounded, the dials are more textured, the crowns are new and the bracelet links are slightly smaller, to give a softer fit on the wrist. The change from 2010 is subtle, but evident at first glance. The new Premier is more classic in its look and softer in its feel.
A new movement
For 2011, a new automatic movement has been created for Premier. It is a 24-jewel 21,600 vph* caliber with a power reserve of 41 hours. The heart of the movement with its gold plated balance wheel is visible through the dial at the nine o’clock position, and the whole movement, with its specially engraved rotor, can be seen through the case back. The three time-of-day hands are complemented by a 24-hour hand set into a subdial at the 11 o’clock position. The movement is both automatic and hand-winding. This new caliber 4R39 is an important addition to SEIKO’s suite of mechanical movements and will become a mainstay of the Premier collection in the coming years.
Contact Details
For more information phone SEIKO Australia on 1300 300 776 or visit www.seiko.com.au

Define Watches is proud to introduce to Australia the Sinn 757 series

Sinn has established a global reputation for manufacturing functional time pieces and special instruments of the highest technical excellence. The 757 series is one of…

Sinn has established a global reputation for manufacturing functional time pieces and special instruments of the highest technical excellence.

The 757 series is one of Sinn’s most robust and complete model ranges for serious sports people, pilots and travellers. The various models in the 757 series include all of Sinn’s technologies including: tegimented steel hardening, nickel free case back, magnetic field protection, anti-reflective sapphire glass, screw down, Sinn special oil filling which provides protection between -45 to +80 degrees C, water and pressure resistance to 20bar/200m and security against low pressure at high altitudes. Plus, the added benefit and functionality of a second time zone for frequent travellers. The 757 series incorporates good looks, functionality and reliability into one timepiece.
Model: 757.020
Duochronograph with black hard coating
This black hard coating is applied using the PVD method and has an unbeatable advantage compared to conventional colored coatings: it never cracks or peels off! The prerequisite for this is the TEGIMENT® technology developed by SINN, with which the stainless steel of the case and of the rotating bezel are hardened to 1,500 Vickers. The black hard coating in this outstanding quality can be achieved only in combination with the TEGIMENT® technology. Thus SINN offers these successful models not only in the accustomed, unsurpassable quality and equipped with patented SINN technology, but also in a new, attractive design.
For more information: phone (07) 3395 7728 or visit www.definewatches.com.au

Pocket watch sells for US$1.8m

A 20-carat gold Grand Complication pocket watch by Vacheron Constantin has sold for US$1.8 million – three times its original estimate – at Christie’s in…
A 20-carat gold Grand Complication pocket watch by Vacheron Constantin has sold for US$1.8 million – three times its original estimate – at Christie’s in New York.
The pocket watch originally belonged to James Ward Packard (1863-1928), the automobile manufacturer who was one of the first American collectors to work directly with the Geneva-based watch manufacturer.
According to Christie’s, the sale was “a truly exceptional result for an equally exceptional watch”.
“In addition to displaying the hours, minutes and seconds beneath a rock crystal glass, this timepiece features a personalised combination of complications including hour, minute, quarter and half-quarter repeating, grande and petite sonnerie as well as a 30-minute chronograph register.”
The watch, which also features the monogram ‘JWP’ on blue enamel on its back, was “in impeccable condition” as it had been “preserved in the safe of a bank” for the past 60 years.

HRW calls for Zimbabwe diamonds boycott

Human Rights Watch has called on governments, companies and consumers to stop buying Zimbabwe diamonds until all members of the Kimberley Process agree that the…
Human Rights Watch has called on governments, companies and consumers to stop buying Zimbabwe diamonds until all members of the Kimberley Process agree that the country is “monitoring for human rights abuses” and “complying with the KP standards”.
 According to HRW business and human rights director Arvind Ganesan, the KP’s June 23 decision to allow exports from Zimbabwe’s Marange diamond fields goes against the very spirit and purpose of the Kimberley Process as Mathieu Yamba (chairman of the Kimberly Process) made the decision unilaterally.

“Miners, retailers, and consumers have relied on the Kimberley Process to stop blood diamonds from being sold, but with Chairman Yamba’s decision, the KP has betrayed their trust,” he said.

“Governments and companies should ignore his decision unless they want to make blood diamonds available to consumers and ruin the credibility of the Kimberly Process as well.”

Diamond exports from Marange have been suspended since June 2009 because of police and military abuses in the minefields, including killings, beatings, forced labor and diamond smuggling.

Human Rights Watch urged the KP governments to suspend diamond sales from Marange until the dispute is resolved, asked retailers to explicitly refuse Marange diamonds, and urged consumers to ask retailers whether Marange diamonds are sold in those stores.

“The KP desperately needed to reform to ban the sale of all blood diamonds, not just some,” Ganesan said. “But the chairman chose profits over rights and might have ruined the KP in the process.

“Consumers aren’t going to care whether it is blood shed by governments or rebels since the diamonds are tainted either way.”

Ole Lynggaard appoints new Oz manager

Kamilla van der Velde will replace Vibeke Weinreich Mignard as Ole Lynggaard Cogenhagen’s manager in Australia and New Zealand next month. After two years in…
Kamilla van der Velde will replace Vibeke Weinreich Mignard as Ole Lynggaard Cogenhagen’s manager in Australia and New Zealand next month.
After two years in Australia, Weinreich Mignard will return to Europe to launch Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen into the French market.
She said she was confident that her successor would be able to “extend the success of the brand in the thriving Australian market”.
Born in Denmark, Kamilla van der Velde has spent several years living abroad in the US, Eastern Europe, The Netherlands, Russia and Asia, and is now permanently settled in Sydney with her husband and two children.
She said her new appointment was “truly a dream job”.
“It’s wonderful to be part of a company like Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen with such a dynamic team who all share the same values and passion for high quality handcrafted design as I do and to promote such a strong Danish brand in this wonderful part of the world,” she said.
“I look forward to furthering the brand and working effectively with all our key partners in Australia and New Zealand.”

Elizabeth Taylor’s jewels on tour

Elizabeth's Taylor's prized jewellery collection will go 'on a global tour' for three months before being auctioned by Christie's in December.
Elizabeth’s Taylor’s prized jewellery collection will go “on a global tour” for three months before being auctioned by Christie’s in December.
The tour of “highlights” from Elizabeth’s collection of jewellery, fashion, accessories, decorative arts and memorabilia, will begin in September and include stops in Moscow, London, Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva, Paris and Hong Kong.
It will culminate in New York in early December with a ten-day exhibition followed by four consecutive days of auctions (December 13-16) in Christie’s New York’ Rockefeller Center gallery space
 
Announcing the tour, Marc Porter, chairman and president of Christie’s Americas, said “Christie’s is honored to have been entrusted with this important role in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Elizabeth Taylor”.
“The global tour and exhibition of her collection at Christie’s will be a window into the world of a true icon, a rare woman who was at once an international film and fashion star, loving mother, successful businesswoman, and generous humanitarian.
“This collection of her many cherished possessions will bring us closer to the essence of Elizabeth Taylor’s unique spirit, and promises to inspire admiration, delight, and at times, sheer wonder, in all who come to see it.”
He added that “a portion of the monies” generated by exhibition admissions, events and publications related to the sales will be donated to The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF).
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