Swarovski unveils 2015 collection
Swarovski has unveiled its Spring Summer 2015 collections with a party at the Lions Gate Lodge in Sydney’s Botanic Gardens.
Pandora rolls out mobile POS system
Pandora Australia has rolled-out a mobile POS system which enables its staff to serve in-store customers on Apple iPods.
Michael Clarke teams up with Hublot
Swiss watch manufacturer Hublot is set to increase its profile in Australia and New Zealand next year with its official entry into the cricket world.
Galatea launches ‘smart’ pearl
US-based carved pearl jewellery maker, Galatea, has launched a cultured pearl which can record and play personalised messages.
Jennifer Lopez teams up with Endless Jewelery
Danish bracelet and charm jewellery brand, Endless Jewelry, has signed a three-year partnership with Jennifer Lopez
JAA ‘endorses’ six diamond grading labs
Following recent local and international controversy about the over-grading of diamonds, The JAA National Industry Advisory Council has released a list of six independent diamond grading laboratories that it endorses.
Citizen opens US flagship
Just three months after the opening of Seiko’s first boutique in the US, the Citizen Watch Company has opened its first US flagship store.
9.75ct blue shatters diamond price record
A 9.75 rare fancy vivid blue diamond has sold for US$32,645m – a new world auction record price for any blue diamond and a new world auction record for price-per-carat for any diamond.
HK set to double the dazzle again
Following the success of its inaugural ‘T‘wo Shows, Two Venues’ jewellery fairs in March, the HKTDC is expecting next year’s fairs to be even better.
Bondi store turns diamond retailing upside down
Models dressed in black lingerie and balaclavas added an unexpected touch of drama to the opening party for the JASN ALTN Diamond Boutique at Bondi this month.
TAG Heuer takes on marathons
As part of its new strategic direction, TAG Heuer is entering the world of sports marathons as a partner and official timekeeper.
Patek Philippe ‘Holy Grail’ sells for US$24 million
The world’s most famous watch, the Henry Graves Supercomplication, has been sold for US$24 million to an anonymous bidder at Sotheby’s in Geneva.
Rapaport calls for end to ‘over-grading’
Just one month after banning EGL International diamond grading reports on his diamond trading website, Rapaport Group chairman Martin Rapaport has called on the jewellery industry to take action against the ‘systematic over-grading’ of diamonds.
Linneys launches online store
WA-based Linneys has launched an online store to coincide with the release of its 2015 ‘Beautiful Reflections’ jewellery collection.
Nationwide teams up with Dale Carnegie
The Dale Carnegie organisation will help members of Nationwide Jewellers buying group increase their sales in 2015 and beyond.
Road Show gets bigger
The third annual Australian Jewellery Road Show has been hailed a success by organisers – and is destined to become even bigger next year with the addition of two new exhibitors.
Breguet wins horological Grand Prix
The Breguet Classique Chronometrie has won the main prize, the Aiguille d’Or award, at the 14th annual Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Geneve.
$3 million hat turns heads in Melbourne
The world’s most expensive hat, a $3m headpiece adorned with diamonds and green beryl, was a head-turner at Australia’s most fashionable day of racing, the Victoria Derby Day.
Kailis finds enlightenment
Kailis Australian Pearls has launched a jewellery collection incorporating the “centuries old art of Guilloche”.
Vicenzaoro set for major revamp
Following the success of Vicenzaoro Fall 2014, which attracted over 18,000 visitors, the fair organiser is now planning major changes to the gold and jewellery trade fair.
Tourmaline ring wins Spectrum award
A platinum ring set with a 4.71 ct paraiba tourmaline by Leon Mege was the winning design at the 2015 AGTA Spectrum Awards.
Rio Tinto’s pink tender delivers
The Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender has delivered “exceptional results” for Rio Tinto by achieving the highest average price per carat since its launch in 1984.
GIA director to discuss synthetic diamonds in Sydney
Wuyi Wang, the research and development director for the GIA, will update the industry on the latest developments in the world of synthetic diamonds at a seminar in Sydney next week.
Patek Philippe celebrates 175th anniversary with US$2.6m watch
Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe has celebrated its 175th anniversary with the launch of a collection of commemorative timepieces headlined by the US$2.6m Grandmaster Chime.
HK Fair breaks records
The 32nd edition of the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair attracted a record-breaking 3695 exhibitors from 49 countries/regions and 59,116 buyers from 157 countries and regions.
Purple-pink diamond sells for US$17.8m
An 8.1 carat purple-pink diamond was sold for a record-breaking US$17.8m – US$2.1m a carat – at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Auction on October 8.
Ring price helps predict divorce rates
Couples who spend the most on their engagement rings are most likely to end up divorced, according to a new report by two economics professors at Atlanta’s Emory University.
Retailers call for lower interest rates
The Reserve Bank’s decision to keep the cash rate on hold at 2.5 percent may not provide enough support for retailers in the lead-up to Christmas, according to the ARA.
Jeweller trials precious metal 3D printer
UK-based Lolo & Galago is planning to create a fine jewellery collection with a 3D printer that can print directly in precious metals.
Rio Tinto tiara heads to China
Rio Tinto has created a white and champagne diamond encrusted tiara to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Chinese jeweller, Chow Tai Fook.
Bevilles begins rebranding roll-out
Less than five months after restructuring the business, Bevilles Jewellers is celebrating its 80th Birthday with the opening of a new head office and the rollout of its new-look stores.
TAG turns electric
TAG Heuer has joined forces with the world’s first-ever electric car open championship, the FIA Formula E Championship.
Satine set to dazzle Powerhouse
The ‘stunt double’ for the diamond-studded Satine neckpiece worn by Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge is now on display at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum.
JAA appoints new Board
JAA members voted to adopt a new Constitution and elect a new, much smaller, Board at the association’s AGM on September 1.
Gemfields moves into sapphire market
Gemfields, the world’s largest producer of coloured gemstones currently best known for its Zambian emeralds and Mozambican rubies, has moved into the Sri Lankan sapphire market.
Diamond demand reaches record highs
Global demand for diamond jewellery reached a record high of US$79 billion in 2013, according to De Beers’ inaugural Diamond Insight Report.
Rio donates rough to Smithsonian
Rio Tinto has donated ‘a significant sample’ of Australian rough diamonds to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC.
Gary Kokozian passes away
Gary Kokozian, the founder of Kokozian Jewellery Manufacturing, passed away this month after a 10-year struggle with multiple myeloma.
Petra sells blue for US$27.6m
Petra Diamonds has sold the 122.52 carat blue diamond recovered from its Cullinan mine in June for US$27.6 million.
Pandora named Leading supplier of the year
Pandora Australia and New Zealand has been named Supplier of the Year for 2014 by Leading Edge Group Jewellers.
‘Facets of Morality’ wins JAA award
Twenty-eight-year old Rhys Turner has been named Jeweller of the Year at the JAA Australasian Jewellery Awards.
Industry farewells Henning Molgaard
Sydney-based goldsmith Henning Molgaard passed away unexpectedly in August.
Lola and Grace bolt into Oz
Bolt International has launched Swarovski’s lolaandgrace jewellery brand in Australia and New Zealand.
Apple unveils smart watch
After years of industry rumours, Apple has unveiled its long-awaited smart watch.
Tiffany changes design direction to a T
Tiffany’s new design director, Francesca Amfitheatrof, is making her mark on the iconic brand with the launch of her first jewellery collection and talk of possibly changing the brand’s iconic packaging as well.
De Beers moves into second-hand market
De Beers has launched a new stand-alone business, the International Institute of Diamond Valuation, to study the second-hand diamond market.
Rio Tinto showcases 55 reds and pinks
Rio Tinto has unveiled the 55 pink and red diamonds that make up its 30th annual Argyle Pink Diamonds Tender.
Seiko opens first boutique in US
The Seiko Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation, has opened the first Seiko boutique in the US.
Pandora teams up with Disney
Pandora has entered into a strategic alliance with The Walt Disney Company which will see the launch of a charm collection featuring ‘inspirations from Disney’s beloved characters’ this November.
Sofia launches jewellery collection
Modern Family star Sofia Vergara has joined forces with America’s biggest jewellery retailer, Kay Jewelers, to launch her first jewellery collection.