Jewelry and Watch Sales Sparkle for LVMH

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading high quality products group, said revenue for the first nine months of 2011 rose 15 percent year-over-year to 16.3 billion euros ($22.3 billion). Organic revenue growth was 15 percent after the currency impact was compensated by the June 30 consolidation of Italian luxury jeweler, Bulgari, into the LVMH structure.

The third quarter continued the trend of strong growth evident since the start of the year, the Paris-based conglomerate said. The momentum continued in Asia, Europe and the United States, while Japan returned to growth over the period. In its outlook, the company said it expects the same revenue growth to continue till the end of the year.

The Watches & Jewelry division (which includes the brands TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot), while fifth among the company’s six business units in overall income, was the strongest performer for the nine-month period, recording a 76 percent revenue increase (26 percent organic growth) to 1.2 billion euros ($1.7 billion). The third quarter was marked by the public offer for the outstanding minority shares in Bulgari, which the company said, is performing well across all product categories. TAG Heuer enhanced its feminine product offering with a new jewelry extension to its Formula 1 line and has expanded its presence in Asia. Hublot continues the successful roll-out of the Classic Fusion collection. Driven by the excellent progress of its El Primero and Captain ranges, Zenith continues to demonstrate the strong appeal of its high quality chronographs. The other jewelry brands, Chaumet, Fred and De Beers continued their positive momentum through their own store network, the company said.

Results for its other businesses during the nine month-period are as follows:

Revenue for the Wines & Spirits group (which includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, and Jas Hennessy & Co.) increased 7 percent (11% organic) to 2.3 billion euros ($3.2 billion), led by champagne and premium alcohol sales.

Fashion & Leather Goods group (which includes Louis Vuitton, Thomas Pink and Marc Jacobs) grew 13 percent (15% organic) to 6.2 billion euros ($8.5 billion).

Perfumes & Cosmetics group (Christian Dior, Guerlain and Parfums Givenchy) saw its sales rise 3 percent (10% organic) to $2.3 billion euros ($3.2 billion)for the period, led by the sustained growth of its flagship product lines.

Selective Retailing group (which includes DFS, Sephora and La Samaritaine) sales increased 18 percent (19% organic) to $4.3 billion ($5.9 billion), benefiting from the expansion of Asian tourism, which was particularly strong in Hong Kong and Macao.

Its businesses listed as “other activities,” recorded a slight loss.

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Richemont Expects Huge Sales and Profits as Hard Luxuries Continue to Sparkle

Montblanc boutique in Hamburg. Photo credit: Anthony DeMarco

A luxury slowdown in China, a European economy under constant crisis, and sluggish growth in the U.S. has failed to slow the growth in the sale of “hard luxuries” (jewelry and watches). The latest example is Geneva-based Compagnie Financière Richemont, which issued a statement Monday saying that it expects first half profits to rise from 20 percent to 40 percent, year-over-year.

Richemont—whose brands include Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc and Vacheron Constantin—was required to make this statement prior to its sales and profits reports for the first half of the year. SIX Swiss Exchange requires that issuers make an immediate announcement when “the foreseeable profit or loss for a given period is expected to deviate significantly from the profit or loss achieved in the prior-year period.”

In accordance with these requirements Richemont said that sales for the four months ended in July rose 24 percent on a reported basis and 13 percent on a constant-exchange basis. Based on these results, Richemont’s said its operating profit for the six months ending September 30 is likely to show an increase of between 20 percent and 40 percent compared to the first six months of the last financial year.  Net profit for the same period may also increase by 20 percent and 40 percent.

Richemont sales for the five months ending August 31 will be announced on September 5 first-half results for period ending September 30 will be announced November 9.

This is the latest in financial reports that are revealing the resiliency and strength in hard luxuries.

* In late July, Paris-based LVMH reported revenue growth of 26 percent, year-over-year to $16 billion for the first half of 2012. Group profit rose 28 percent to $2 billion. The luxury group, whose jewelry and watch brands include Tag Heuer, Hublot and Bulgari, acquired in June 2011, reported that total jewelry and watch sales rose 113 percent to $1.6 billion, with Bulgari's revenue now included. Organic growth was 13 percent.

* A few days earlier, Swatch Group, the world’s largest watch company, said its watch and jewelry sales for the first half of 2012 increased 16.7 percent to $3.42 billion, year-over-year. The company owns 19 watch and jewelry brands in all market segments, including Swatch, Breguet and Longines.

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Royal Asscher Plans China Expansion through Alliance with Sparkle Roll Group

Royal Asscher has begun a strategic alliance in China and Macau with the Sparkle Roll Group Ltd., a distributor of top-tier luxury goods in China.

The alliance is for a period of 10 years, with an option to be renewed for another 10 years and will focus on the promotion and sales of several Royal Asscher diamonds and jewelry lines, most notably Royal Asscher Cut Diamonds the Stars of Africa Collection

“We have established a firm foothold in the Japanese market for 45 years where we supply 125 jewelers,” said Edward Asscher, President of Royal Asscher. “Next to the U.S. and European markets, the People Republic of China (PRC) is the fourth greatest market for our 159 year-old Asscher family company. We believe that Sparkle Roll's market leadership and extensive distribution network will help expand our reach across the broad spectrum of target audiences in the China and thus reinforce our presence in the market.”

Ivan Tong, chairman of Sparkle Roll added, “We began this exclusive distributorship in March 2011 and we are confident that Royal Asscher will be one of the most successful jewelry brands in the PRC.” 

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Jewelry Set to Sparkle at Masterpiece London 2013

Attendees at the 2012 Masterpiece London preview.

From its first year, Masterpiece London made its mark as a world-class fair for fine art, antiques and design. The exhibition on the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London is set to begin its fourth year with more than 160 exhibitors showing fine art, jewelry, design, yachts, cars and antiques from the world’s leading exhibitors. It opens June 26 with a preview event and runs till July 3.

I'm interested in the jewelry that will be on exhibit and available for sale. Below are some of the highlights: 

Exclusive jewelry and gem dealer, Siegelson, will be exhibiting a Cleef & Arpels Art Deco platinum, carved ruby, and diamond necklace,

 
London society jeweler and craftsman, Theo Fennell, will present a whimsical Marie Antoinette brooch. 

A gold and silver parure with imperial topazes and diamonds, circa 1820, from Veronique Bamps 

Fred Leighton, will have a gold and diamond retro tassel necklace by Mauboussin, circa 1940.
 

Symbolic & Chase will present a pair of sapphire “Branche” brooches by Suzanne Belperron. 

The iconic David Webb Zebra Bracelet comprised of diamonds, rubies, black and white enamel set in 18kt yellow gold and platinum.  

The jeweler to London royalty, Wartski, will present an antique platinum and diamond necklace in the form of an openwork trellis set with and suspending brilliant cut diamonds, connected with curb link chains, in original silk and velvet lined fitted case. Forty seven diamonds weighing in total approximately 38 carats.

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Gold, Diamonds and Crystals Glitter, Sparkle, and Shine at Las Vegas Jewelry Week

The World Gold Council's LoveGold exhibit at Couture.

Not everything was for sale at the jewelry shows in Las Vegas this past week although I suppose someone could have purchased the 27-pound gold bar valued at more than $500,000 from the LoveGold Exhibit at the Couture jewelry show.

Gold jewelry from Couture Show jewelry exhibitors.

Up on a stage above the tradeshow exhibitors at Wynn Las Vegas, the World Gold Council’s exhibition included art creations, curated gold jewelry used at red carpet events and selected gold pieces from the vendors at the tradeshow. LoveGold is the fashion jewelry initiative of the WGC, the marketing development organization of the gold industry.

One of the gold fashion displays at the LoveGold exhibit.

Many of the pieces were from the catwalk at Cannes where they were part of a special fashion show that was curated by Carine Roitfeld, the former editor-in-chief of Vogue Paris, to benefit amfAR, the foundation for AIDS research.

“We want to showcase the best that gold can be regardless of origin or price point,” said Sally Morrison of the World Gold Council. “The exhibition at Couture was a way of introducing the beginning of this activity to the brands and press at the show.”

A display at the "Diamonds with a Story" Rio Tinto Diamonds exhibition that highlights diamond origins.

As previously noted, Rio Tinto Diamonds presented an exhibition at the JCK Luxury and JCK Las Vegas tradeshows titled “Diamonds with a Story.” It featured jewelry created for the US market by eight North American designers based on the following four topics: “Origin,” “Cutting Impact,” “Mixed Medium” and “Color My World.” The designers created their works using Rio Tinto's colored diamonds from its Argyle mine in Australia and white diamonds from its Diavik mine in Northwestern Canada.

Varieties of Rio Tinto diamonds.

The exhibit is part of a marketing program by the mining company for the jewelry trade based on its own consumer research. The jewelry collections based on the four stories identify consumers' desire for the following attributes:

• Identifying the place of origin of the diamond they buy;
• Knowing that their diamond purchase is having a positive impact;
• Differentiating designs and concepts; and
• Access to natural colored diamonds

“We are excited by how well the 'Diamonds with a Story' platform is resonating," said Rebecca Foerster, manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds US Representative Office. “This appetite for innovation is good news for miners, manufacturers, retailers and ultimately the consumer.”

Elaborate and colorful jewelry design by David Mandel, part of the Swarovski Elements exhibit at JCL Las Vegas.

Swarovski Elements, the premium brand division of the world-renowned crystal company, Swarovski, provided a fashion-forward jewelry exhibition at JCK Las Vegas called “World Jewelry Facets,” featuring collaborations with designers and artists representing several mediums who created colorful designs using Swarovski crystal.

A necklace by Tim Hosier and Brian Thorson.

The creations ranged from elaborate, fanciful designs to more wearable pieces. Designers included Tim Hosier and Brian Thorson, known for their home accessories designs, to entertainment industry designer David Mandel.

Jewelry by American artists at the Swarovski Elements exhibit

There is also a charitable element with designs created by Senhoa, a non-profit organization and fashion brand that produces jewelry made by survivors of human trafficking. The Senhoa line on display was designed by Canadian model, Coco Rocha, and handcrafted by survivors of exploitation in Cambodia.

Jewelry by the non-profit organization and fashion brand, Senhoa, handcrafted by survivors of exploitation in Cambodia,

 
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Diamonds, gemstones Share the sparkle with natural Pearls at Christie’s auction

'one of the best Diamond'

the big apple — the gathering from the estate of Huguette M. Clark bought lots of the consideration at Christie’s big apple very good Jewels sale Tuesday, however among the many 305 quite a bit had been essential diamonds and gems and signature jewelry pieces that received quite a lot of attention amongst bidders.

It used to be standing room handiest in Woods Room at Christie’s headquarters as these within the room competed with phone and web buyers from all over the world. It was an awfully aggressive atmosphere with lengthy, spirited bidding for among the a lot.The sale fetched a total of $70.7 million, with 95 percent of the items bought through lot and 97 p.c of the estimated value realized.

View the main objects from the sale by using following this link.

along with huge diamonds, which always do well in this environment, sapphires have been very talked-about. there were a few extraordinarily strong pure pearls gross sales, as they seem like poised for a comeback on the global luxury jewellery market. among the top items offered were:

* “The Clark crimson,” a 9-carat, cushion-lower fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring by means of Dreicer & Co., circa 1910, from the Huguette M. Clark property, bought for $15.7 million, making it essentially the most treasured crimson diamond ever sold in the united states.

* “one of the best Diamond,” a forty four.09-carat rectangular-lower diamond ring (prime image); D-coloration, internally flawless readability, sort IIa, with excellent polish and very good symmetry. The estimate was once upon request. It was once the closing lot of the evening but did not get the best total (The Clark diamond was the winner). however, it bought for an impressive $7.four million.

* “The Clark Diamond,” a 19.86-carat rectangular-cut D colour potentially IF diamond ring via Cartier, from the Huguette M. Clark property, bought for $three.1 million.

* one of the most large surprises of the sale was once a 31.53-carat sugarloaf cabochon Kashmir sapphire ring (above) with the aid of Van Cleef & Arpels, which sold for $2.65 million—a global document value for a cabochon sapphire. Its estimate was $300,000 – $500,000.

* a flowery yellow and fancy light yellow diamond cluster necklace with the aid of Graff obtained various consideration from bidders. It bought for $2.3 million.

* A pear-formed D color doubtlessly IF diamond ring of 16.33 cts with the aid of Van Cleef & Arpels bought for 2.1 million.

* A cushion-lower fancy intense yellow VS1 diamond ring of 43.forty nine cts via Graff sold for 1.87 million.

* A five-strand pure pearl necklace (above) offered  for $1.sixty seven million, more than double its high estimate of $800,000. A single-strand natural pearl and diamond necklace by means of Tiffany & Co., from the Huguette M. Clark property, sold for $362,000, shattering the estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. previous in the day a single-strand pure pearl necklace bought for $266,500, also smashing the estimate of $20,000 – $30,000.

* A 15.08-carat oval-reduce F coloration IF diamond bought for $1.four million.

* A 15.fifty eight-carat rectangular-cut E coloration VS1 diamond bought for $1.three million.

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