Armed thieves dressed in Hawaiian shirts recently stole jewellery worth up to USD $ 21.55 million from the Cartier boutique in Cannes in the French Riviera in broad daylight. Londons The Daily Telegraph is reporting that a man with a deep suntan and wearing a flowery shirt walked into the store in Cannes and threatened the staff with a gun. Two accomplices wearing crash helmets then entered the store and took jewellery from glass display cases before taking off on scooters and fleeing along Cannes famous Croisette promenade. The theft was over in two minutes, according to store employees.

Overall advertising spend in the UAE fell 26 percent in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, according to statistics published by the Pan Arab Research Centre (PARC). The biggest reductions were in the property and financial sectors, which fell 75 percent and 43 percent respectively during the January—June 2009 period. Interestingly, advertising spend rose in the jewellery sector for this period as also for the clothing and household segments. Cartier, Rolex, Chopard, Chanel Patek Philippe, Piaget and Audemars Piguet were among the top advertisers in the premium watches & jewellery sectors in the region.

India’s plan to double import duty on gold may lead to smuggling of bullion into the worlds biggest consumer, undermining efforts by the Government to raise funds, reports Bloomberg. According to Dharmesh Sodah, Director at the Mumbai based India offices of the World Gold Council, the tax, coupled with high domestic prices and global recession will hamper jewellery demand. In its recently announced budget for the current fiscal year, the Government of India doubled the duty on gold and silver imports for the first time since 2004.

The Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE) has recently announced the setting up of a specialized plant for removing dirt and trace materials from rough and polished diamonds at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centres (DMCC) Almas Tower. According to DMCC Executive Chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem, the state of the art diamond boiling facility will be used to ensure that diamonds reach their highest potential value. Boiling companies have existed to assist the rough diamond trade since the stones started to be mined on a large scale.

The Swatch Group, the worlds biggest watchmaker is expecting sales to improve in H2 2009 after a difficult start to this year, the Groups CEO Nick Hayek Jr. said in a recent interview with a Swiss business newspaper. After a difficult start this year, we are now experiencing a substantial month to month improvement, Hayek told the business publication and adding, We will see a real stimulus in the second half of the year.

Jaquet Droz will participate in the Only Watch 09 auction event in Monaco from 23 to 26 September 2009, along with 34 other high watchmaking brands. All the proceeds from this landmark auction will go to support research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a childhood illness. According to Manuel Emch, President, Jaquet Droz, the brand will auction an exclusive timepiece, a unique Grande Seconde combining the Grand Feu enameled dial, technique of the 18th century and a case made of high tech ceramic, technique of the 21st century.

Jaeger LeCoultre has officially opened a new boutique in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Al Mansour Jewelers, its third in the UAE and plans further expansion in the Middle East through its partners and agents in the region. The new Jaeger LeCoultre boutique is the perfect showcase to increase the brands visibility and to connect with its clientele, remarked Julien Renard, Regional Brand Manager, Jaeger LeCoultre. The brand plans to open a boutique in Lebanon shortly and another in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. It also has boutiques in New Delhi (India) and Istanbul (Turkey).

Versace has announced the opening of its second boutique in the world entirely dedicated to the Maisons fine jewellery and watches at the Dubai Mall. The 200 sq. m. Versace fine jewellery flagship is a refection of the brands avant garde retail concept of unique elegance, style and craftsmanship. Gianni Versace watches are produced and distributed by Swiss headquartered Vertime, part of the Timex Group.

Montblanc has announced the opening of its new boutique within the iconic French Department Chain Store, Galeries Lafayette, in the Dubai Mall. Commenting on Montblancs ongoing expansion, Regional Brand Director Joe Nahhas said that the brand is pursuing new growth opportunities in the Middle East and constantly examining new markets as customers in the region are becoming more discerning towards luxury products.

Newly minted in 2008, Beirut, Lebanon based KHT International has positioned itself as a key distributor for a clutch of leading brands in the luxury jewellery, fashion and accessories sectors. According Hikmat Traboulsi, Managing Partner, KHT International, the company has expanded exponentially and is now present in 22 countries of the GCC, North Africa and the Levant as a regional distributor & representative for over 15 international luxury and lifestyle brands. Its burgeoning portfolio now includes such celebrated names as Collette Malouf, Amanda Jaron & Isharya jewellery brands and several other luxury designer icons in the handbags, footwear and RTW (Ready to Wear) segments.

Actress Emma Watson who plays Hermione Granger, one of three starring roles in the Harry Potter film series, dazzled New York at the recent American premiere of the latest Harry Potter installment, Harry Potter and the Half blood Prince. On this occasion, Watson wore the Stephen Webster striking classic crystal haze ring in white gold, white diamonds and turquoise to stunning effect.

Luxury super brand Montblanc has presented five glamourous, distinctive editions of its haute joaillerie Melodies Precieuses, comprising faceted jewels composed of 18 carat white gold and scintillating diamonds that exude emotion and passion. The elegant diamond set Premiere Recontre is immortalized in a string of star shaped diamonds while the Coeur a Coeur edition is composed of round and heart shaped diamonds embodying deep emotions. The star attraction is the superb soft necklace in briolette cut diamonds consisting of 3050 stones for a total weight of 378.74 carats with an extremely rare and magnificent 11.88 carat Montblanc diamond of D colour and IF clarity.

IWC Schaffhausen has announced the Middle East launch of new Aquatimer models, the Aquatimer Chronograph Edition Galapagos Islands, dedicated specifically to this commitment of preserving the environment. The Aquatimer family will include the following 44 mm to 46 mm watches from 2009 onwards, Aquatimer Deep Two, Aquatimer Chronograph in red gold and Aquatimer Automatic 2000. An immediately obvious feature shared by the revised family is the rotating diving bezel, now located externally once again. IWC has always incorporated two possibilities for measuring dive times in its divers watches.

Montblanc is once again leading the way in terms of style and looks with the Starwalker Black Mystery line comprising a fountain pen, ballpoint pen and fineliner. Exceptionality, dynamism and functional elegance are three characteristics that have inspired the brand to create this line. The fountain pen is handcrafted with a rhodium plated nib made of 14 carat gold and the powerful fineliner features an innovative spring mechanism at the tip.

Paris headquartered Bell & Ross, the brand with a passion for professional and military watches, has introduced the new Instrument BR01 96 & 97 Commando, dedicated to the elite forces, those units operating in the shadows. The BR 01 Commando series, with its special colouring and finishes blends in perfectly with the outfits of these men for whom discretion is the ultimate weapon. Its black case, grey dial and matt finishes make it the superlative camouflage watch. This limited edition watch of 500 per movement is fitted with a choice of two mechanical movements, a power reserve or a large date.

Following the success of the recent Facettes collection by Philippe Airaud, French crystal jewellery brand Baccarat is again exploring new horizons of light with the Pampilles collection by Stefano Poletti. The collection is inspired by exquisite frescoes and dazzling brilliantly reinterprets the chandelier ornaments (pampilles) for Baccarat. The collection comprises large and small size necklaces, large and small size pendants and earrings in clear crystal silver or yellow gold in limited editions of 50.

Anticipation and excitement is building up in the run up to the 26th Edition of the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS 2009), which will be held in Mumbai from 6 to 10 August 2009. IIJS 2009 is the countrys premier, largest and most prestigious jewellery trade show, which will witness the participation of the nations 1500 top jewellery retailers. Additionally, there will be a large number of trade buyer delegations from the Middle East, Russia and the CIS countries, China, Vietnam, the Far East and eastern European countries. The Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of India, sponsors and organizers of IIJS 2009, is anticipating a record breaking attendance of over 30,000 trade members. A major highlight of the show is the introduction, for the first time, of the Indian Diamond & Colourstone Show (IDCS), a two day extravaganza that will take place on 4 and 5 August 2009, on the two days preceding IIJS 2009.