Two Montenegrins, who are suspected members of the Pink Panther gang, which is believed to be behind the USD $ 3.84 million heist of a jewellery store in Dubais Wafi Mall in April 2007, have been jailed. Nicolai Ivanovic (36) and Zoran Kostic (39) were recently jailed by a French court for 24 and 10 months respectively on charges relating to forged papers. French Police has arrested the pair in a Paris Hotel for possessing false passports. Police said the two men were senior figures in the so called Pink Panther gang responsible for robberies around the globe. There were several international arrest warrants out on the duo.

Harry Winston Diamond Corporations (HWDC) retail segment saw a 30 percent drop in sales to USD $ 51.9 million for the first quarter ending 30 April 2009, compared to the same period in 2008, according to a recent company announcement. The companys mining segment also saw a sales decline, from USD $ 81.4 million in Q1 2008 to USD $ 57.7 million for the current period, a 29 percent decrease. HWDC Chairman & CEO Robert Gannicott said in the Press Release that despite the drop in sales figures, the company is seeing improvement in its business segments.

The Antwerp based World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) is to hold a special 2009 WFDB Asia Summit Meeting on 29 June. The regional summit meeting will be hosted by the Diamond Federation of Hong Kong and will engage the bourses in Bangkok, Mumbai, Singapore, Shanghai & Tokyo. It will be attended by WFDB President Avi Paz and Ernest Blom, Vice President, WFDB.

At a recent auction of watches conducted in New York, international auctioneers Antiquorum realized an impressive USD $ 5.7 million. An impressive 81 percent of the 416 timepieces were sold by lot and in addition to telephone and room bidders, there were 478 bidders on the internet. The winning bid for the late legendary actor Steve McQueens King of Cools Rolex Ref.5512 was an impressive USD $ 234,000, twenty times its estimate and a world record for that reference. Other extraordinary watches auctioned off included Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Sohne and Jaeger LeCoultre iconic models.

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, the House of Cartier recently announced its annual charity initiative in the United Arab Emirates for the fourth consecutive year. As part of the initiative, 100 percent of each sale of Cartiers Love Charity Bracelet will be donated to the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to help overcome the obstacles of poverty, violence, disease and discrimination for children across the globe. We are keen to continue Cartiers efforts and am confident that we will be able to generate more donations to help benefit society and increase social awareness, asserted Patrick Normand, Managing Director, Cartier Middle East.

Master watchmaker Kurt Klaus, the man credited with single handedly inventing the most accurate perpetual calendar in a mechanical watch, for premium Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen, recently conducted a watchmaking session for selectively invited officials and VIP guests at the Felopateer Palace in the Golf Club of a leading hotel in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The 75 year old genius, dubbed the Einstein of watchmaking, has been in the watchmaking business for the past 51 years and has trained a series of Master watchmakers and is the first Master watchmaker to have a timepiece named after him. IWC has also introduced the 45.5 mm Big Ingineur Chronograph (Ref. IW3784), with its slimmer and elegant appearance a highlight of the brands new creation. The Chronograph in platinum, rose gold and stainless steel, is powered by the IWC manufactured 89360 Calibre chronograph movement. It water resistant to 12 bar and is limited to a production ceiling of 250 pieces.

Two Longines Brand Ambassadors of Elegance, Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graff were present at the French Open Tennis Tournament in Roland Garros this year. The two tennis stars were present to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their respective victories at this prestigious Parisian Tournament. It was the ideal opportunity for Longines, the watchmaker they represent, to organize the event of the year around these two tennis legends and their charity foundations.

Three winners of the Adler Jewellery Design Awards 2009 were recently awarded prizes by the brand at a glittering ceremony in Geneva. The winners were Laura Infante, Swiss, who was the youngest participant in the competition who bagged the Adler Jewellery Design Award and a cash prize of USD $ 10,000. The second winner was Sawako Besnard, Japanese, who won the Adler Woman s Award and Olcay Yilmaz, Turkish who walked away with the Adler Award for Creativity. The two latter winners also received USD $ 3,000 each. The competition attracted more than 263 entries from candidates aged 18 to 30 representing 57 countries. The jury included five international leaders in the fields of haute horlogerie, art, education and design and was headed by Francois Curiel, President, Christie s Europe.

The Milus Tirion TriRetrograde Seconds Skeleton 1919 Limited Edition recently won the first prize in the category of Best of Timepieces at the Couture Design Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The Model is produced in a limited edition of 38 pieces worldwide and was recently launched at Baselworld 2009. The award was received by Jan Edocs, President & CEO, Milus International and Doron Basha, President & CEO, Milus USA.

Top British world renowned jewellery designer Stephen Webster received the prestigious Best of Diamonds Award at the 2009 Couture Design Awards held recently in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Webster s winning entry was a one of a kind diamond cascade necklace from the Jewels Verne fine jewellery collection. The piece is made of 18 carat white gold and includes 16.22 carats of diamonds and 2.13 carats of white diamond drops. Meanwhile, Grammy Award winning singer & face of the Stephen Webster brand, Christina Aguilera hosted the Stephen Webster 2009 Collection Jewels Verne launch party on the same occasion. Pieces worn by Christina Aguilera at the event included a white diamond and onyx ring from the Fly by Night Collection and black & white diamond earrings from the Jules Verne collection.

One of the leading GCC jewellery retailers, Pure Gold Jewellers is celebrating its 20th anniversary, with a special sales promotion for the duration of the ongoing Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) from 11 June to 14 August 2009. Pure Gold Jewellers has over 75 outlets in the GCC countries. Recently, the company was also the recipient, for the second consecutive time, of the Best Service Performing Brand in the large business category under the Dubai Department of Economic Development.

Chopard has presented the new Chronograph 1000 Miglia Chrono Limited Edition 2009 at the famous Miglia Classic Car Race in the Italian City of Brescia this year, as is customary each year since 1998. The 1000 Miglia Chrono Limited Edition 2009 represents a return to historical roots and features a 42mm diameter case on the famous natural rubber Dunlop racing strap. Equipped with a dial in ruthenium colour, this sporty model is driven by a mechanical chronograph movement chronometer certified by the COSC.

Baume & Mercier has enriched its Riviera Magnum sports watch collection with two new XXL 45 mm size models—a limited edition, all black chronograph with flyback function and transparent dial and an athletic three pointer and date display model in a solid steel case with an ergonomic design topped by the signature 12 sided Riviera bezel framing a pure black dial with luminescent Roman numerals. The brand has also launched the New Hampton XL, in white, for women in the Middle East. The square model has its bezel set with 52 diamonds, automatic movement with big date and a dual time zone and is water resistant to 200 metes.

Top German watch brand Glashutte Original has unveiled the Senator Chronometer, the first timepiece with official confirmation in the form of a certificate and one that meets the strictest test criteria. The chronometer is powered by a re designed Glashutte Original manual winding Calibre 58 01. The silver dial is home to subsidiary seconds and power reserve displays are along the central axis. The silver dial also provides a richly contrasting surface for the polished, blued sweep minute and pear shaped hour hands. The Senator Chronometer is available in either rose or white gold and comes with a black Louisiana alligator strap.

Aesthetically recognizable due to its size and creativity of design, Roger Dubuis Kingsquare Tourbillon is firmly rooted in the brand s tradition of exceptional complications. Architecturally conceived, the lines of this flying tourbillon are adorned with 490 invisibly set diamonds. The movement is stamped with the Poincon de Geneva quality hallmark. It is equipped with a hand made stitched alligator strap with a folding clasp set with 48 diamonds.

The US established and now Swiss Ball Watch Company has released its newest introduction—the Ball Trainmaster Doctors Chronograph which has a simplified dial with a pulsation scale graduated for 15 pulsations. The single button chronograph movement allows the start, stop and reset functions to be controlled with just one finger for quicker measurement of the pulse. The pulse meter can also be used to measure respiration rate or any other repetitive action like steps per minute. The Chronograph is set up with a rose gold case and a crocodile leather strap.

The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2009, the largest fair of its kind according to its organizers, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will be held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 2 to 6 September 2009. According to Raymond Yip, Assistant Executive Director, HKTDC, the expansion of the HKCEC adds 42 percent more exhibition space (an additional 19,400 sq. m.) and can accommodate 1,000 standard exhibition booths. According to official statistics, Hong Kongs total exports of watches & clocks in 2008 amounted to USD $ 7.07 billion, an increase of 11 percent over corresponding 2007 figures. The Exhibitions 2008 Edition attracted 761 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions. The popular Asian Watch Conference presented by Industry leaders will be held during the fair as will also be the 26th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition, the themes for which this year are Temptation of Jewellery and Black Beauty.