GCC advertising expenditure in H1-2008 increased by 23.6 % to reach USD $ 3.77 billion compared to USD $ 3.05 billion for the corresponding period of 2007. Khamis Al Muqla, Chairman, Gulf Marcom Group based in the Kingdom of Bahrain & Board Member of the International Advertising Association (IAA) Worldwide stated that according to the Pan Arab Research Centre (PARC) the Pan Arab media share reached USD $ 1.57 billion, (representing 41.64 % of the total advertising expenditure in the GCC), an increase of 24.0 % as compared to the same period of 2007.

The UAE with an advertising budget of USD $ 929.0 million registered the biggest increase of 42.0 %. Figures for the other GCC states are as follows: Saudi Arabia (USD $ 550.0 million; 11.0 % increase); Kuwait (USD $ 337.0 million; 11.0 % increase); Qatar (USD $ 157.0 million; 1.0 % increase); Oman (USD $ 120.0 million; 69.0 % increase) and Bahrain (USD $ 50.0 million; 2.0 % increase). In the remainder of the Arab world, Egypt at USD $ 514.0 million demonstrated an increase of 37.0 % and Lebanon at USD $ 150.0 million, an increase of 20.0 %.

HE Sheikh Nahayan Mubarak Al Nahayan, UAE Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and Rebecca Irvin, Director of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) covering a series of activities between the two organizations.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Tayyeb Kamali, Vice Chancellor, HCT, this agreement is ‘another example of working with all divisions of the community to achieve the Government’s goals of providing quality culture and environment for the students in the 16 campuses across the country and the public at large’.

The Rolex Middle East Forum will be the culmination of a series of events being planned around the official 2008 Rolex Awards for Enterprise ceremony that will take place in Dubai on 18 November 2008.

The UAE witnessed phenomenal sales of gold and jewellery during the fourth week of October as eager shoppers, spurred by the significant drop (almost 20.0 %) in gold prices (USD $ 22.6 per gram for 22 carat gold; USD $ 24.0 per gram for 24 carat on Thursday, 23 October 2008), made a beeline to retail outlets across the UAE to snap up whatever was available ahead of the Deepavali (Festival of Lights) celebrations across the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

Sales increased dramatically and sales in Abu Dhabi alone increased 400.0 % on one day, Thursday 23 October 2008, according to Tushar Patni, Chairman of the Gold & Jewellery Group in the Emirate. According to Patni the sale amounts to between 30 to 50 kilograms of gold per shift.

De Beers is offering retailers and buyers a new buying experience, the ‘De Beers Beauty Scan’, a facility that makes it possible for a client to recognize and select stones with exceptional fire and life. A diamond ring is placed on the clear glass of the scanner and in seconds, the Beauty Scan comes alive with the color, life and brilliance of a De Beers diamond.

The DE beers Beauty Scan offers a client immediate visual proof of a diamond’s beauty, rather than just its gradation. A symmetrical Beauty Scan image indicates that the cut of the faces is optimized and therefore selected for beauty and not weight. De Beers has 30 stores globally including Dubai (UAE), Bahrain and Istanbul (Turkey). De Beers stores will shortly be opening in Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

According to local media reports, two suspected members of the criminal ring involved in the sensational Wafi Mall jewellery heist in Dubai last year (2007) have been arrested in Europe, following an Interpol alert. The Dubai Police have received all documents relating to one of the alleged gang members who was arrested in France.

The Police are now also seeking details of the arrest of the second suspect in Italy, and will then proceed with the extradition formalities in both cases. It may be recalled that two other suspects had already been arrested in Dubai earlier and the stolen goods recovered. According to senior Dubai Police Officer, one of the two arrested suspects, a 27-year old Serb was apprehended following a car accident, while the other is a 30-year old Bosnian who was arrested at a hospital. The suspects are alleged to have carried fake passports and have committed over 200 crimes during the past nine years.

Cartier has recently sumptuously celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of its boutique in the prestigious GUM Shopping Gallery. Celebrity actress Monica Bellucci, dressed in red and wearing a magnificent ruby necklace, appeared on the arm of Bernard Fornas, President & CEO, Cartier International.

This celebration is in keeping with a long history of friendship that links Cartier to Russia and recalls, one year on, the great success enjoyed by the ‘Cartier: Innovation through the 20^th Century’ Exhibition, which was presented in the Kremlin Palace and seen by over 150,000 visitors from around the world. Cartier has been present in Moscow since 1996 and has 5 boutiques across Russia and throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States, where Cartier has established itself in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Founded 40 years ago, Grant Macdonald goldsmiths, silversmiths & designers, has set the benchmark in the world of collectible fine bespoke goldware, silverware and objets d’art. For decades, this decorated British niche brand has been committed to its clientele, which comes mainly from the Middle East and livery companies & royalty from all over the world. Grant Macdonald’s expertise and craftsmanship are unparalleled and the brand is now preparing to open a flagship showroom in Dubai, UAE.

The award-winning brand is represented in the Middle East by UAE-based SCI International LLC founded by Chadi Jereige and Sabah Moussa.

Bulgari recently opened its new two-storey Paris flagship store on Avenue George V, its fourth in the French capital and at 1,500 sq. m., its largest in Europe. The inauguration was attended by Serbian-Russian-Ukrainian actress Milla Jovovich and fiancé Paul Anderson and Margherita Missoni, heiress to the Missoni Fashion House.

Francesco Trapani, CEO, Bulgari Group, commented: “I am very proud of this magnificent new store, which further consolidates the Bulgari brand’s presence and visibility in luxury-loving Paris.” This architectural achievement has been realized by 250 craftsmen and workers from 35 companies and is fitted with 65 tons of fine marble.

Garrard was a key sponsor once again for Naomi Campbell’s Fashion for Relief Charity event during the recent London Fashion Week. Girls Aloud and X Factor judge Cheryl Cole was one of the several leading personalities who was there to lend support.

After launching the brand in the UAE, Damas has now introduced the L’Art Nouveau jewellery brand from India in the Sultanate of Oman. The brand is the brainchild of Mumbai-based jewellery designer Farhana Vohra and is reminiscent and a flashback of jewellery popular during the Mughal era over 500 years ago. “It has that old look but keeping in mind the modern woman, it does not weigh heavy,” said Vohra, speaking of her jewellery. The event was attended by Tamjid Abdullah, Deputy Managing Director, Damas.

Top league Swiss watch brand Vacheron Constantin has unmasked the set of four men’s watches from the ‘Metiers d’art—Les Masques—Edition 2008’ collection, housing a self-winding mechanical movement and stamped with the ‘Hallmark of Geneva’. Each box contains four different models: in 18K pink gold (Mexico mask), 18K yellow gold (Japan mask), 18K white gold (Gabon mask) and in platinum 950 (Papua New Guinea mask).

Each watch is tested to a pressure of 3.0 ATM (30 metres) and the base of the sapphire crystal dial to which the mask has been affixed, has four windows displaying the hours, minutes, date and day. They come in brown alligator strap and folding clasp with half-Maltese Cross.

In celebration of 20 years of fine watch-making, Harry Winston has introduced the anniversary Premier Excenter Perpetual Calendar, a limited edition of 20 pieces hand-crafted in platinum. Sleek and sophisticated, the case is slightly enlarged to 41 mm and features Harry Winston’s signature three-arch design. The dial has the retrograde mechanism and day & date functions, moon phase and second time zone indication.

The Harry Winston Ladies Premier Lotus is a novelty timepiece inspired by the beauty of the Lotus blossom and the creative energy from India. Crafted in white gold, the elegant 32 mm case is set with 271 diamonds and shown on an alligator strap for the complete look of pure, feminine luxury.

The IWC Ingenieur Automatic Edition ‘Climate Action’ watch is an ecologically-friendly, certified carbon-neutral timepiece that plays its part in fighting global warming. The Schaffhausen, Switzerland manufactory is supporting ‘The Climate Group’, an independent, non-profit organization that was founded in 2004 with this especially created environment-conscious ‘Climate Action’ collection.

The production of this special edition watch is restricted to only 1000 units. All equivalent CO2 emissions generated by the IWC manufactory will be offset by investing in a wind energy project in China.

The new Romain Jerome Legend II, the DNA of Famous Legends following the Titanic-DNA Collection, will be unveiled at a special ceremony to be held in Geneva on 12 November 2008.

Luxury Italian jeweller Damiani has set ambitious targets for its Pan Middle East expansion plans. After successfully inaugurating its first independent boutique in BurJuman in Dubai, UAE in November 2007 in partnership with local partners, the Al Tayer Group, the Group is all set to open its second exclusive boutique at the soon-to-be-opened Dubai Mall. The Group already has a store in the Thuraya Mall in Kuwait.

Speaking exclusively to MPParabia on the sidelines of the recently concluded two-day ‘Leaders in Luxury’ Conference in Dubai, where he was a keynote speaker, Guido Grassi Damiani, the third-generation scion of the family & current CEO & President of the Group, revealed the brand’s expansionist policy and its growing interest in the region which provided good growth potential. The Damiani portfolio currently comprises the Damiani, Salvini, Alfieri & St. John, Bliss and Calderoni 1840 brand names.

The exclusive interview conducted with Guido Damiani will appear in full in a future edition of ‘Arabian Watches & Jewellery ‘ Magazine.

Italian jewellery brand Pomellato has introduced the Tango, limited-edition Vintage, Sabbia and Sirene collections. Each individual piece in the Tango collection has a seductive intensity such as the three rings one holding a large smoky quartz and a pair of hoop earrings.

The limited–edition Vintage collection, comprising ‘Cuisine’ and ‘Jardin’, are new versions in pink and white gold of two charm bracelets from 1986. The ‘Cuisine’ chain has five pendants while the ‘Jardin’ bracelet has tinkling garden tools. The Sabbia collection has a ring and heart-shaped earrings in white and pink gold. The Sirene collection continues to enchant with the amber tints of the Madera Quartz, the sumptuous tone introduced for 2008.

80-year old Italian jewellery brand Fope has unveiled its latest unique collection of bangles, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings ands earrings from the best selling Flex’It, Mondrian and Orizzonti collections in partnership with local partner Damas. The pieces highlight the beauty of 18-carat gold in different hues as well as diamonds, pearls and semi-precious stones.

Present at the exclusive launch held in Saks Fifth Avenue, BurJuman Centre in Dubai was Giuseppe Marchelezzo, Director for International Operations, Fope. The innovative jewellery collections from Fope will now be available at select Damas Les Exclusives Boutiques across the UAE.

Swiss watch brand Hautlence has introduced the HL04, HL 05 and HL06 models for 2008. These masculine models with rubber straps and brushed steel are dedicated to horological perfection and precision. The models are produced in a limited edition of 88 pieces and come in titanium, white gold and pink gold with alligator straps and rubber bands enclosed in a unique case.

These models have a jumping hour mechanism and are water-resistant to 50 metres.

UAE-based Egyptian designer Azza Fahmy has introduced the stunning ‘Rumuz’ collection. The collection features necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and key chains offering everyday pieces that you can dress up or down. The ‘Rumuz’ collection features Arabic calligraphy, the signature style of the culture line.

Many pieces are designed around a hand charm as a centrepiece, the hand symbolizing strength and protection from the evil eye.

India’s largest and most prestigious jewellery show now has another intimate, privileged edition, which caters exclusively to a by-invitation only, select key international clientele. The second edition of the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) Signature Goa 2009, hosted by the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC), is a customized, compact, condensed show focusing on quality reflecting on all aspects of the show—the impeccable quality standards of jewellery on display, the crème-de-la-crème of rigorously vetted exhibiting companies, visitors and the quality of experience.

IIJS Signature Goa 2009 will cohere 150 of the country’s very carefully sieved and the best & most prized jewellery manufacturing companies to exhibit their finest, most desirable and skillfully crafted merchandise at the show. No effort is spared to ensure a healthy mix of ‘business & pleasure’ at the event to be staged along the banks of the famed Mandovi river in the old-charm, western Indian state of Goa, the country’s idyllic, seaside holiday paradise from 20 to 23 February 2009.

Seddiqi & Sons, leading retailers of premium Swiss watches and fine jewellery brands in the UAE has announced the appointment of Christophe Nicaise as its CEO. “we believe Christophe Nicaise has the right balance of industry know-how, entrepreneurial spirit, management experience and understanding of the region to drive forward the ambitious plans that we have set for Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons Holding,” said Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Vice Chairman of the company.

Earlier, Christophe Nicaise was Managing Director for Harry Winston ME, Levant & India based in Dubai, UAE. Previously he worked as Middle East & India Brand Manager for Swiss watch maker Baume & Mercier, part of the Richemont Group.