At a recent press conference and in the presence of international media (including MPParabia) at the legendary Old Trafford, Hublot’s CEO, Jean-Claude Biver has announced the top Swiss watch brand’s new partnership with Manchester United, also known as the Red Devils, the number one football club in the world. This indeed constituted a red-letter day for Hublot as it reinforced its presence in the world of international football.

To commemorate this landmark event, Hublot has heralded a new Big Bang—the Red Devil Big Bang, a 44.5 mm black ceramic chronograph displaying a 45-minutes counter—the duration of a half football match, especially developed by Hublot for football and Manchester United, the club which has seen the likes of such remarkable celebrity players as Bobby Charlton, George Best, Eric Cantona and more recently David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Sporting on the dial of the numbered, limited-edition watch, resistant to 100 metres & with a power reserve of 42 hours, is the celebrated Red Devil logo that honours the colours of the club, whose history is punctuated with victories and memorable dramas.

It was revealed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the recently concluded Middle East Money Summit held in the UAE that the GCC is one of the world’s most reliable and secure investment platforms and one of the world’s biggest markets with an estimated USD $ 1.5 trillion in private wealth.

The value of the gold trade through Dubai reached USD $ 21.0 billion during the first nine months of 2008, despite the global financial crisis, according to the latest statistics released by the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).

Total imports reached 469.0 tonnes while exports of bullion from Dubai were 275.0 tonnes. Dubai’s gold imports were up 44.0 % while exports were up 51.0 % during the first nine months of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. The value of the gold trade during Q3-2008 itself reached USD $ 8.0 billion. Compared to the last year’s third quarter, gold imports grew 18.0 % while exports 42.0 %.

DMCC has recently moved to its new headquarters, the 63-storeyed Almas Tower, where a number of Dubai’s bullion traders are located. India remains Dubai’s top gold export destination with 124.0 tonnes, followed by Switzerland importing 67.0 tonnes from Dubai.

Dubai’s total trade of polished diamonds reached USD $ 5.29 billion in H1-2008, according to Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE). Polished diamond imports to the Emirate grew by 99.0 % during H1-2008 to reach USD $ 2.94 billion from USD $ 1.48 billion during the same period in 2007. Exports rose by 153.0 % to reach USD $ 2.35 billion from USD 929.0 million during the same period in 2007.

India, Belgium and Hong Kong were the top polished diamond trade partners for Dubai and jointly accounted for USD $ 4.62 billion in total trade volumes.

Jewellery worth USD $ 274,000 was stolen from another Damas jewellery shop in Al Lolo Centre in the Al Nakheel district of Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost Emirate of the UAE. The thief managed to break the locks of the jewellery shop with a sharp object, stole all the gold items and jewellery in the store and escape without being detected.

The theft occurred in the early hours of the morning of Tuesday, 28 October 2008 and was reported to the Emirate’s Police authorities, who have set up a team of investigators to apprehend the culprit, still at large, at the earliest.

Denver, Colorado-based Newmont Mining Corporation has recently revealed that its 2008 third-quarter profits fell just over 50.0 %, hurt by a decline in gold volumes and lower production costs. Net income dropped to USD $ 196.0 million from USD $ 397.0 million for the same period in 2007. Gold-mining companies have felt the effects of the recent financial market turmoil and fears of a global recession. Lower gold prices in conjunction with higher raw material and energy costs, have raised the cost of production, squeezing profit margins.

Piaget has announced the inauguration of the ‘Piaget Time Gallery’ at its boutique at 40 Rue du Rhone in Geneva. Entitled ‘Piaget, une belle histoire’ gives the opportunity to discover Piaget’s DNA from 1874 to the present day through a hundred or so models and historical documents. It provides an amazing journey in time that takes visitors through an array of extremes ranging from elegant discretion to festive exuberance.

The 180 sq. m. Piaget Time Gallery reinforces its relationship with the public and to broaden it by sharing its values, its culture, its expertise and its history. Among the watches on display is the Piaget Emperador Tourbillon watch, featuring a skeletonized shape movement, which at just 3.5 mm, is the thinnest in the world in its category.

Blancpain, the world’s oldest watch brand and Lamborghini, are uniting their expertise to give rise to the world’s first ever Lamborghini automobile championship, the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo. Presided over by Marc A. Hayek and Stephan Winkelmann, President & CEO, respectively of Blancpain and Lamborghini, the partnership was sealed in a ceremony that took place on 25 October 2008 at the last DTM Grand Prix of the season in Germany.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo with the very latest gleaming Gallardo LP560-4 speed machine, is a dream come true for motor sports enthusiasts. From May 2009, 30 high-powered cars carrying the Blancpain-Lamborghini colours will compete on Europe’s finest racing tracks.

Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer has become a member of the exclusive Swiss Watchmaking Club, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), which counts brands such as Cartier, Jaeger LeCoultre & Audemars Piguet among its other partner members. For TAG Heuer, the membership became official on 1 October 2008, capping off a 150-year history dedicated to haute horlogerie watchmaking.

As part of its association, TAG Heuer, founded in 1860 by Edouard Heuer, will showcase the ‘Grande Carrera Calibre 8 RS Grande Date GMT’, part of the Grand Carrera series of 2007 in two of the season’s most important watch fairs. “We are extremely proud to become an active member of FHH and thus demonstrate our commitment to the industry,” said Jean-Christophe Babin, President & CEO, TAG Heuer.

Pomellato’s first British flagship boutique was opened in London’s new Mayfair destination shopping area, Brook Street. The chic Italian jeweller made its London debut in Selfridges’ Wonder Room in 2007. The store, designed by veteran New York / Venice architect Raffaella Bortoluzzi, boasts an eye-catching, two-storey elongated glass façade. A majestic oval column in lacquered black wood cuts a vertical swathe through the two levels to connect them.

Geneva based Swiss watchmaker Francois-Paul Journe (F. P. Journe) will not hold its salon in its manufacture in Geneva in 2009 as the brand has decided not to launch any watch creation, the company said in a recent press release.

According to the statement, two important timekeepers in the Souveraine collection have been introduced lately, the Centigraphe in 2007 and the Repetition Minute Souveraine in 2008, the latter not being delivered yet. F. P. Journe wishes to concentrate his forces on manufacturing these two models with their exceptionally complex movements and give them time to breathe a little, the statement continued.

On the occasion of the 3^rd edition of the Rome Film Festival, actress Jessica Biel recently wore Bulgari jewels whilst attending the a Red Carpet of the movie “Easy Virtue’. She wore a diamond bracelet from the High Jewellery collection; diamond ring from the High Jewellery collection and diamond earrings from the High Jewellery collection.

Cartier has moved into the perfumes sector with the launch of a masculine fragrance Roadster de Cartier dedicated to confident and daring men that steers through life with pleasure and embraces the challenges on the horizons. The Roadster perfume is a dramatic and lustrous fragrance for him in a sleek, striking and elegant bottle inspired by the magnificent bodywork, magnifying-glass effect and compelling cabochon crown of the Roadster watch.

On the occasion, the Roadster de Cartier’s Middle East launched was initiated by Patrick Normand, Managing Director, Cartier Middle East with UAE entrepreneur, distinguished power boating professional and member of the Dubai Sports Council, Saeed Hareb, a man with strong and intimate passion for sailing, piloting boats and indulgence in marine activities.

The prototype of the Une Journee a Paris (One day in Paris) watch by French Fashion House Van Cleef & Arpels to be launched during SIHH 2009 in Geneva in January was recently presented by Nicolas Bos, the International Marketing Director of Van Cleef & Arpels at the Atlantis Hotel on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

This watch is a romantic escapade through Paris (City of Lights) most emblematic scenery and the capital’s best-known landmarks. Its moving dial causes our imagination to wander through a wondrous route from the Jardin des Tuileries, the Ile de la Cite, the avenue Montaigne, the Eiffel Tower and the Place Vendome, the venue for high-jewellery creations. The pink or white gold watch has the case set with round cut diamonds, dial in mother of pearl and onyx and black or white alligator strap.

Breitling has launched the Bentley GMT, a COSC-certified chronometer that brings the world to the wrist, thanks to an ingenious multiple time zone display system. The watch is equipped with an additional independent hour hand, distinguished by its red colour and its hollowed triangular tip, which performs one full turn of the dial in 24 hours.

The 49 mm model is powered by a self-winding Breitling Calibre 47B with a calendar and 24-hour 2^nd time zone. The case is made of steel and 18-carat red gold and is water-resistant to 100 metres.

Contemporary Italian jeweller Damiani has launched four alluring collections for men and women in the UAE. These are the vintage look ‘Ruban’ collection; the exquisite diamond ‘Aurora’ collection; the playful ‘Orbital’ pendant and ‘Blasoni Style’ for men. The Ruban is a sublime collection comprising rings, earrings and necklaces with extraordinarily bright diamonds in different hues. The Aurora collection comprises of necklaces, earrings and rings in white gold and precious diamonds with the brand’s contemporary classic imprint.

The Orbital collection is enriched and rounded out with new pendants in white or pink gold with a touch of diamonds. The Blasoni Style collection comprises rings, cufflinks and pendants in pink gold or silver with diamonds. All Diamiani collections are available in the UAE through brand partner Azal, a division of the multi-faceted Al Tayer Group.

An exclusive preview of legendary timepieces from Swiss manufacturer Favre Leuba, in partnership with national distributor Damas Les Exclusives, will be made available to selective media (including MPParabia) at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai on 3 November 2008. Clement Brunet-Moret, CEO, Favre Leuba and Tamjid Abdullah, Deputy Managing Director will attend the press conference.

A report will be made available in the next edition of the AWJ Newsletter.

The glamour and glitter of Jewellery Arabia returns to the vastly expanded Bahrain International Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 25 November 2008, when the leading, established and exclusive brands of haute jewellery and high-end premium watches congregate for the region’s largest, long running, best-attended and most prestigious watch & jewellery exhibition.

Over 500 jewellers, watch & luxury life-style products manufacturers will showcase their latest talent and collection in the 16,000 sq. m. exhibition venue in addition to two temporary structures. Several exhibiting companies will once enjoy an exclusive presence in the Middle East ahead of the busy holiday shopping season at an event that is expected to attract upwards of 44, 000 visitors.

World famous & celebrated names participating in this 17^th Edition of Jewellery Arabia 2008 include Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Chopard, De Beers, Graff Diamonds, Harry Winston, Patek Philippe, Piaget and Hermes Watches all of whom will be joined by a host of international pavilions from Brazil, Greece, Hong Kong, India and Turkey, consolidating Jewellery Arabia’s position as the region’s most esteemed watch & jewellery exhibition.

The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce & Industry has also joined the fray with the setting up of a pavilion of Bahraini participants in a line up of companies that include Asia Jewellers, Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Taqi’s Jewellery, Al Mahmood Pearls and Al Zain Jewellery that will showcase a stunning collection of brands in boutique layouts. A strong Lebanese and GCC contingent drawn from the region’s most prized jewellers will complement this distinguished assembly.

The five-day exhibition extravaganza concludes on Saturday, 29 November 2008.

The Istanbul Jewellery Show-I, the 28^th Edition of the International Jewellery, Silver Watch & Equipment Fair will take place in this historic Turkish city from 18—22 March 2009. The 2008 Edition of the show featured 1167 exhibitors from 30 countries; 33,811 trade visitors including 9,416 international visitors from 86 nations.