International news agencies have reported that armed thieves stole gems worth Euro 85.0 million (USD $ 108.0 million) from the store of luxury jewellers Harry Winston located on Avenue Montaigne, just off the Champs Elysees on an avenue of luxury outlets in the heart of the French capital.

The heist, described by French media as the most lucrative theft in France’s criminal history, took place on Friday, 5 December 2008. According to a Paris Police spokesman said the gang of four men, one or two of them disguised as women, threatened customers and pistol-whipped some of the staff. They appeared well prepared. A spokes-woman at the Paris Prosecutor’s Office is quoted as having said: “These are experienced bandits. They got through the main door without drawing attention to themselves. In less than 20 minutes they entered the first floor, emptied the safes and the display cases and left through the door”.

The raid came a year almost to the day after the same store was attacked by robbers who forced staff to empty the safes and decamped with at least USD $ 16.0 million worth of jewels. According to police investigative sources, organized crime networks capable of finding buyers for the gems outside of France were likely to be involved in the burglary.

Meanwhile, it is reported that insurers are prepared to pay a USD $ 1.0 million reward for information leading to the recovery of stolen gems.

According to a recently released report by the Thai Gems & Jewellery Traders Association (TGJTA), the Kingdom’s diamond, gemstone and jewellery exports for the January—September 2008 period ranked fourth in export listings. Accordingly, in the first nine months of the current year, gem & jewellery exports reached USD $ 5.96 billion, an increase of a whopping 70.2 % in comparison to the same period in 2007. The four top export destinations were Hong Kong (USD $ 1.19 billion), Australia ($ 1.1 billion), USA ($ 827.4 million) and Switzerland ($ 641.6 million).

The bulk of the country’s exports during this period were made up of jewellery sales totaling USD $ 2.17 billion. This represents a growth of 64 % compared to the corresponding period in 2007. Value of sales exports of coloured gemstones and diamonds during the Q1-Q3 2008 period stood at $ 440.4 million and $ 882.7 million respectively. “WE believe that even in these challenging economic times, Thailand has the resources and capabilities to retain its leading spot in the global gem and jewellery markets,” asserted Khun Vichai Assarasakorn, President, TGJTA.

Baselworld, the World Watch & Jewellery Show will be held at 160,000 sq. m., six-hall exhibition venue in this charming Swiss city from 26 March to 2 April, 2008. It will once again be the rendezvous for the world’s leading watch & jewellery brands and a major industry highlight in 2009. It will also provide a major, exclusive networking platform for industry professionals. Over 2000 exhibitors are expected to participate in Baselworld 2009 and the event will attract over 100,000 official visitors.

The increase in 2008 global demand for emeralds and rubies, estimated by industry experts to be as high as 60 % over the previous year and the continuing acute scarcity of the same id fuelling a price increase of almost 60 to 80 % this year, according to industry sources.

According to Rajiv Gupta, Founder & Executive Vice Chairman, Gemfields, which recently bought the Kagem mine, the largest emerald mine in Zambia, a country that produces almost 20-25 % of the world’s rough diamonds, there has been no supply of Zambian or Colombian emeralds in the past year or so and this drought has led to the a steep increase in the price of this precious stone manifold. Gemfields has invested USD $ 25.0 million in the rehabilitation and expansion of the Kagem mine.

Sotheby’s Watch Department will conclude a successful season of global sales with their London auction on 18 December 2008. It will feature a number of important Patek Philippe and Rolex watches as well as very rare white gold George Daniels White Gold Millennium timepiece.

The highlight of the sale is a Patek Philippe astronomical wristwatch with an amazingly detailed sky chart of the Northern Hemisphere in which the stars rotate counter-clockwise showing their progression through the night sky. Launched in 2002, this is one of the most important horological complications ever. Three sapphire crystal disks are among 301 moving parts used to simulate the orbit of the moon and give an incredible sense of depth.

Meanwhile, Sotheby’s 19 November 2008 sale in Geneva of magnificent jewels fetched USD $ 14.8 million.

Gold jewellery sales in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi fell about 20.0 % in November 2008 as higher prices crimped demand, according to Tushar Patni, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Gold & Jewellery Group. Sales in December are not likely to soar as prices stay firm, cooling the demand for buying over the holiday season.

Robust sales in October 2008, sparked by seasonal buying ahead of the Indian Diwali festival and wedding period, were also cited as reasons for falling demand.

Lausanne, Switzerland based Swiss watch brand Olivier Randin has paid tribute to Swiss-French choreographer Maurice Bejart, who passed away in 2007, aged 80. The veteran watchmaker produces watches, which it claims are good examples of fusion between the two worlds of dance and watch-making combining creation, movement, emotion, passion, complexity, heritage, time and elegance.

Olivier Randin will make financial contributions from sales of its four models—Regard d’Or, Le Ballet Bleu, L’Ombre ou la Danse and Mikoto, to the Maurice Bejart Foundation to enable less-fortunate dancers acquire training, support artists economically and finance projects dedicated to research of hospitals and universities.

Biel-Bienne based Montres Perrelet has joined the prestigious circle of the 24 partner brands comprising the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), guardian of watch-making heritage, culture and expertise.

Perrelet, in the tradition of its founder Abraham-Louis Perrelet, the inventor of the automatic movement, places the movement at the heart of its priorities. Perrelet understood how to draw the attention of the FHH to its exclusive Double Rotor module, through its distinctive technical features and sound construction.

Tiffany & Co., the distinguished jeweller & American style icon has struck stylish elegance with its new ‘Notes’ collection. It blends precious materials such as 18-carat yellow gold and sterling silver along with diamonds and semi-precious stones such as onyx and tiger eye.

The ‘Notes’ collection fans out a delectable array of cuff bracelets, bangles, earrings, pendant chains, rings, lock charms, cuff links and key rings. Crafted on pure lines and classic styling, the ‘Notes’ collection’s signature element is an elegant script running all over, inspired by the charm of hand-written invitations. “As the jewels evoke the charm of a fading art today due to technological advances and emerging lifestyles, it bears a nostalgic touch that enhances its appeal even more,” said Pegah Goldooz, General Manager, Tiffany & Co.

In its capacity as Patron of the Opera National de Paris, Vacheron Constantin, the world’s oldest watch manufacturer, received several hundred distinguished guests for the premier of hommage a Maurice Bejart, in memory of the late Swiss-French renowned choreographer Maurice Bejart. The event was attended by top company officials that included Juan-Carlos Torres, CEO; Marc Guten, International Director and Jean-Yves di Martino, Country Director, France.

In front of a packed, emotional audience, the troupe performed Bejart ballets—‘Adagietto’ and ‘Le chant du compagnon errant’ just for the premiere along with three of his celebrated choreographies. The illustrious guests included Farah Diba, the last Empress of Iran and members of the diplomatic corps and other socialites.

For the forthcoming festive season, Damas has launched a stunning collection from the hottest names in horology in the UAE and across their boutiques in the GCC and the remainder of the Middle East. These include such renowned brands as Jacquet Droz, Parmigiani, Perrelet, Sarcar, Varotti and Pequignet to name a few.

Paspaley Pearls is offering decorative stud earrings, pendant chains and the timeless elegance of pearl strands featuring its unique and stylish clasps that can be detached and pinned on as brooches. The new collections include a combination of a stud earring and pendant chain featuring delicate foliage-like designs curling around a singular South Sea pearl.

The next set touts its South Sea pearl on a drop-gorgeous feature of floral motifs that grace the wearer’s ear lobe and the third set presents its breath-taking pearl strand with a magnificent diamond pave, orb-like clasp strung on it.

Asprey of London, the ultimate British luxury lifestyle house, has introduced the Grande Date Annual Calendar Watch with a vintage style, recalling the grace and elegance of a by-gone era. The model, crafted using 18-carat white or rose gold has an automatic movement with Annual Calendar and Grande date with a 42-hour power reserve. The case has a scratch resistant sapphire anti-reflective double face glass and is water resistant to 50 metres. The strap is made from rounded lizard skin with embossed ‘Asprey’ logo on reserve with an exclusive Asprey pin buckle.

Asprey has also introduced a series of new jewellery collections including Windsor, Majestic, Oceania, Camelot, Mayfair, The Jack, Jubilee and Calla Lily.

In a recent Press Release, the organizers of the 43^rd Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair (BGJF) to be held in the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand from 25 February to 1 March 2009, have reassured the international gems & jewellery community that the Fair will proceed as scheduled at the Impact Challenger Hall as planned. With the siege of the Suvarnabhoomi and Don Muang Airports now lifted, the organizers are encouraging visitors to finalize plans to visit the landmark Exhibition.

“We understand that the current political situation is now resolved and long before the opening of the five-day 43^rd Bangkok Gems & Jewellery Fair and we will continue to monitor the situation very closely. We are confident it will be business as usual,” assured Khun Somchai Phornchindarak, CEO, BGJF. “All contingencies are in place for the successful holding of the exhibition and reinforcing the eminent position of BGJF as the world’s premier gems & jewellery hub,” he added. BGJF hopes to welcome over 35,000 official visitors from over 35 countries at the exhibition.

With support from the Indonesian Ministry of Culture, the Indonesian Consulate General in Dubai, UAE organized the ‘Table Top & Jewellery Exhibition’ followed by a gala dinner and cultural show at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Dubai. Over 150 rare pearls set into exquisite handcrafted Indonesian jewellery were exhibited at the show.

Enni Imron Cotan, Marketing Director of Mutumanikam Nusantara, a non-profit organization formed to help families devastated by the December 2004 tsunami and the October 2002 Bali bombings and unemployment, said that placing the pearls into a necklace takes 20 years. “Rarely can we find pearls of the same size and colour, which artisans can strand together to form one beautiful pearl necklace,” Cotan commented.

Indonesia supplies 40 % of the world’s pearls, the rarest of which is the pink pearl. Its abundance in Indonesia, particularly in Lombok Island prompted Indonesia’s First lady Ani Yudhoyono to organize the charity to unify all jewel lovers and artisans.

Stephen Webster, the leading British designer of fine jewellery has been appointed Creative Director of Garrard. In his new role, Webster will oversee the Garrard Design team and development of the brand’s creative process. Webster, who is based in London, will report to Terri Eagle, President & CEO, Garrard Holdings Limited as well as the Board of Directors of the company.

“The global expansion of his own brand has been tremendously successful and Garrard is thrilled to have such an achieved designer on board,” said Terri Eagle in announcing the appointment.