The Italian Bvlgari Group revenues in 2008 fell 1.5 percent to USD $ 1.4 billion and net profits fell 45 percent to USD $ 106 million. Revenues by category included a 2.5 % decline for jewellery at USD $ 573 million and watch sales overall fell 10.6 % to USD $ 338 million. While sales fell 12.5 % in the USA and 1.3 % in Europe, they rose 9.1 % in the Middle East and 1.6 %across Asia.

The World Gold Council (WGC) confirmed that the market remained healthy in the UAE in relation to global markets. WGC’s latest reports announced that the UAE gold jewellery sales increased by 17 % in 2008 to cross USD $ 3.75 billion compared to USD $ 3.12 billion. Jewellery sales accounted for 90 % of total consumer demand and net retail investment witnessed strong growth of 38 % in Q4-2008, compared to the same period in 2007.

Leading Auction House Sotheby’s will hold an auction of some of the finest jewels of noble provenance including jewellery from the Duchess of Windsor to Tsarina Catherine II of Russia in Geneva on 12 May 2009. Among the jewels on offer are a necklace with aquamarines and diamonds made by Cartier in 1912, a pair of diamond bracelets that once belonged to Queen Theresa of Bavaria, a historic parure (set of jewels & ornaments) that was once the property of Queen Marie Amelie of France and a tiara of Eugenie, Empress of France.

Hollywood’s best and brightest recently joined Piaget to celebrate the 24^th Annual Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California. Mickey Rourke, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Terri Hatcher, Meena Suvari, Andie MacDowell and several others wearing Piaget’s exceptional watches and jewellery joined Piaget CEO Philippe Leopold-Metzger for the presentation of the Piaget Producers Award.

Samuel Eto’o, playing forward for the Spanish F. C. Barcelona and a member of the Cameroonian National Soccer Team will personally presenting and debuting Eto’o World, his own brand of watches and jewellery at Baselworld 2009. The brand has piqued the curiosity of both watch lovers and sports fans alike.

Danish watch brand Obaku harmony has presented a new designer watch, which aids the relief organization, Refugees United, by donating 20 US Dollars, for every watch sold. The watch has a Kevlar strap, titan glass and a new environmentally friendly movement which does not contain mercury and lead in its batteries. The watch will be presented to the international audience at Baselworld 2009.

The French House of Boucheron has now begun to produce its cherished serpent line Trouble, in jade. Pieces are manufactured in yellow gold with ardent black jade and enamel eyes and in a limited-edition white gold with lavender jade and pink sapphire eyes, a sensual combination of hues, expressing gentleness and goodness.

Genevan watchmaker Frederique Constant has unveiled its new LOve Heart Beat models in a new version of the highly successful Ladies Automatic Heart Beat series in a new original design and in new colours. The case shape is gently rounded with a diameter of 34 mm and the fine ‘godron’-decoration all round the bezel gives the watch a timeless elegance. The dial, decorated with a subtle heart-shaped guilloche finishing, features a charming LOve opening at the 12.00 o’clock position set with sparkling diamonds.

Consul Watches has launched the jewelled model Fuoca 7493.4D featuring 52 Top Wesselton, Full-cut diamonds on the case and 44 similar diamonds on the dial. It is powered by a Swiss made quartz movement and is water resistant to 165 feet. It is available in 11 different dials and comes in assorted leather straps with butterfly folded buckle.

Swiss watchmaker Grovana will unfurl its new automatic ‘Day Date’ with a self-winding mechanism at Baselworld 2009. This elegant, classical 41 mm watch with a see-through case back is engraved with the beautiful ‘Cotes de Geneve’ decoration. With a Day Date, self-winding mechanism, stainless steel case and ETA automatic movement, the model is water resistant to 100 feet.

Swiss watch brand Maitres Du Temps (Masters of Time) has presented White gold Chapter One collection, a sensational new limited edition featuring a jet-black dial and rollers set in high-contrast white gold case. The highly polished tourbillon literally explodes from the dark dial in a highly reflective burst of light, adding to the three-dimensionality of the spectacle. According to brand founder Steven Holtzman, the Chapter One features a world-first combination of complications, tourbillon, mono-pusher, chronograph, retrograde date & GMT in a collaboration of three of the world’s greatest watchmakers.

Elegant & youthful Italian jewellery brand Faraone Mennella founded by Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio (R.F.M.A.S), has launched its new Bikini Line Spring-Summer 2009 jewellery collection. The brand stars bold 18-carat gold and colourful leather straps and is inspired by the chic 1970s beach clubs along the Amalfi coast in South East Italy. The collection is available in the UAE through Harvey Nichols Dubai.

Russian designer and gemologist Tatiana Anatoly has used her skills and ingenuity to create TACH stunning fine designer & innovative jewellery, recently launched in the UAE. Each design explores fun and femininity expressed in highly original forms. All pieces are designed in the UK and created in Switzerland using the finest precious gemstones.

For the first time in its 103-year history, French jewellery brand, the House of Van Cleef & Arpels held a three-day exhibition entitled ‘The Art of Magical Jewel’ of nearly 160 of its finest jewellery creations at the Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre in Dubai, UAE from 19 to 21 March 2009. Among the pieces on display were the 1974 Collier Panka featuring 132 blue turquoise stones and 36 carats of diamonds set in 18-carat gold with matching earrings and an Art Deco brooch from the Flot de Rubans collection featuring a mix of baguette & brilliant diamonds set in white gold and platinum.

In the run up to the 2009 CIBJO Congress, scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey from 3 to 5 May 2009, CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, has launched an upgraded version of its primary website, www.cibjo.org. In related news, CIBJO has also announced that the venue of the 2009 Congress has been moved to the Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy Hotel. The decision to relocate the congress venue was taken so that a greater number of participants would be able to attend the event.