May 19 2013 16:07 BST Leaked report points to LVMH secret operation on HermèsLVMH, the luxury goods company headed by Bernard Arnault, undertook a secret operation to build its controversial stake in Hermès, its smaller French rival, according to a leaked report from France's stock market regulator. The report, "vigorously contested" by LVMH, added an incendiary new twist to an acrimonious battle betweenBy Hugh Carnegy and Scheherazade Daneshkhu in Paris |
May 16 2013 13:11 BST Luxury goods sales slow as China clamps down on gift givingSales of global luxury goods are slowing due to a sharp retrenchment of demand in Asia after a clampdown on gift giving in China and as crisis-hit Europeans pull back from spending. A study by Italian luxury goods association Altagamma and consultants Bain expects global growth of 4 per centBy Rachel Sanderson in Milan |
May 05 2013 23:57 BST Charlotte FindelingCharlotte Findeling is a masters in management graduate from Edhec Business School in France and managing partner of Deuz, a company that creates clothing and toys for children, which she founded with two other women, one of whom is her sister. Ms Findeling grew up in Paris and studied atCompiled by Charlotte Clarke |
May 03 2013 17:30 BST China calls time on expensive watches in face of crackdownBefore accompanying the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, on a visit to a neighbourhood ravaged by the earthquake in Sichuan two weeks ago, Fan Jiyue, a county party chief, took an important precaution: he removed his wristwatch. His concern was understandable. China's new leadership is cracking down hard on ostentatious displaysBy James Shotter in Zurich |
Apr 26 2013 17:14 BST Pride keeps Italian luxury brands isolatedA few years back, an experienced Italian dealmaker with a string of successes under his belt tried to get Giorgio Armani and Prada's chief executive Patrizio Bertelli to talk to each other. The idea was for the two big players in Italian luxury goods to merge, creating a luxury powerhouseBy Rachel Sanderson in Milan |
Apr 25 2013 06:02 BST New diamond brokers: Well-connected middleman has evolved into savvy marketerFor well over a century, diamond brokers were the people who helped diamond companies procure a regular flow of rough stones at the best prices from De Beers. But in recent years the role of brokers has broadened. Nowadays, they are under pressure to think differently and their role isBy Claire Adler |
Apr 25 2013 06:01 BST High jewellery: Prestige and presence are vital in bringing sparkle to a new marketHow does a trunk maker or a couture house go about creating a credible jewellery offering, from the very expensive one-offs to the more affordable everyday jewels? For relative newcomers to the world of jewellery, such as Louis Vuitton, Dior and Chanel, high-end, red carpet-worthy gems seem to be crucialBy Maria Doulton |
Apr 25 2013 06:01 BST Patek Philippe vows to stay small in the face of frenzied levels of demandBe it as an investment or an heirloom, an accessory or even a piece of art, for many watch enthusiasts, there is one brand where the calibre and craftsmanship of the timepieces eclipses that of all others: Patek Philippe. Dealers, auction houses and collectors alike say that demand for watchesBy Elizabeth Paton |
Apr 25 2013 06:00 BST Sales flux spreads patina of cautionAfter three years of relentless growth, the path the Swiss watch industry will follow in 2013 is less clearly signposted. Last September, Swiss watch exports recorded their first decline since the financial crisis, and have since oscillated sharply: up in October and November, down in December, up in January, downBy James Shotter |
Apr 25 2013 06:00 BST BaselWorld: Timepieces to watch for at the show1Boucheron Epure from £13,900 Looking to strengthen its position in the men's market, Boucheron's Epure is an entirely new model created by the Place Vendôme jeweller best known for its women's creations. Inspired by the sundial in the Palais Royal gardens, the curvaceous lens shape and highly polished case ofBy Maria Doulton |
