This section covers the business side of the luxury industries, looking at style in its business context and analysing trends in people’s consumer and lifestyle habits.
Explore our Deconstructed Watch series.
The UK brand is one of several watchmakers offering a contemporary take on a centuries-old complication
The Antwerp-based doctor and collector combines his love of contemporary pieces with a desire to support emerging talent
Jobs for Indigenous people especially are under threat, though prices for stones are forecast to rise as scarcity increases
Prices at auction are breaking records, while the gemstone’s individuality is proving popular for engagement rings
Gem-set timepieces dominate this year’s releases, reflecting high-ticket demand for models made from jewels and precious metals
Chopard’s supply of parts for a Geneva academy is part of industry efforts to nurture next-generation watchmakers
Swiss watchmakers also aim to regrow the market by focusing on classical looking mechanical designs
From peridot to topaz and garnets, vibrant stones are commanding increasingly higher prices
Hand weaving, the use of beads and non-precious metals are among the traditional crafts that add another dimension to contemporary pieces
Artefacts and techniques from antiquity to the Renaissance and Asian empires continue to inspire designers
Less expensive items have long been seen as a means of cultivating customers while maintaining brand prestige
Houses such as Asprey are maintaining their storied history with small teams of artisans and apprentices out of sight of the public
For more than 40 years, Galerie Marzee in the Netherlands has shaped the market and acted as a repository for remarkable pieces
Interest in ancient mythology is attracting buyers and spurring designers to produce pieces with a contemporary twist
The material’s durability, versatility and precision are making pieces increasingly desirable among collectors
The River Café chef loves the irreverent, owning many bold pieces, but also highly personal ones that bring back family memories
An exhibition of pieces from Picasso to Warhol seeks to change perceptions of their status in creators’ bodies of work
Former Richemont CEO on the challenges and opportunities of taking the helm — for the second time — at watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre
Themed soirées are becoming essential tools of persuasion by jewellers courting high-spending clients
The environment is a dominant theme for designers this year, with pieces featuring delicate or endangered flora and fauna
From Bond to Barbie, on-screen placement has long been a way for brands to stimulate emotion and promote their heritage
The watchmaker has doubled down on last year’s polarising release with smaller models added to its first collection in 25 years
The Swiss family-owned brand has appointed the former Manchester United footballer to its board, as it prepares to break into the UK market
A century on from a seminal Paris exhibition, being marked by a series of shows, designers continue to reference the style
The colours and textures of materials such as agate and marble lend pieces an individuality prized by buyers
