The Western star’s 14-karat gold signet ring sold for six times its low estimate following a bidding war at U.K. auction house Elmwood’s.
LVMH’s Watch, Jewelry Sales Were Up 12% Last Year
Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo watch and Fiorever jewelry collection were among the segment’s top sellers.

Paris—LVMH, a titan in the world of luxury goods, reported strong full-year results with watch and jewelry sales climbing by a double-digit percentage.
Sales of LVMH-owned watch and jewelry brands totaled €4.12 billion ($4.73 billion) in 2018 compared with €3.80 billion ($4.36 billion) in 2017.
Organic (like-for-like) revenue growth was 12 percent.
Bulgari had a show-stopper of a year with relative newcomers like the Octo Finissimo watch and Fiorever jewelry collection performing especially well.
Among LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer’s smartwatches took off while Hublot saw strong growth and increased visibility as the official timekeeper for the FIFA World Cup, which took place in summer 2018.
Headquartered in Paris, LVMH Moёt Hennessy Louis Vuitton is to luxury products what Procter & Gamble is to consumer staples with its household name brands spanning jewelry, watches, wines and spirits, leather goods, perfumes, and cosmetics.
Total fourth-quarter revenue for the company reached €13.70 billion ($15.70 billion) compared with €12.54 billion ($14.40 billion) a year ago, continuing the upward trend of the previous quarters.
Full-year revenue clocked in at €46.80 billion ($53.70 billion), a 10 percent year-over-year increase compared with €42.60 billion ($48.91 billion) in 2017. Operating income rose by 21 percent, passing the €10 billion mark ($11.48 billion).
LVMH averted the “China slowdown,” with sales in Asia growing 15 percent organically. U.S. sales, meanwhile, increased by 8 percent while sales in Europe were up 7 percent.
“The desirability of our brands, the creativity and quality of our products, the unique experience offered to our customers, and the talent and the commitment of our teams are the group’s strengths and have once again made the difference,” CEO Bernard Arnault said.
Revenue from LVMH’s fashion and leather goods segment totaled €18.45 billion ($21.18 billion), a 15 percent increase in organic revenue compared with €15.47 billion ($17.76 billion) a year ago, buoyed by Louis Vuitton’s iconic leather goods as well as its shoe lines.
The perfumes and cosmetics segment reported organic revenue growth of 14 percent to €6.09 billion ($6.99 billion) compared with €5.56 billion ($6.38 billion) a year ago.
LVMH’s wine and spirits segment reported organic revenue growth of 5 percent to €5.14 billion ($5.90 billion) compared with €5.08 billion ($5.83 billion) a year ago, benefiting from strong momentum in China as well as growth in the U.S. and Europe.
The selective retailing segment saw organic revenue growth of 6 percent to €13.64 billion ($15.66 billion) compared with
Sephora saw another year of growth as online sales increased, especially in North America and Asia. About 100 new Sephora stores opened around the world, including one in Shanghai and the first Sephora-branded stores in Russia.
DFS, LVMH’s chain of duty-free luxury stores, returned to profitability after closing its Hong Kong airport concessions at the end of 2017. New locations have opened in Cambodia and Italy.
LVMH’s retail network spans 70 brands and 4,950 stores worldwide.
The company said while the retail environment remains uncertain, it is “cautiously confident” for the year ahead.
The Latest

The discussion, "Rebuilding the Jewelry Workforce," will take place on Saturday, May 16, in Troy, Michigan.

The jewelry industry is reassessing its positioning as Gen Z reshapes the retail landscape and lab grown continues to gain market share.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

A matching pair of 18.38-carat, D-color diamonds from Botswana’s Jwaneng mine sold for $3.3 million, the top lot of the jewelry auction.


Sponsored by A Diamond Is Forever

The next generation of lapidarists are entrepreneurial, engaged online, and see the craft as a means for artistic expression.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

It was the second auction appearance for the fancy vivid blue-green diamond, which sold for $7.8 million at Christie’s Geneva 12 years ago.

Members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force took a 22-year-old man into custody. He was charged with tampering with evidence.

While the overall number of crimes was down, there were more incidences in which robbers pulled out guns, mace, or rammed cars into stores.

Jack Sutton Fine Jewelry is closing its store inside the downtown shopping center after 40 years in business.

Reena Ahluwalia’s painting of the rare red diamond is the first contemporary painting to join the National Gem Collection.

The price of gold has risen, affecting the number of pieces designers make, the materials they use, and how they position themselves.

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.

The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.























