Kelby brings more than 20 years of marketing and leadership experience across the luxury, retail and drinks sectors. 

She previously served as global managing partner for employer branding and marketing at Chapter 2, where she led strategic communications and brand development.

Earlier roles include managing director at Armit Wines, interim managing director at Illycaffè, and chief marketing officer at Berry Bros. and Rudd, where she also served briefly as interim chief executive.

She has also held senior marketing roles at Tag Heuer, Aquascutum, French Connection and Nicole Farhi, along with consultancy posts focused on brand strategy in luxury and retail. Her early career included international operations and licensing positions at Paul Smith and Overland.

Hettich Jewellers, currently marking its 125th year at 1 King Street, has recently opened a new flagship store at 2 King Street.

Kelby said: “Having a strong appreciation for the unique character and legacy of family-led businesses, and having previously worked closely with Hettich as a consultant, taking on this exciting new role feels incredibly special. Now in its 125th year, Hettich is a business steeped in heritage but one with a bold, modern, future-focused approach.

“Hettich proudly represents internationally renowned brands such as Patek Philippe and Rolex, and with my background at LVMH and Tag Heuer, it’s a real pleasure to be stepping back into this world. I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining as chief operating and marketing officer, helping to support the next phase of this celebrated brand’s journey.”

The Liverpool-based business was recognised for creating an inclusive and supportive working environment where women are represented across all levels, from creative studios to leadership roles.

The ranking is based on anonymous employee feedback and considers areas such as trust in leadership, professional development, and workplace culture. 

Great Place to Work UK described the list as celebrating organisations where women can “flourish”.

Cynthia Cartwright, commercial director, who was recently awarded a Fellowship at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards, said: “To be named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women in the same year I received my MWOTY Fellowship is incredibly humbling. It validates our continuous investment in empowering our team, nurturing talent, and creating space for every woman to thrive at Wongs.”

Peter Wong, director at Wongs, added: “Creating a culture where everyone – and especially women – feel seen, heard, and supported has always been a priority for us.”

The company has also joined the NAJ’s Created in the UK scheme, which recognises jewellers committed to British design and craftsmanship.

Founder and designer Lily Gabriella Elia launched the brand in 2015 after working in the jewellery department at Christie’s in Geneva. 

A graduate in fine arts from Brandeis University in Boston, she later qualified as a gemologist at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in New York.

Born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in Monaco, Gabriella draws on a multicultural background and a family history steeped in art and jewellery collecting. She cites her grandmother’s jewellery collection as a formative influence.

Her designs are noted for their “sculptural forms and bold use” of colour. The Spira ring, a coiled gold piece, has become her signature.

In 2019, Gabriella collaborated with Sotheby’s Diamonds on a collection that reinterpreted high jewellery in her “graphic, modernist style”.

Lily Gabriella said: “These accreditations are more than just symbols: they reaffirm our unwavering promise to craft jewellery that is as meaningful as it is beautifully made, pieces designed to be cherished for generations.”

The collection is the centrepiece of the Yoko Icons campaign, which highlights the angular “Y” and circular “O” symbols as key elements in sculptural, architectural pieces. 

According to Yoko, each item is intended to “evoke strength and individuality while maintaining the classic identity of the brand”.

The campaign features “high-contrast” imagery, “dynamic” movement and a life-size sculptural “O” that appears in interaction with models. 

Yoko stated that the installation is both a “visual centrepiece and a reflection of the collection’s design ethos”.

Additionally, the new campaign marks a step forward for the brand, focusing on “strong silhouettes and identifiable visual signatures to shape the future of its pearl jewellery line”.

Michael Hakimian, chief executive of Yoko London, said: “With O by Yoko, we distilled the very essence of our identity into powerful forms that speak for themselves. The O. The Y. Every angle tells a story.”

Some 63.4% of respondents cited reduced customer spending and footfall as their greatest challenge, followed by competition from online platforms (57.4%) and increasing employment costs (39%). Rent rises (21.1%), business rates (14.7%) and limited high street regeneration funding (22.7%) were also key concerns.

A total of 84% said they lacked confidence that the government was doing enough to support the sector. Most of those surveyed run a single store (89.4%) and employ fewer than five staff (86.3%).

Despite this, many businesses remain resilient. More than a third (36.7%) have traded for over a decade and 62.8% have operated for more than three years.

Retailers called for greater financial support to help them remain viable, including increased small business grants (39%) and a freeze or reduction in business rates (26.7%).

They also highlighted the need for local interventions such as improved high street infrastructure (49.4%), community events (49.8%), affordable parking (46.6%) and marketing assistance (76.9%).

Soraya Gadelrab, Spring and Autumn Fair event director, said: “This data shows how much independent retailers are struggling – but also how much they matter. The high street is more than a place to shop. It’s a space for connection, culture, and community. If we want thriving towns, we must start by backing the businesses that hold them together.”

Alex Schlagman, founding partner of SaveTheHighStreet.org, added: “These findings reveal just how critical it is to remove the barriers holding small retailers back. Through smarter support, local partnerships, and focused innovation, we can level the playing field and ensure independent businesses thrive in a changing world.”

Spring and Autumn Fair and Save The High Street.org are calling on the government to implement targeted reforms and infrastructure investment to prevent further closures and community decline.

According to the London-based jewellery brand, founded in 2013 by environmentalist and columnist Sheherazade Goldsmith, each piece is crafted in 18-carat gold and designed to hold personal meaning.

New additions include the Cosmopolitan Charm, set with pink tourmaline, representing “laughter, loyalty, and lasting connections”.

The Cherry Charm is made with garnets and a diamond-studded leaf, while the Family Tree Charm features leaf motifs symbolising “roots, growth, connection, and love”. 

Another launch, the Diamond Baguette, is crafted in yellow gold and framed in pavé-set diamonds.

The new pieces are intended to be personalised and combined, with lockets designed to hold a variety of charms. 

All diamonds are conflict-free, and gemstones are responsibly sourced, with chains handcrafted in Italy. The brand works with an atelier certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council.

The new scheme, called The Vault, introduces what the company claims is the jewellery industry’s first “evolution” system, rewarding members with increasing credit over time for previously bought items.

The scheme offers three membership tiers, starting with The Vault at £29 per month, which includes £40 in monthly credit, 10% discounts and access to a private collection of limited-edition and archive pieces. 

At the top end, the invitation-only Vault Luxe tier provides £2,500 in upfront credit, VIP access and double diamond rewards for an annual fee of £1,950.

Vault Elite, the mid-tier membership, is priced at £59 per month and includes £80 in monthly credit, up to 15% off purchases, monthly lab-grown diamond accrual, and access to the buy-back programme. 

Eligible items can be returned after six months for 80% credit, rising to 100% after 12 months and 120% after 18 months.

The Vault also introduces VaultPrivé, a members-only collection featuring fashion-forward and one-off designs, sample pieces and archive stock. Some items are discounted by up to 70%.

According to Lark and Berry, the move reflects “customer demand to buy unique items previously only available to stylists and editors”.

It added that the scheme was part of a broader effort to offer sustainable luxury, with returned jewellery professionally restored and resold under a “renewed” label.

Laura Chavez, chief executive, said: “The traditional jewellery industry expects you to lose value the moment you wear a piece. We’re changing that.

“We’re building a system that honours the emotional journey of jewellery ownership while giving our customers the freedom to evolve their collections as they evolve as people.”

The business was founded in 1860 by Josiah Hancock, initially offering a clock-winding service during the city’s cotton boom. It later moved from its first Piccadilly location to King Street, where it has remained for more than a century.

Owner Roy Lunt said: “Jewellery styles may evolve, but our commitment to quality, service and beauty never changes. Celebrating 165 years of heritage in Manchester is a moment of immense pride for the entire team.”

Hancocks has sold hand-selected diamonds, coloured gemstones and bespoke jewellery to generations of customers in Greater Manchester and beyond.

Its collection reflects changing design eras, from 1950s gem-set pieces to 1970s abstraction and today’s focus on high-quality stones such as emeralds, rubies and sapphires.

The company is recognised as a specialist in diamonds and precious stones, serving clients across the UK and overseas.

The group’s four jewellery maisons, Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef and Arpels, and Vhernier, recorded a third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, supported by demand across jewellery and watch product lines.

During the quarter, it also recorded consistent growth across all distribution channels, led by jewellery maisons

However, sales from Richemont’s specialist watchmakers fell 7% to €824m (£713.6m), mainly due to declines in China.

All regions posted growth except Japan, which faced a strong comparative in the prior-year period.

Notable performances included Europe, up 11% to €1.2bn (£1.04bn); the Americas, up 17% to €1.3bn (£1.13bn); and the Middle East and Africa, also up 17% to €524m (£453.8m). Sales in Japan declined 15% to €527m (£456.4m).

Asia Pacific sales were flat overall, as a 7% decline in China, Hong Kong and Macau was offset by growth in other Asian markets.

Additionally, Richemont’s other business area, including its fashion and accessories maisons saw sales fall 1% to €674m (£583.7m).

It follows the launch of the Fabergé x 007 egg safe locket with ruby heart surprise in October 2024.

The new piece is crafted from 18k yellow gold and takes its design cues from the Fort Knox gold depository, a key element of the Goldfinger film plot. 

The front features a six-prong combination lock with “007” at the centre. Rotating the lock anticlockwise triggers two bolts, allowing the safe door to open – a mechanism Fabergé said took months to develop and marks a first for the company.

Inside, a stack of gold bars is set amid 140 brilliant-cut yellow diamonds. The gold bars reference the film’s title song lyric, “He loves only gold.” The egg is mounted on an 18k white gold stem with 16 round brilliant-cut white diamonds, set on a carved black nephrite jadeite base.

The objet joins the wider Goldfinger capsule collection, which includes the earlier egg locket, and complements other creations in the Fabergé x 007 range, such as those commemorating Octopussy (1983).

Designed by Fabergé head of design Liisa Tallgren and overseen by creative director Josina von dem Bussche-Kessell, the collection incorporates references to the James Bond film archive.

The Fabergé x 007 Goldfinger egg objet, limited to 50 editions, is available to pre-order.

Von dem Bussche-Kessell said: “We’re delighted to present these bold Fabergé x 007 James Bond Goldfinger editions, which introduce an entirely new opening mechanism – miniature versions of the vault in the Fort Knox scenes of the film. It’s an honour for Fabergé to be able to continue to pay tribute to this legendary film in these eternally beautifully crafted Fabergé pieces.”

Tallgren added: “The glamour and appreciation of beauty and culture is where the worlds of Fabergé and Bond meet, a perfect place to create a collection of very special pieces that honour both Fabergé’s heritage and Bond’s storytelling.”