Fabergé posts sparkling Christmas sales

Hollywood star Mila Kunis is an ambassador and face of the brand

(Reuters)

Historic jewellery brand Fabergé has posted a sparkling Christmas sales period as it revealed a former Harry Winston executive has joined the group.

Fabergé, owned by AIM-listed precious stones miner Gemfields, recorded a 26 per cent rise in sales in the final quarter of 2013 and said December sales increased by 89 per cent year-on-year.

Robert Benvenuto, who had a thirteen year career at jeweller Harry Winston, joined Fabergé as president and chief operating officer last year.

Emerald and ruby specialist Gemfields, which counts Hollywood actress Mila Kunis as its ambassador and face of the brand, bought Fabergé in 2012. Gemfields reported a record emerald auction in Zambia from stones found at its 75 per cent owned Kagem mine.

Ian Harebottle, chief executive of Gemfields, said: “While Kagem experienced reduced production this quarter - demonstrating the characteristic grade volatility in coloured gemstone mining - we are confident that this will improve in the near term.

We were extremely pleased with the record-setting emerald auction held in Lusaka, Zambia in November and are buoyed by the ongoing increase in global demand for emeralds and other coloured gemstones.”