Sawt Falasteen - Cartier-owner Richemont says China sales tumble 27%

The Swiss luxury group said overall sales dipped 1.0 percent to 5.27 billion euros ($5.74 billion) in its first quarter that ended June 30 thanks to growth in the Americas, Japan and Europe.

But sales in the Asia Pacific region excluding Japan -- Richemont's top sales area -- fell by 19 percent to 1.8 billion euros, and by 27 percent in China, Hong Kong and Macau.

"The decline reflected both the low level of consumer confidence and the strong comparatives ranging from double-digit growth in the mainland to triple digits in Hong Kong and Macau over the prior- year period," the company said in a statement.

Data released Monday showed the Chinese economy's growth slowed to 4.7 percent in the latest quarter that ended June 30, while retail sales growth dropped to two percent in June.

China has become a key market for luxury firms in recent years thanks not only to its rising ranks of millionaires but also the swelling middle class. But a property market crisis and slowing overall economic growth has chilled luxury spending.

Burberry switched chief executives on Monday as it seeks to stem 'disappointing' sales, including a 21 percent drop in comparable stores sales in mainland China last quarter.

Meanwhile Swiss watch group Swatch, which owns a number of luxury brands including Omega, reported a "sharp drop in demand for luxury goods in China".

Richemont's quarterly performance was carried by its main jewellery division, which saw its growth edge two percent higher, while sales by its specialist watchmakers fell 14 percent.

Japan posted the largest percentage gain in sales, soaring 42 percent to 603 million euros.

Sales rose by 11 percent in the Americas to 1.2 billion euros and added four percent in Europe to 1.2 billion.

O.Farraj--SF-PST