Latest news with #Chopard
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Drug baron lived champagne lifestyle alongside celebrities before life crumbled
Well-spoken drug lord Keith Shea and his wife Sara, from Wallasey, were found to have earned at least £4,089,545 - with much more frittered away on their lavish lifestyle - by selling cocaine A drug baron lived a champagne lifestyle and rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous after making millions peddling cocaine. University-educated Keith Shea and his wife Sara - who helped him launder the dirty cash - enjoyed a lavish lifestyle after earning £4,089,545 while people's lives were ruined through his supply of the addictive Class A drug. However, they earned far more and blew most of it on a jet set lifestyle - splashing out thousands on luxury holidays, expensive jewellery and designer clothes. They spent £12,000 on flights to Barbados, where they tied the knot, before dropping another £6,000 for a party at the luxury Hillbark Hotel in Wirral. Police eventually raided their home in Wallasey, where they found £12,000 worth of handbags, £100,000 his-and-hers Chopard watches, and a Skorpion sub machine gun. A £110,000 Aston Martin was parked on their driveway, alongside a £76,000 Porsche and a £46,500 BMW. Moreover, Shea would have a chauffeur drive him from their grand detached house in Wallasey all the way to London to dine at the most exclusive and fashionable restaurants. He was also frequently spotted in front row seats and corporate hospitality boxes at major sporting events worldwide - including the favourite of the super-rich, the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix. When police examined the accounts, forensic accountants determined that Keith Shea had profited by £3,971,660 from his crimes, while his wife had gained an additional £117,885. However, their facade of a perfect life crumbled when the seemingly respectable baron was spotted by police leaving a lock-up garage. The officers swooped in on the garage where Shea would stash and package class A drugs. Upon his arrest, police discovered 3,128 ecstasy tablets inside a toolbox, alongside amphetamine paste, a significant amount of cocaine, the cutting agent benzocaine, scales, food mixers, and a hydraulic press, as reported by the ECHO. After Shea's apprehension in January 2007, Liverpool Crown Court was told that the street value of his drug cache was a staggering £4.4 million. A subsequent search of Shea's Wirral residence led to suspicions he was planning an upscale move to "footballer's row" with an £800,000 mansion in Caldy – a neighbourhood favoured by Merseyside's Premier League footballers – after an estate agent's brochure was found on his coffee table. Police also uncovered photos of Shea and his cronies enjoying corporate hospitality at the 2006 Open Golf Championship in Hoylake, and family tickets for the Cricket World Cup in Barbados. Shea had forked out £30,000 in cash for the Barbados trip but was arrested before he could take flight. Court hearings later disclosed that Shea utilised various locations for drug packaging and distribution, including a Wallasey flat on Sandringham Drive where a wardrobe concealed an array of firearms. His lethal collection included a loaded Skorpion sub-machine gun, revolvers, a silencer, and a magazine. Found alongside the firearms were hollow bullets, designed to expand on impact. Shea admitted to conspiracy to supply cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamine. He also entered guilty pleas for six counts of possessing prohibited firearms and four counts of having ammunition without a certificate, resulting in a 15-year prison sentence. Julian Nutter, defending, informed the court that Shea had been drawn into the drug trade after becoming a user himself. He mentioned Shea's remorse and the fact that his wife was divorcing him due to his criminal activities. His wife was subsequently imprisoned for two-and-a-half years for her role in laundering his illicit earnings. Insp Ian Shaw, from Merseyside Police, commented at the sentencing: "Shea is one of those characters that really sticks in the public's throat. He lived this extravagant lifestyle with all the trimmings yet had no visible means of support. "He had the cars, the house and was at any sporting event you care to mention. His extravagances show exactly the kind of cash Shea had to throw around. "We found evidence linking his drugs network right across the UK, from Merseyside to Devon and Cornwall. And from our investigations, he had dealt in at least 100 kilos of cocaine – worth in the region of £5m. "Shea is university educated and well-spoken but along with dealing in drugs there was a much more sinister side to him. We recovered numerous firearms during our investigations, including a Scorpion machine pistol with silencer, which is a very nasty piece of kit." Shea most recently emerged when he was photographed at a charity gala held at Wirral's upmarket Thornton Hall Hotel in 2015. Sporting black tie attire, Shea beamed for cameras at the £720-per-table, three-course fundraising event.
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Bella Hadid stuns in double denim as she shows off toned abs and newly-blonde hair
BELLA Hadid looked Abs-olutely stunning as she showed off her toned tummy in a shoot showing off her new blonde bangs. The model made a dramatic hair change back in May when she swapped her signature brunette hair for a bright shade of platinum. 2 And now she has switched things up again by chopping in a chunky fringe. Hadid showed off her new look on Instagram in a carousel captioned, "the wildest flower in the wild ." She debuted her dramatic new hair colour in Cannes Film Festival. Her colourist Jacob Schwartz said: "When the opportunity came for her to walk the Cannes Film Festival red carpet with Chopard on opening night this year, she wanted to make it a full moment—and decided to go blonde." Her real-life cowboy boyfriend Adan Banuelos, 37, would approve. Bella and Adan have been saddled up together since October 2024, after being spotted on a date in Fort Worth, Texas. Rumours that Bella Hadid was dating Adan first spread in autumn 2023. The two made things Instagram official the following February. Bella shared loved-up pictures of Adan and herself on Valentine's Day 2024. Adan is an accomplished horse rider, and trainer. He said of Bella last year: 'I didn't know God made 'em like that.'
Arab News
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Bella Hadid poses for Chopard
DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian supermodel Bella Hadid is no stranger to Chopard, having worn the luxury jewelry house's creations on numerous red carpets over the years. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ This week, the brand shared new campaign images of Hadid wearing pieces from its high jewelry collection ahead of Paris Couture Week. In one of the images, Hadid wears a diamond necklace featuring a large yellow gemstone at its center. In another, she wears a coordinated jewelry set consisting of sapphire and diamond drop earrings, matching necklace, and a statement ring. A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard) '@BellaHadid embodies the essence of High Jewelery — radiant, refined, unforgettable. A tribute to timeless glamor ahead of Paris Couture Week,' the brand wrote on Instagram. The model's collaboration with Chopard began in 2017 when she became one of the faces of the brand's high jewelry collections. Since then, she has appeared in several campaigns and has worn Chopard pieces at major international events, including the Cannes Film Festival, Met Gala, and Paris Fashion Week. A post shared by Chopard Official (@chopard) Hadid has had a busy summer. In June, with the help of close friends, she expanded her beauty brand Orebella with a range of accessories. The model and entrepreneur teamed up with Wildflower Cases co-founders Sydney and Devon Lee Carlson to launch a limited-edition collaboration featuring two new products: an iPhone case and a 'scentable wristlet.' Hadid took to Instagram to announce the launch, writing: 'Feeling like the luckiest girl in the world to be able to be creative with my beauty boss sisters. Life is beautiful when we have the opportunity to watch our friends winning. So proud of you two. So proud of our teams. So proud of us. Love you all — thank you for bringing this vision to life. A post shared by Bella (@bellahadid) 'Cases ANDDDD our most special scented wristlets to keep the Orebella scent of your choice on you at all times! Been wanting to make this accessory for a while, had the idea for scented bracelets and wristlets, and my sisters pulled it all together for us,' she added. In June, Ulta Beauty, one of the largest beauty retailers in the US, awarded Orebella its 'conscious brand of the year' title, highlighting the label's ethical practices and sustainable packaging. Hadid announced the news on Instagram, saying: 'Thank you to our Ulta Beauty family for recognizing our commitment to creating a healthy daily ritual for all.'
BusinessToday
28-06-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
Crafted for the Few: Chopard's 20th Anniversary L.U.C Qualité Fleurier
Chopard is marking two decades of watchmaking excellence with the release of the L.U.C Qualité Fleurier 20th Anniversary Edition. This new timepiece pays tribute to the very first Chopard watch to earn the prestigious Qualité Fleurier certification. Unlike most standards, this certification assesses the entire watch for accuracy, durability, finishing, and real-world performance. Limited to just 20 pieces, the anniversary edition highlights Chopard's ongoing commitment to quality and innovation. The original model, launched in 2005, set a high bar with its 1950s-inspired sector dial and distinctive soldered lugs. Since then, only a select few L.U.C watches have met the strict requirements of the Qualité Fleurier seal, making each one a rare achievement in the world of fine watchmaking. Housed in a 39mm ethical yellow gold case with a slim 8.92mm profile, the watch features the same sector-type dial layout, polished bezel, vertically satin-brushed flanks, and sculpted lugs. It's a refined dress watch that blends vintage charm with modern proportions. The dial design is both a visual tribute and a modern reinterpretation. It combines a gold-tone sunburst satin-brushed centre with a chocolate brown circular-brushed hour track and a concentric snailed sub-seconds register at six o'clock. The syringe-style hands and sharply applied markers are also faithful to previous L.U.C QF designs. At the heart of the watch lies the calibre L.U.C 96.09-L, a direct descendant of the celebrated L.U.C 96.01-L. This ultra-thin automatic movement, just 3.30mm thick, is powered by a 22-carat ethical gold micro-rotor and features Chopard's Twin technology—two stacked barrels delivering a robust 65-hour power reserve. The movement is meticulously finished, with circular graining, bevelling, mirror polishing, and Côtes de Genève, all meeting the demanding standards of the Qualité Fleurier certification. The watch is also COSC-certified and has passed both the Chronofiable protocol and the Fleuritest simulator, ensuring exceptional accuracy, durability, and real-world performance. The watch is paired with a supple brown calfskin strap featuring beige topstitching and an 18K yellow gold pin buckle. Priced at CHF 29,200 (EUR 33,000 / USD 32,300), this limited edition is a fitting celebration of Chopard's mastery and the enduring legacy of the L.U.C Qualité Fleurier line. Related
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Time of India
Heist with a sleight: Con man swipes $260K in diamonds; pleads guilty in Tiffany-Cartier theft case
After years of international crime, a 50-year-old Queens jewel thief has entered a guilty plea to stealing over $260,000 worth of diamond rings from Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, employing deception, sleight of hand, and fake jewelry. Yaorong Wan acknowledged stealing expensive goods from the upscale Fifth Avenue shops of the luxury merchants in March of last year during his appearance before the Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday. At Tiffany's flagship shop, Wan utilized distraction methods and a phony ring to switch out a $225,000 diamond ring. According to the New York Post, Wan visited the Tiffany store last year and asked about many pieces of jewelry, according to the prosecution. The DA claims that he left without buying anything after exchanging the real platinum-mounted ring for a cubic zirconia imitation. A little more than a week later, he hit Cartier once more while distracting workers and pocketing a $24,000 ring. Wan looked at two watches and two engagement rings at the Cartier store in Hudson Yards, but he pocketed one of the rings while the salesperson was preoccupied. According to authorities, Wan's methods—rapid, deft hand movements, deception, and the calculated use of imitation jewelry—are typical of the upscale thefts that brought him notorious fame throughout the world. Wan has a transcontinental criminal past. He has been connected to similar instances in New Jersey, California, Florida, and South Korea. Previously, Interpol wanted him in connection with a $330,000 diamond heist in South Korea. According to law enforcement officials, he committed robberies with the dexterity of a magician, targeting both smaller independent jewelers and international luxury names. Using a sleight-of-hand maneuver, Wan allegedly stole a Chopard watch worth over $17,000 from London Jewelers in the Manhasset neighborhood of Nassau County in April of last year. In 2018, Wan is also accused of stealing jewels valued at $332,000 in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. A fter a joint NYPD, Nassau County Police, and US Marshals investigation, Wan was taken into custody at his Flushing, Queens, residence in May of last year. Officers found other stolen items during the arrest, including the $17,000 Chopard watch that had been reported missing from the jewelry store on Long Island. Wan entered a guilty plea to second-degree grand larceny and was detained without bail because of pending warrants in other jurisdictions. He could spend three to nine years in New York State jail when he is sentenced on July 14, 2025. In a statement announcing the plea, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, "This defendant stole hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of high-end jewelry using deceptive sleight-of-hand techniques." "We've stopped his worldwide theft operation because law enforcement agencies worked together."
