Despite the economic crisis, 2009 ended better than it began for the French luxury goods sector, thanks largely to China’s growing taste for high-end products, encouraging thoughts of a better 2010.

Following the trend set by other global luxury brands, Hermes and LVMH announced fourth quarter sales growth on Thursday and Friday, suggesting the worst of the crisis could be over for the sector.

After announcing that annual profits fell 13 percent to 1.7 billion euros (2.3 billion dollars), LVMH chief executive Bernard Arnault said he was pleased with “record” sales figures for December, which he said would “grow in January”.

France’s oldest spirit, Armagnac, is celebrating its 700th birthday with a new marketing push vaunting its “40 virtues” as a drink that is good for the body and good for the soul.

The first mention of Armagnac dates back to 1310 when Prior Vital Dufour wrote a treaty on medicine in which he laid out the 40 virtues of the liqueur produced in southwest France.

“This water, if taken medically and soberly is said to have 40 virtues,” wrote Dufour. “It enlivens the spirit, if taken in moderation, recalls the past to memory, renders men joyous, preserves youth and delays senility.”

To celebrate the 40th birthday of the digital watch, Hamilton is releasing its own digital timepiece, the Pulsonic.

The Pulsonic combines a Swiss automatic movement with a digital face that stays powered for 82 days.

The case in stainless steel, black PVD or gold-plate PVD measures 39mm x 49mm. It has a sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 50 meters.

Louis Vuitton have announced the launch of its new catalog for women showcasing an expanded line of romantic gifts just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Dita Von Teese knows the benefit of a good night’s sleep: she has designed a pink silk-satin sleep eye mask in collaboration with Moschino.

The eye mask is pink silk-satin with a spotted lace overlay with “trompe l’oeil” eyelash detailing.

It is embellished with ‘Dita for Moschino’ in rhinestones and comes in an attractive matching case.

Alberto Giacometti’s “L’Homme Qui Marche” set a record for the most expensive piece of art ever sold by auction when it was sold on February 3.

The Swiss artist’s characteristic sculpture of an elongated figure in bronze garnered a record-breaking 65 million pounds ($104.3 million) when it went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in London.

Prior to the auction the record was held by Spanish cubist Pablo Picasso’s 1906 portrait Garçon à la pipe (“Boy With a Pipe”), according to the Mirror.co.uk.