Despite higher investments and promotional expenses, Bulgari SpA posted double-digit profit growth in the first half and forecast continued sales momentum for the rest of the year.

Net profits for the first six months ended June 30 rose 32 percent to 58.4 million euros, or $71.8 million at average exchange rates for the period. Sales, as reported in July, advanced 8.9 percent to 487.8 million euros, or $600 million. The company said revenues would have grown 15 percent at comparable exchange rates.

"The first half was a period in which Japan continued to suffer, which is a bad thing since it is such an important market for us, but we performed extremely well in the rest of the world and managed to compensate," Bulgari chief executive Francesco Trapani said in an interview.