director Lawrence Trimingham said yesterday.

The move, part of ongoing merchandising changes, comes six weeks after the store closed its second floor beauty room in order to expand the women's fashion department.

The jewellery department, now on the first floor adjacent to the crystal and china department, will take space previously dedicated to gifts. Gift merchandise remains located on the first floor but is now in the former handbags and leather section. That merchandise was recently re-located to the store's second floor.

Space vacated by moving jewellery will be used for more "table top'' space to display china and crystal, Mr. Trimingham said.

About 1,400 square feet of first floor space will be devoted to jewellery.