UPDATE 2-Luxottica Q1 net falls 19 pct, confirms year guidance

(Adds quotes from conference call, details, shares)

MILAN, April 24 (Reuters) - Italy's Luxottica (LUX.MI: Quote, Profile, Research) said first quarter net profit fell 19.1 percent, partly hit by a weak U.S. dollar and a consumer slowdown in the United States, and the luxury eyewear maker confirmed its guidance for the year.

Luxottica's figures came on the same day that Gucci, the fashion group owned by French retailer PPR (PRTP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), said it suffered a steeper-than-forecast fall in first-quarter sales, sending the first signals a slowdown in consumer spending was hitting luxury goods.

The world's biggest eyewear group, which has a strong presence in the United States and which bought U.S. sports brand Oakley last year, said on Thursday net profit was 103.7 million euros ($163.4 million).

"This quarter was characterised by a continued weakness of the U.S. currency, by the slowdown of the North America market and by the activities necessary to obtain great synergies from the new journey with Oakley," Chief Executive Andrea Guerra said in a statement.

"These results allow us to confirm our previously announced guidance for full year 2008," he said. Luxottica expects sales of 5.6 billion to 5.75 billion euros in 2008.

The high-end positioning of luxury brands had led some investors to believe the sector was not yet affected by global economic conditions.

Luxottica said net sales rose to 1.399 billion euros, up 7.6 percent at current exchange rates or 16.6 percent at constant exchange rates. "The gap is very significant," Guerra said on a conference call to analysts.

Luxottica said earnings per share were 0.23 euros, down from 0.28 euros. It has forecast 2008 EPS of 1.11 to 1.14 euros.