FEATURE
FEATURE
LOWE AND SONS FEATURE
Kevin Parry
THE IMPORTANCE OF
ANTIQUE JEWELLERY
Will Powell says it is important to
promote and hold onto antique
jewellery stores as vintage jewellery
“exudes quality”, and the skill
that was involved in making it
is “rarely seen today with most
modern-day pieces being cast and
mass produced”. He adds that
most antique pieces of jewellery
were completely bespoke, and
a lot of his customers think
it’s “the excitement of owning
something that you may never
see anywhere else and being
completely unique”.
“Antiques appeal to a lot
of people because of ethical
or environmental reasons,”
he says, “Antique gems were
mined before the ongoing issues
of today and when mining was
much more environmentally
friendly. With all the emphasis
of supporting the high street in
December 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk
‘‘
It’s a big
challenge for
us in a very
traditional trade
like this and you
tend to just be
happy going all
on with things,
but then you
suddenly realise
you are way
behind the times
‘‘
“The refurb has been fantastic,”
says Parry, “and Powell’s have
spent a lot of money and a lot of
time and effort. It looks better
than it ever has.”
Lowe & Sons
the press at present, in buying
a piece of pre-owned antique
jewellery that’s exactly what
you’ll be doing – supporting
local and family businesses,
the backbone of the British
economy.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Parry says the future will
hold challenges, “especially
considering the current state
of the high street”. Greg
agrees, adding the marketplace
is
“continuously
changing
due to the internet”. “It’s a
big challenge for us in a very
traditional trade like this and
you tend to just be happy going
all on with things, but then you
suddenly realise you are way
behind the times,” he adds.
Greg says it’s also to do with the
challenge of supplying what the
“ever-scrupulous public want”.
“They are very critical of stock,
so you have to produce antiques
in a new condition which isn’t
easy, especially finding the right
stock at the right price.”
However, Parry notes that
specialist businesses, like Lowe
& Sons, “will always attract the
right people”. “A business has to
develop its own identity, and it
has to offer something different
to everybody else, it’s the only
way businesses can thrive in the
future,” he says. “I know that in
the next few years our jewellery
store will become a very
specialised brand, and hopefully
maybe one day will expand
outside of Chester. I am sure
with the input of Powell’s the
business is going to succeed.”
JEWELLERY FOCUS
27