EDITOR’S LETTER
CONTRIBUTORS
In with the new
CONTRIBUTORS
SIMONE
BREWSTER
Simone is the
London based artist
creating large scale,
statement sculptural
furniture and objet
d’art and jewellery.
ELIE BERNHEIM
Elie Bernheim is the
CEO of watch brand
Raymond Weil and
has been the head
of the family firm
since 2014
ROB
GREENWOOD
Rob is a technical
director at
Manchester-based
cloud consultancy
firm Steamhaus
LEONARD ZELL
Leonard has
been training fine
jewellers for 25
years. His monthly
column gives
some top tips on
sales training and
improving your
bottom line.
ON THE
COVER
MICHAEL NORTHCOTT
Editor, Jewellery Focus
[email protected]
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December 2018
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LOWE & SONS
The 248-year old Lowe & Sons
jewellers has been rescued from
closure by local competitor Powell’s
Fine Jewellery. We find out more
about the stores grand return
WEARABLE
ART JEWELLERY
Lowe & Sons
Page 23
This month there was the welcome news that
Lowe & Sons, Chester’s oldest jewellers, having
almost closed its doors for good earlier this
year after the lease on the store it occupied ran
out, was saved by its local competitor Powell’s
Fine Jewellery. In a remarkable turn of events
the new owners of the 248-year old business
retained the name and even rehired original
staff members. Now that the brand is officially back in business,
Alessandro Carrara spoke with both the new jeweller owners to hear
the story behind the iconic store’s return.
On the other side of the jewellery world’s coin – design – Lewis
Catchpole has explored the theme of ‘art jewellery’, produced not always
with the wearer in mind, but as a rawer form of expression for the
artist creating it. Perhaps the most illuminating quote from the wide
ranging piece is: “These are wearable sculptures which engage with our
thought-process, with our emotions. The value is not about whether it
has diamonds or rubies, but about the fact that it’s done by an artist and
that it carries a story.” There is something fascinating in the idea of that
most personal of purchases, a jewellery piece, being created in ways or
inspired by philosophies that do not necessarily have any customer in
mind at all. It flips the conventional notion of the product type on its
head and produces some interesting creative results.
On a quick side note, even more welcome news: hallmarking figures
in the categories that really matter – gold and platinum – were up by
double digits in October compared with the same period last year.
This really is a cause for celebration especially given the sheer volume
of political news that might well be expected to further dampen the
consumer’s appetite for expensive purchases.
I hope our readers have felt some of this uplift and that as we enter
the final weeks of trading before Christmas, everyone’s sales figures are
looking up.
Let us update you with
industry news while you
drink your morning coffee
RETAIL ADVICE
We look at the world of art jewellery and ask whether
jewellery should be considered an artform in itself
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How internal collaboration can unlock
the best ecommerce experience
34
42
LEONARD ZELL TAKING STOCK YOUR VIEWS
Why jewellers shouldn’t prejudge
their customers A look at the latest product releases
and business services We talk with Dan Dower of
Dower & Hall Jewellery
December 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk
www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk/newswire
JEWELLERY FOCUS
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