The Art of Luxury Issue 40 2019 | Page 79

JEWELLERS 3. The brand has always had an outstanding reputation, what To further demonstrate our commitment to keeping these would you say has been the key to the success of Bentley & skills alive, we hosted an exhibition in March of this year which Skinner? showcased the best works from eight leading jewellers, goldsmiths I’m blessed with an incredibly dedicated team at Bentley & Skinner who are truly passionate about everything they do and many of whom have stayed with the company for 20 years or more. This means they have an unparalleled knowledge of the business, the industry and of our customers which can be hard to find today. and silversmiths who had each received support from The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, a charity formed in 1990 by the Royal Warrant Holders Association to fund the training and education of talented and aspiring craftspeople. We want to continue working on these sorts of initiatives to make sure that these vital skills in traditional and contemporary As a company, we’ve been able to survive trying times like the craftsmanship are maintained, as well as offering our customers new Depression of the early 1930s and the Blitz during World War Two, and exciting reasons to come by and see us in store. so this resilience in difficult times has also been a lesson for lasting success. 4. With the jewellery and antique markets being very crowded, a lot of companies are starting to offer unique products with exceptional service. Has the market been tougher for you in current years and if so, how have you adapted to this? Our longevity within the industry means that we are used to adapting to change in order to stay fresh and relevant within a competitive marketplace. 5. As well as offering some wonderful jewellery products you also specialise in valuations, insurance and repairs. How vital is this part of the business to you? As a company, we always seek to offer the fullest advice and best care possible, so it’s important to us that we can look after our customers on every step of the jewellery buying process. So, whether our customers are looking to buy a gorgeous piece of antique jewellery, need a simple re-sizing of a diamond engagement ring or require a written valuation certificate, we want to be able to One of our enduring unique products, however, is our in-house offer the full suite of products and services that they might need. workshop which allows us to offer additional services to our clients We pride ourselves in our exceptional reputation for our personal as well as ensuring that traditional skills within the industry are approach with every customer and treat every enquiry with the passed on to future generations. utmost discretion. Issue 40 2019 The Art of Luxury 79