The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 40: Dec/Jan 2018/19 | Page 22
BESPOKE JEWELLERY
STEEPED IN HERITAGE
A Master Goldsmith based in the heart of
Bradford on Avon is helping to keep the
British jewellery trade alive. In a time when
mass produced imports are flooding the
market. Orton Jewellery is a thriving business
built on a solid foundation of quality bespoke
products, outstanding customer care and
traditional craftsmanship.
Owner Lee Orton set up his shop and studio
in the Wiltshire town in 2001. The company
undertakes all manner of commissions
ranging from engagement rings to birthday
presents and objects d’art.
“80 per cent of our work is commissions.
Everything is made on site here or at my
workshop,” explained Lee, who mastered his
trade at the Birmingham School of Jewellery.
“From a young age I decided I wanted to do
something creative. I was particularly good at
working with my hands and enjoyed working
with detail, making things like Airfix models.
Making jewellery was a natural progression
for me. “When I learned my trade the courses
were very hands on; learning bench skills and
understanding how to make fine jewellery. A -
lot of the tools we use today are the same as
they were in the 16th century. We have some
modern equipment but overall the processes
are the same. I like to keep everything
hand-made as much as we can to ensure the
pieces we make are unique.”
As an employer, Lee takes as much pride
in training his team as he does creating fine
pieces. “Over the years I have trained 18
apprentices,“ he added. “It’s important to us
to retain staff and also to find local people
to work for us. It’s rare to find authentic
English jewellers these days because there
is a huge skill shortage. I like to train people
here and employ local workers, helping to
develop their skill sets. Three of my current
employees live in Bradford on Avon and one
is based in Bath.”
Lee’s personal approach to business
22
THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2018
has helped him to forge lasting customer
relationships with buyers across the globe.
Alongside commissions from the USA,
Australia, Switzerland and Singapore, Lee
and his highly skilled team also regularly
welcome visitors from London.
The success of the business is in no small
part due to Lee’s ethos of working closely
with customers.
“We are very sympathetic to their needs”
he added, “Jewellery is so symbolic, it’s a
very personal thing. We don’t like people
to rush and buy, we like them to take their
time, especially for things like wedding and
engagement rings which are going to be
there for life.”
A core part of Orton’s business is
remodelling. Taking pieces of sentimental
value and recreating them, preserving
heritage and history whilst creating beautiful
jewellery for the modern age. Something that
takes skill, diligence, and years of training.
“We want to get it right and I want
everybody walking out of our shop happy.
We spend a long time with people getting to
know them and understand what they want.
They buy into our family and our business
because we buy into theirs.
“We see people come back to us time
and time again, from getting engaged,
getting married, getting the eternity ring,
having children – we see people all the way
through.”
To find out more about Orton Jewellery
visit the shop on Market Street, Bradford on
Avon or go to ortonjewellery.co.uk
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