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| Garrard (jeweller) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Garrard & Co |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Jewellery |
| Founded | 1735 |
| Founder | George Wickes |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Products | Jewellery, Silverware, Timepieces |
Garrard (jeweller) is a historic British jewellery house founded in 1735 by George Wickes and later known by the name Garrard. The firm has supplied royal families, aristocracy and institutions across Europe and the British Empire, executing commissions for coronations, state occasions and private collections. Over nearly three centuries Garrard has been associated with manufactures, auctions, galleries and ateliers in London, Paris and international markets.
Garrard traces its roots to the workshop of George Wickes in 1735 and later partnerships with Samuel Carr and others, evolving through the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras alongside names such as King George III, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Edward VII and Queen Elizabeth II. The firm was associated with London trade hubs including Regent Street, Bond Street and the Savile Row milieu, interacting with houses like Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels and Fabergé. During the Napoleonic era Garrard supplied patrons connected to Wellington, Nelson, Tsar Nicholas I and various European courts including House of Habsburg and House of Romanov. In the 19th century Garrard expanded amid industrial changes related to Great Exhibition exhibitors and worked contemporaneously with silversmiths registered at the Goldsmiths' Company and designers influenced by William Morris and Aesthetic Movement. The 20th century saw Garrard involved with wartime economies tied to World War I and World War II, collaborating with military and governmental figures including Winston Churchill and diplomatic circles around League of Nations and later United Nations. Postwar periods linked Garrard to globalisation trends visible in relations with Hong Kong, New York City, Geneva and Dubai clientele and with auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's for provenance and resale.
Garrard held a succession of royal warrants beginning in the reign of King George III and formally served as Crown Jeweller to the British Monarchy, responsible for stewardship of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, the Imperial State Crown and regalia used in the Coronation of the British monarch. The role required liaising with officials such as the Lord Chamberlain and exhibiting at state venues including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James's Palace and during ceremonies at Westminster Abbey. Garrard's relationship with monarchs such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Elizabeth II and consorts like Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Camilla, Queen Consort shaped commissions for investitures, coronets and orders like the Order of the Garter and the Order of the Bath.
Garrard created iconic pieces such as the Imperial State Crown restoration work, bespoke tiaras for Princess Diana, presentation swords for military figures including Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, and diplomatic gifts involving heads of state like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Emperor Haile Selassie. The firm supplied wedding jewellery for aristocrats and royals including Princess Anne, Princess Margaret and private commissions for figures such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and entertainers like Elizabeth Taylor. Garrard worked with gem traders and miners including associations with De Beers, Rio Tinto Group and dealers in Kimberley diamonds, crafting pieces set with notable stones comparable in provenance discussions involving the Koh-i-Noor and famous gemstones exhibited alongside the Hope Diamond in museum contexts like the Natural History Museum, London and Smithsonian Institution.
Garrard's design ethos combined neoclassical, Victorian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco influences seen in pieces echoing the aesthetics of John Nash, A.W.N. Pugin, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and designers from the Arts and Crafts movement. Techniques included gem cutting and setting traditions practiced by specialists connected to guilds such as the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and workshops parallel to ateliers in Paris and Florence. Collaborations and stylistic conversations involved designers and jewelers like René Lalique, Peter Carl Fabergé, Mappin & Webb and modern consultants with links to Dior and Givenchy for celebrity pieces. Materials ranged from sterling silver and 18k platinum to rare diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and pearls sourced through markets in Antwerp, Mumbai and Hong Kong.
Throughout its existence Garrard changed ownership multiple times, with corporate interactions involving investment groups, private equity firms and retail chains, operating showrooms in cities including London, New York City, Hong Kong and Geneva. The company engaged with legal and financial institutions such as the City of London financial community, accountants and advisers familiar with London Stock Exchange and international trade law in negotiations with conglomerates like Asprey and competitors including Boodles and David Morris. Garrard's archives and ledgers connect to collectors, museums and auction houses such as Victoria and Albert Museum, Royal Collection Trust, Sotheby's and Christie's for provenance, valuation and exhibition loans.
Garrard's pieces and history have appeared in documentaries, exhibitions and popular culture alongside figures like Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II and celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. The firm's legacy features in television dramas about royal life, biopics concerning monarchs and documentaries screened by broadcasters including the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Garrard jewellery appears in films, period dramas and museum retrospectives comparable to exhibits at the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum and traveling shows curated by institutions like the Royal Collection Trust and international cultural festivals including the Venice Biennale.
Category:British jewellers Category:Luxury brands