Garrard & Co Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Wickes, George
- Craig, John
- Wakelin, Edward
- Parker & Wakelin
- Garrard, Robert
- Garrard Engineering & Manufacturing Co Ltd
- Goldsmiths' & Silversmiths' Co Ltd
- Asprey & Co Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Swindon, Swindon, Wiltshire, South West, England
- Willesden, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Mechanical engineering
Armaments & ammunition production exc warships, aircraft, cannon, hand guns and cartridges, swords, etc
-
Luxury / consumer goods production
Clock, watch & chronometer making
-
Luxury / consumer goods production
Goldsmithing & silversmithing
-
Luxury / consumer goods production
Jewellery, decorative objects, etc, production
-
Distribution - retailing
Jewellery, silverware & similar luxury goods retailing
-
Mechanical engineering
Machine tool production
-
Precision instruments production
Optical equipment inc eyewear production
-
Electrical & electronic engineering
Sound & video recording & reproduction equipment production
Notes:
Traces origins to to George Wickes, goldsmith, who was at work in 1720s. Early 1730s in partnership with John Craig, jeweller, but dissolved 1735. 1735 goldsmith to Prince of Wales. 1747 joined by Edward Wakelin. 1760, on Wickes's retirement, business acquired by Parker & Wakelin. Robert Garrard joined 1780, appointed partner in 1792 and soon gained control when renamed Garrard & Co, goldsmiths, manufacturing jewellers and retailers. On Garrard's death he was succeeded by his sons, notably Robert and Sebastian. Crown jewellers from 1843 until 2007. 1915 established at Willesden a subsidiary, Garrard Engineering & Manufacturing Co Ltd, to make precision range finders for British artillery pieces. 1919 this relocated to Swindon where it became a leading manufacturer of electric motors and other parts for gramophones. Garrards sold its interest in c1945. Owned by Garrard family until 1946. c1952 acquired Goldsmiths' & Silversmiths' Co Ltd. Merged with Asprey 1998 and subsequently owned by a number of investors.
Publications:
- Garrard. The crown jewellers for 150 years, 1843-1993 by Gere, Charlotte, & John Culme with William Summers
- Garrard's, 1721-1911. Crown jewellers and goldsmiths during six reigns and in three centuries by Broadley, Alexander M
- 'Myth of the maker. Manufacturing networks in the London goldsmiths' trade, 1750-1790' in K & N A Quickenden (eds), Silver and Jewellery. Production and consumption since 1750 by Clifford, Helen
- Royal Goldsmiths. The Garrard Heritage by Ogilvy, Julia (ed)
- The Family behind the Firm. Garrard & Co, 1834-1952 by McCaffrey, Annie
- Victorian Silver and Silver Plate by Wardle, Patricia
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Wickes, George
- Craig, John
- Wakelin, Edward
- Parker & Wakelin
- Garrard, Robert
- Garrard Engineering & Manufacturing Co Ltd
- Goldsmiths' & Silversmiths' Co Ltd
- Asprey & Co Ltd
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
- Swindon, Swindon, Wiltshire, South West, England
- Willesden, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Mechanical engineering Armaments & ammunition production exc warships, aircraft, cannon, hand guns and cartridges, swords, etc
- Luxury / consumer goods production Clock, watch & chronometer making
- Luxury / consumer goods production Goldsmithing & silversmithing
- Luxury / consumer goods production Jewellery, decorative objects, etc, production
- Distribution - retailing Jewellery, silverware & similar luxury goods retailing
- Mechanical engineering Machine tool production
- Precision instruments production Optical equipment inc eyewear production
- Electrical & electronic engineering Sound & video recording & reproduction equipment production
Notes:
Traces origins to to George Wickes, goldsmith, who was at work in 1720s. Early 1730s in partnership with John Craig, jeweller, but dissolved 1735. 1735 goldsmith to Prince of Wales. 1747 joined by Edward Wakelin. 1760, on Wickes's retirement, business acquired by Parker & Wakelin. Robert Garrard joined 1780, appointed partner in 1792 and soon gained control when renamed Garrard & Co, goldsmiths, manufacturing jewellers and retailers. On Garrard's death he was succeeded by his sons, notably Robert and Sebastian. Crown jewellers from 1843 until 2007. 1915 established at Willesden a subsidiary, Garrard Engineering & Manufacturing Co Ltd, to make precision range finders for British artillery pieces. 1919 this relocated to Swindon where it became a leading manufacturer of electric motors and other parts for gramophones. Garrards sold its interest in c1945. Owned by Garrard family until 1946. c1952 acquired Goldsmiths' & Silversmiths' Co Ltd. Merged with Asprey 1998 and subsequently owned by a number of investors.Publications:
- Garrard. The crown jewellers for 150 years, 1843-1993 by Gere, Charlotte, & John Culme with William Summers
- Garrard's, 1721-1911. Crown jewellers and goldsmiths during six reigns and in three centuries by Broadley, Alexander M
- 'Myth of the maker. Manufacturing networks in the London goldsmiths' trade, 1750-1790' in K & N A Quickenden (eds), Silver and Jewellery. Production and consumption since 1750 by Clifford, Helen
- Royal Goldsmiths. The Garrard Heritage by Ogilvy, Julia (ed)
- The Family behind the Firm. Garrard & Co, 1834-1952 by McCaffrey, Annie
- Victorian Silver and Silver Plate by Wardle, Patricia