BEHIND THE SCENES: WAKEFIELDS JEWELLER’S VISIT TO BROWN & NEWIRTH’S HEAD OFFICE AND WORKSHOP

Those of you who’ve visited us at Wakefields Jewellers within the last month, will have noticed that there’s a new addition to our store. Tucked away behind glass doors in the centre of our shop, is a stunning new bridal boutique specifically designed by Brown & Newirth.

On the countdown to their 50th anniversary, the luxury, bridal jewellery company have been working hard to realise their dreams of transitioning from a manufacturer, to a recognisable and renowned bridal brand. With over 600 years’ worth of combined industry experience, it seemed a natural progression for the company to take their unparalleled craftsmanship to the next level, by implementing bridal boutiques within selected stockists, in order to create the ultimate retail experience. At Wakefields we are honoured to say that we are now home to one of these fabulous boutiques.

Ergonomically designed with a luxury finish that reflects the aspirations and exacting standards of Brown & Newirth, the room will provide a personalised and intimate environment for our customers to take the time to enjoy making emotional and important choices about their jewellery.

So in order to support us making this journey with them, this week a few lucky members of the team at Wakefields were given the opportunity to visit Brown & Newirth’ s head office and workshop, to see with their own eyes exactly what goes on behind the scenes at the company.

For many the idea of bespoke jewellery creation may conjure up out-dated imagery of a single jeweller, busily working away at a bench with a selection of tools and instruments, spending hours labouring over a single piece. But for Brown & Newirth, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Instead the brand have a highly-skilled and efficient team of employees, each specialised in a particular area in the creation of their jewellery, with an array of elaborate machinery and technology at their fingertips. When a wedding band begins life, cut out from a sheet of metal, it will pass through 13 pairs of hands, each working meticulously to ensure every process results in perfection, before it finally gets sent out to a customer, ready to be worn for a lifetime.

This unique way of manufacturing means that every piece of jewellery is crafted with care and attention, with a story of its own journey. And all before you are given the chance to embroider it within your life tapestry with your own treasured memories.

Though a traditional, plain wedding band will forever be an iconic choice, Brown & Newirth can provide hundreds of different, tactile ways to personalise a ring, making it extra special to you. Transcending well beyond the simple options of size and metal, the brand offer a range of textures and patterns through a variety of high-tech methods. We were told stories of customers who’d had the London skyline laser-engraved into their bands, fingerprints, and even their partner’s faces etched into the metal – if Brown & Newirth can design it using their CAD technology, it can become a reality. Many customers also take advantage of their complimentary engraving offer too, allowing them to carve a special message, quote or nickname within their band.

We were also given the opportunity to see how bespoke jewellery designs were made using a combination of skilled designs, precise computer software and 3D printing technology. A huge benefit within the world of design, the incorporation of 3D printers has allowed the brand to create exact replicas of their more intricate designs before they begin the meticulous process of making them a reality.

The workshop itself was a hive of activity, with every member of the team busily tending to their creations. We saw the jewellers hand-setting diamonds into engagement rings, braiding metals and even hand-sawing around tiny pendants with extreme accuracy. Each of them shared a fraction of their vast knowledge with us during the tour, allowing us to capture a glimmer of the passion they put into each and every piece they create.

As we neared the end, we were able to see how each piece of jewellery is finished and hand-polished before being sent out to the stockists and customers. This last step was particularly inspiring to us, as it perfectly showcases the commitment and dedication the brand have to producing high-quality jewellery. An enjoyable and educational day had by all, we were grateful for the experience. As owners of one of their new, luxury bridal boutiques, we can’t wait to extend the brand’s passion and love for bridal jewellery, through into our own service in store.