West Jewellers

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West of Grafton Street Ltd.
Industry Jewelry
Founded Capel Street, Dublin (1720 (1720))
Headquarters Grafton Street, Dublin, Ireland
File:West Jewellers.JPG
John Brereton Jewellers in the former premises of West Jewellers

West of Grafton Street Ltd. or West Jewellers was a jewelry store which was last located on 33 Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland. It was considered the oldest European jewelry store and one of the oldest companies in Ireland.[1]

History

West began its existence in 1720 as West Sons on the city's Capel Street.[2] It transferred to College Green in 1845 (1841?[3]) and to 102 Grafton Street in 1912.[1][3] Queen Victoria gave West the royal warrant as her watchmaker, and once bought two replicas of the Tara Brooch from the company.[2] The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was another customer.[2] The company also created the original 22-carat gold chain of office used by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and one replica.[4] West moved to 33 Grafton Street in 1965.[1] Kathleen Watkins, the wife of veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne, confessed in an interview with The Irish Times that she did not own any jewelry from West.[5]

West closed on 13 February 2010 after hosting a closing-down sale.[1][5] In its final week of existence staff said they had not been informed of a definite date of closure.[4] Three jobs were lost due to the closure.[6] Joe Moran was in control of the company at the time, while Geraldine L'Estrange West had a minority share.[1] Robert Halpin, manager of West with 46 years experience at its closure, said as it followed several other stores in ceasing to exist: "We are a dinosaur. Grafton Street just doesn't attract our type of clientele anymore. Our customers were the discreetly wealthy and they are gone now".[2][4] Bigger businesses, such as Boodles, Cartier SA and Tiffany & Co., had opened outlets nearby in the years before West's closure.[1]

The British Royal Collection has two brooches that Prince Albert bought for Queen Victoria from "West & Son" on a visit to Dublin in 1849, presenting them in November and as a Christmas present that year, which were apparently already being made in editions: "...such beautiful souvenirs, both made after those very curious old Irish ornaments we saw in the College in Dublin, one a silver shawl brooch, in smaller size than the original" was her reaction to the November gift.[7]

See also

References

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  7. Royal Collection, Brooch given in November 1849, and Christmas 1849