Recently, we found ourselves reminiscing (over a glass of Merlot) about our 55+ years in the jewellery business, here in London’s Hatton Garden. We asked ourselves: Why DO our clients choose us in the first place? And why do they return, year after year, to celebrate anniversaries, milestone birthdays, loved ones at Christmas and special occasions with bespoke jewellery?
Here follows the first part of that conversation. If you agree (or disagree!) with our conclusions, or have something valuable to add, we would be delighted to hear from you!
Geoff: Patrick, what do you do?
Patrick: Largely, my role is to meet clients/customers/friends, discover what makes them tick and really understand why they are here. Translating that into a finished piece of custom jewellery is the skill. We truly want them to see us as friends and I believe they do. The fact they keep referring their friends, family and colleagues, is testimony to our approach.
Patrick: Geoff, what do you do?
Geoff: Make people happy! Well, that’s not strictly true, they were already happy but we help them to express it. A client has just left with his diamond trilogy engagement ring; on seeing it he said, ‘Wow! This is even better than I expected!’ That is when you know you have done a good job and a thing has been made beautifully; it makes a person happy.
Both: How do our clients describe us?
Patrick: Reassuring, trustworthy, knowledgeable.
Geoff: Warm, professional, assured.
Patrick: Geoff, why don’t we do rules?
Geoff: Love doesn’t do rules, Patrick, so neither do we. Each piece has its own reason for being and runs its own course. Jewellery on the other hand does have some rules. It’s as well to know what they are to decide when and how to obey them, or break them, which is where we come in. Either way we will make sure the recipient is entirely happy and the finished ring design, necklace style or pair of earrings is beautiful!
Having finished the Merlot, we found ourselves opening a particularly nice bottle of Malbec and started reminiscing about our wonderful clients, the bespoke jewellery we create for them, and the beautiful relationships our (equally beautiful) designs represent.
Geoff: Patrick, what do we sell?
Patrick: We sell LOVE!… or at least the representation of love. Individually designed pieces of custom jewellery for each person no matter what the budget or situation… and reassurance ALWAYS!
In 3 words, describe clients of Wyatt Jewellery
Patrick: In love, happy, good (that’s 4 words).
Geoff: Classy, generous, caring.
What makes Hatton Garden special?
Patrick: It’s historic. Difficult to explain but it’s in the ether – hundreds of years of dealing, design and service. Intangible but substantial. Like us.
Geoff: You go to Jermyn Street for your shirts, Denmark Street for a guitar and Hatton Garden for jewellery. Ever was it thus. Even then, it’s not what you know it’s who you know. The prices in a retail jeweller can be anything from reasonable, to eye-watering. Being a bespoke jeweller, at Wyatt we have the flexibility to supply a superior product for the same budget. Shhh! Not a lot of people know that.
What would you say is a Wyatt Jewellery speciality?
Geoff: An exquisite coloured gemstone, an exemplar of its type set off with a panoply of diamonds! We aim for a clean aesthetic in general, refined and delicate, perhaps with some flourish or trace from the hand of the craftsmen.
Patrick: Apart from bespoke, individually designed diamond jewellery. There are a few great jewellers around and they are fabulous. We are one of them but give ourselves in friendship, impartiality (we often recommend lesser priced jewellery because it is the right choice). We are also partial to the Art Deco style, perhaps with a modern twist.
