Garrard & Co
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA historic British luxury jeweller and former Crown Jeweller, known for royal jewels, bespoke creations and major sporting trophies.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Garrard & Co is a British luxury jewellery house whose history traces to George Wickes, a goldsmith who established the business that became Garrard in London in 1735. The company began by serving aristocratic patrons with goldsmithing, silverware, jewellery and other luxury goods, and developed a particularly strong reputation for elaborate work in the rococo and later historicist traditions. Its connection with the British court became central to its identity: in 1843, Queen Victoria appointed Garrard the first official Crown Jeweller. In that role, the firm supplied jewellery and silverware to the royal household, maintained the Crown Jewels and produced or remodelled many important royal objects for more than 160 years. Garrard’s work included coronation crowns, tiaras and other pieces that remain associated with the British royal family. The firm also handled some of the best-known gems in the royal collection, including the Cullinan diamonds and the Koh-i-Noor, which it re-cut in the nineteenth century. Its historic creations include the Imperial Crown of India, Queen Mary’s coronation crown, the 1937 crown made for Queen Elizabeth and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. The house is also associated with the sapphire cluster engagement ring originally given by Charles, Prince of Wales, to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. The ring later became widely recognised when Prince William gave it to Catherine Middleton in 2010, and its cluster construction remains an important visual reference for Garrard’s contemporary design language. Garrard’s work extends beyond royal jewellery. The company made the silver trophy now known as the America’s Cup, one of the oldest international sporting trophies, and has produced significant sporting silverware including the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy, the Premier League trophy and trophies connected with Royal Ascot. It also created the original cubic-zirconia prop necklace representing the Heart of the Ocean for the 1997 film Titanic, together with a later sapphire-and-diamond version worn by Celine Dion at the Academy Awards. The business experienced several ownership and structural changes in the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. It amalgamated with The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company in 1952, was acquired through Mappin & Webb by Sears in 1959, and became part of Asprey after Sears sold the jewellery businesses in 1990. The combined business was known as Asprey & Garrard from 1998, before demerging in 2002. Garrard was acquired by Yucaipa Companies in 2006. The company’s Crown Jeweller appointment ended in 2007, when the Royal Household stated that it was time for a change. This ended Garrard’s formal tenure as Crown Jeweller but did not erase its historical relationship with the monarchy; the house has also held a royal warrant connected with Charles III during his time as Prince of Wales. Creative leadership has included Jade Jagger, who served as creative director from 2001 to 2006, Stephen Webster, who succeeded her, and Sara Prentice, appointed creative director in 2012. In its contemporary form, Garrard presents itself as a heritage luxury jewellery house focused on fine jewellery, bespoke commissions, royal-inspired design codes and the continued use of its cluster-setting heritage. Its creations and historical associations give it a distinctive position between court jeweller, specialist silversmith and modern international luxury brand.
History
The business that became Garrard began with George Wickes, who entered his mark at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1722 and established himself as a goldsmith in London. In 1735, he moved the business to Panton Street near Haymarket, where it served aristocratic customers with jewellery, silverware and other luxury objects. Wickes was known for refined rococo silverwork and attracted the patronage of Frederick, Prince of Wales. After Wickes retired, two of his former apprentices, John Parker and Edward Wakelin, acquired the business. Later changes in partnership brought John Wakelin and William Taylor into control. Robert Garrard joined the firm as a partner in 1792 and took sole control in 1802. His sons Robert Garrard II, James and Sebastian subsequently operated the company under names including R., J. & S. Garrard and Robert Garrard & Brothers. Following James Garrard’s retirement in 1835, the business traded as R. & S. Garrard. The Garrard family remained involved until the death of Sebastian Henry Garrard in 1946. The legal name Garrard & Company Ltd was registered in 1909, and the business moved to Albemarle Street in 1911. Garrard’s decisive institutional transformation came in 1843, when Queen Victoria appointed it the first official Crown Jeweller. The appointment placed the firm in charge of maintaining the Crown Jewels and made it a principal supplier of royal jewellery and ceremonial silverware. Garrard worked on major royal gems and commissions over subsequent generations. In 1852, it re-cut the Koh-i-Noor diamond into a brilliant form. It also worked with the Cullinan diamonds, including Cullinan I, known as the Great Star of Africa, and created or remodelled important crowns and tiaras. Its royal commissions included the Imperial Crown of India in 1911, Queen Mary’s coronation crown and the crown made for Queen Elizabeth in 1937. Garrard also produced the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, which became especially recognisable through portraits of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1848, the company made the silver vessel that became the America’s Cup after the schooner America won a race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. The trophy was subsequently transferred to the New York Yacht Club under the conditions governing its continuing international competition. This work established a second enduring area of Garrard’s reputation: the design and manufacture of prestigious sporting silverware. The company later made the Premier League trophy, the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy and trophies associated with Royal Ascot, whose relationship with Garrard dates back to the first Gold Cup in 1842. Garrard amalgamated with The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company in 1952, closing its Albemarle workshops and moving to Regent Street. Mappin & Webb, then connected with Sears, acquired Garrard in 1959. In 1990, Sears sold Mappin & Webb and Garrard to Asprey, while retaining a minority interest in the enlarged group. The combined business was renamed Asprey & Garrard in 1998 and moved from Regent Street to New Bond Street. A demerger in 2002 separated the two brands and Garrard returned to Albemarle Street, the location it had occupied since 1911. Yucaipa Companies acquired Garrard in 2006. The same year, Stephen Webster replaced Jade Jagger as creative director. Garrard’s Crown Jeweller appointment ended in 2007, formally closing a relationship that had lasted more than six decades. The brand continued to draw on its royal and court-jeweller heritage while developing contemporary fine jewellery and bespoke work. Sara Prentice became creative director in 2012. In later years, Garrard continued to reference its historic cluster setting and royal design archive. In 2018, it unveiled a 118.88-carat royal-blue Burmese sapphire in a cluster brooch named in connection with Elizabeth II’s Sapphire Jubilee. In addition to jewellery and trophies, Garrard has undertaken specialist commissions for popular culture, including the prop version of the Heart of the Ocean necklace for Titanic, and manufactured the staff of office used by the Usher of the Black Rod of the Parliament of Canada.
- 2018
Sapphire Jubilee brooch unveiled
[1]Garrard presented a cluster-setting brooch featuring a 118.88-carat royal-blue Burmese sapphire.
- 2012
Sara Prentice appointed creative director
[1]Sara Prentice became creative director of the brand.
- 2007
Crown Jeweller appointment ends
[1]Garrard’s formal appointment as Crown Jeweller ended after more than 160 years.
- 2006
Acquired by Yucaipa Companies
[1]The US private-equity firm Yucaipa Companies acquired Garrard.
- 2002
Demerger and return to Albemarle Street
[1]Garrard separated from Asprey and returned to its historic Albemarle Street location.
- 1998
Combined as Asprey & Garrard
[1]The combined operation was renamed Asprey & Garrard and moved to New Bond Street.
- 1990
Becomes part of Asprey
[1]Sears sold Mappin & Webb and Garrard to Asprey, while retaining a minority interest in the expanded group.
- 1959
Acquired through Mappin & Webb
[1]Mappin & Webb, a Sears subsidiary, acquired Garrard.
- 1952
Amalgamates with The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company
[1]Garrard combined with The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company and moved its workshops to Regent Street.
- 1911
Moves to Albemarle Street
[1]The company moved to premises on Albemarle Street in central London.
Products and positioning
A heritage British luxury jewellery house combining royal provenance, historic craftsmanship, bespoke service and recognisable cluster-setting design.
Luxury jewellery
Fine and high jewellery
Garrard’s core contemporary activity is the design and sale of fine and high jewellery. The range draws on the house’s historical court-jeweller archive, with particular emphasis on coloured gemstones, diamonds, formal pieces and recognisable cluster arrangements. The work is positioned at the luxury end of the market and is complemented by bespoke commissions.
Fine jewellery collection
1735 collection
The 1735 collection references Garrard’s founding date and its historic jewellery language. Its designs continue the house’s association with cluster settings, a style especially connected with the sapphire engagement ring later worn by Catherine Middleton. The collection translates royal and archival cues into contemporary rings and other fine-jewellery forms.
Royal jewellery and ceremonial objects
Royal crowns, tiaras and commissions
During its tenure as Crown Jeweller, Garrard created, restored and maintained major royal pieces. These included the Imperial Crown of India, Queen Mary’s coronation crown, the 1937 crown made for Queen Elizabeth and several important tiaras. The category represents historic commissions rather than a continuously available standard product line.
Sporting trophy · 1848
America’s Cup
Garrard made the ornate sterling-silver, bottomless ewer that became the America’s Cup. It was produced in 1848 and awarded in connection with the 1851 yacht race around the Isle of Wight. The trophy was later transferred to the New York Yacht Club for continuing international competition.
Sporting trophy
ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy
Garrard produced the ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy as part of its long-standing work in ceremonial silverware and major sporting awards.
Sporting trophy
Premier League trophy
The Premier League trophy is among Garrard’s notable sporting commissions, extending the company’s work beyond jewellery into highly visible ceremonial objects.
Film jewellery · 1997
Heart of the Ocean prop necklace
Garrard created the original cubic-zirconia prop necklace representing the Heart of the Ocean for the 1997 film Titanic. The house also made a later version using sapphire and white diamonds, which was worn by Celine Dion at the Academy Awards and subsequently auctioned.
Brand decisions
2007
End of Crown Jeweller appointmentStrategyBackground
Garrard had served as the official Crown Jeweller since Queen Victoria’s appointment in 1843.
Action taken
The Royal Household ended Garrard’s formal Crown Jeweller service, describing the decision as a change of appointment.
Aftermath
Garrard continued as a private luxury jewellery brand, using its royal history as a major part of its heritage positioning.
2006
Acquisition by Yucaipa CompaniesM&ABackground
Following the demerger from Asprey, Garrard changed ownership again.
Action taken
Yucaipa Companies acquired the British luxury jewellery house.
Aftermath
The acquisition marked the end of Garrard’s ownership connection with Asprey and preceded a change in creative leadership.
2002
Demerger from AspreyStrategyBackground
The combined Asprey & Garrard structure was separated after several years of joint operation.
Action taken
Garrard was demerged and returned to its Albemarle Street premises.
Aftermath
The business resumed operating as a distinct Garrard brand while retaining its historic London identity.
1990
Sale to AspreyM&ABackground
Sears owned Garrard through Mappin & Webb and decided to sell the jewellery businesses to Asprey.
Action taken
Garrard and Mappin & Webb were sold to Asprey, with Sears retaining a minority interest in the enlarged group.
Aftermath
The brands operated together and were later presented under the Asprey & Garrard name before separating in 2002.
Sources1 sources
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