West Jewellers
Encyclopedia
West of Grafton Street Ltd. or West Jewellers was a jewellery store which was last located on 33 Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland
. It was considered the oldest Europe
an jewellery store and one of the oldest companies in Ireland.
in 1845 before its later relocation to 102 Grafton Street. Queen Victoria
gave West the royal warrant as her watchmaker, and once bought two replicas of the Tara Brooch
from the company. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
was another customer. The company also created the original 22-carat gold chain of office used by the Lord Mayor of Dublin
and one replica. West moved to 33 Grafton Street in 1965. Kathleen Watkins, the wife of veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne
, confessed in an interview with The Irish Times
that she did not own any jewellery from West.
West closed on 13 February 2010 after hosting a closing-down
sale. In its final week of existence staff said they had not been informed of a definite date of closure. Three jobs were lost due to the closure. Joe Moran was in control of the company at the time, while Geraldine L'Estrange West had a minority share. 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". Bigger businesses, such as Boodles, Cartier SA
and Tiffany & Co.
, had opened outlets nearby in the years before West's closure.
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.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It was considered the oldest Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an jewellery store and one of the oldest companies in Ireland.
History
West began its existence in 1720 as West Sons on the city's Capel Street. It transferred to College GreenCollege Green
College Green is a three-sided "square" in the centre of Dublin. On its northern side is a building known today as the Bank of Ireland which until 1800 was Ireland's Parliament House. To its east stands Trinity College Dublin, the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. To its south...
in 1845 before its later relocation to 102 Grafton Street. Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
gave West the royal warrant as her watchmaker, and once bought two replicas of the Tara Brooch
Tara Brooch
The Tara Brooch is a Celtic brooch of about 700 AD generally considered to be the most impressive of over 50 elaborate Irish brooches to have been discovered...
from the company. The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
was another customer. The company also created the original 22-carat gold chain of office used by the Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
and one replica. West moved to 33 Grafton Street in 1965. Kathleen Watkins, the wife of veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, confessed in an interview with The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
that she did not own any jewellery from West.
West closed on 13 February 2010 after hosting a closing-down
Business failure
Business failure refers to a company ceasing operations following its inability to make a profit or to bring in enough revenue to cover its expenses...
sale. In its final week of existence staff said they had not been informed of a definite date of closure. Three jobs were lost due to the closure. Joe Moran was in control of the company at the time, while Geraldine L'Estrange West had a minority share. 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". Bigger businesses, such as Boodles, Cartier SA
Cartier SA
Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...
and Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
, had opened outlets nearby in the years before West's closure.
The British Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
has two brooches that Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
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
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in Dublin, one a silver shawl brooch, in smaller size than the original" was her reaction to the November gift.