The company that was to become Garrard was founded by
George Wickes (1698–1761), who entered his mark in
Goldsmiths' Hall in 1722. Wickes set up business in
Threadneedle Street in the
City of London in 1722; the company moved to Panton Street off
Haymarket in central London in 1735 as a goldsmith and provider of jewellery and other luxury items to aristocratic patrons. Wickes was an accomplished silversmith known for his work in the
rococo style, and gained the patronage of
Frederick, Prince of Wales. Two apprentices of Wickes, John Parker and Edward Wakelin, purchased the company following Wickes' retirement in 1760, replaced by John Wakelin and William Taylor in 1776. Following the death of Taylor, Robert Garrard became a partner in the company in 1792. Garrard took sole control of the firm in 1802, with his sons Robert Garrard II, James and Sebastian succeeding him in running the company, trading as R., J., & S. Garrard (or Robert Garrard & Brothers) until James' retirement in 1835, when the company became R & S Garrard. The company remained in the hands of the Garrard family until the death of Sebastian Henry Garrard, great-grandson of Robert Garrard senior, in 1946. The name Garrard & Company Ltd was registered in 1909, and the company moved to new premises in Albemarle Street in central London in 1911. in neo-Mannerist style, 1848 In 1843,
Queen Victoria appointed Garrard as the first ever official Crown Jewellers, leading to the production of numerous pieces of silverware and jewellery for the royal family, as well as the upkeep of the Crown Jewels. The company has dealt with a number of famous jewels, such as the
Cullinan diamonds (including Cullinan I, "The Great Star of Africa"), and created such pieces as the
Imperial Crown of India in 1911, the
crown of Queen Mary for her
coronation, and the
Crown of Queen Elizabeth in 1937. In 1852, Garrard were given the responsibility of re-cutting the famous
Koh-i-Noor diamond into a
brilliant. In 1848, Garrard produced what is now referred to as the
America's Cup, the oldest international sporting
trophy. The Cup is an ornate
sterling silver bottomless
ewer originally awarded in 1851 by the
Royal Yacht Squadron for a
yacht race around the
Isle of Wight in England, which was won by the
schooner America. The trophy was renamed the 'America's Cup' after the yacht and was donated to the
New York Yacht Club under the terms of the
Deed of Gift, which made the cup available for perpetual international competition. Garrard amalgamated with The Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company in 1952, when they closed their Albemarle workshops and moved premises to
Regent Street. In October 1959,
Mappin & Webb, a subsidiary of
Sears Holdings, bought Garrard. In July 1990, Sears sold Mappin & Webb and Garrard to fellow jeweller,
Asprey plc, retaining an 38.5% interest in the expanded group. In 1998, Asprey plc was renamed Asprey & Garrard and moved from 112 Regent Street to premises on
New Bond Street. The company demerged in 2002, with Garrard returning to the Albemarle Street site it first occupied in 1911. Garrard was acquired by the US private equity firm
Yucaipa Companies in 2006, ending its partnership with Asprey.
Jade Jagger was the creative director for the company from 2001 until being replaced by
Stephen Webster in 2006. In 2012, Sara Prentice was appointed creative director of the brand.
Royal warrant In 2007, Garrard & Co's services as crown jeweller were no longer required, with the reason cited being that it was simply 'time for a change'. This ended over 160 years of Garrard's tenure as the inaugural British Royal Jeweller, although Garrard still holds a
royal warrant from
Charles III while he was Prince of Wales. == Notable creations ==