A New Look For 2021
A multi award-winning jewellery boutique in the heart of the Ribble Valley is celebrating after a full store refurbishment
In what has been a most uncertain time, Sarah Layton Jewellers in Whalley have used their time productively and embarked on a full store refurbishment.
Originally scheduled to begin in April 2020, the works were put on hold when the pandemic hit. “We had no idea what was going to happen. Luckily, our online business has been trading as long as our boutique, and the support we have had from local customers using our collect from store service has been tremendous,” says Leanne, who is joined in the family business by sister Lauren and parents Gill and Nigel. “So, when we went into lockdown three we decided to make the most of our boutique being closed and push ahead with our full refit.”
Taking inspiration from their large Georg Jensen offering, the new-look store has a distinct, luxe Scandinavian feel. Floating European white oak cabinetry with crisp, dark aluminium detailing make the store feel much larger, and the original vertical slat panelling from their Georg Jensen area is a design feature which has been continued in the new counter, cabinets and as privacy screening. With two new seating areas, the boutique itself, with its stylish interior, creates the sort of environment that makes shopping a luxurious pleasure.
With their in-house workshop and resident goldsmith, creating bespoke jewellery is something of a specialty to the team and goes hand in hand with remodelling and repairs – a quick peek at their Instagram page shows a fabulous display of unique creations.
The team are able to source loose diamonds and gemstones and design a piece of jewellery created in a choice of precious metals. The process begins with an initial consultation to gain an understanding of a client’s requirements, followed by initial sketches and a no-obligation quote. Once happy with the design, Sarah Layton use CAD to bring it to life and can even produce a 3D printed resin to show the design to scale. The pieces are finished to an exceptionally high standard and bear the Sarah Layton hallmark.
Remodelling existing jewellery is something Store Manager Sue is passionate about: “We love breathing new life into unworn jewellery. When you take jewellery, which has huge sentimental value but for one reason or another is no longer worn, and turn it into something which will be worn time and again – to see the transformation is just incredible!
“It’s also a really sustainable way of creating a new piece of jewellery, by re-purposing existing diamonds and gemstones, and either re-using or recycling precious metals,” adds Leanne.
Alongside their bespoke services and jewellery workshop, the boutique is also home to a beautiful bridal area. Housing handcrafted wedding, engagement and eternity rings from leading British bridal brands, clients are invited to relax with a glass of bubbly whilst choosing some of the most important jewellery they’ll ever wear.
Keeping their finger firmly on the fashion-pulse, the buying team are always researching new and up-coming trends in jewellery.
“The curated ear is a big trend in jewellery at the moment – multiple piercings with studs, drops and hoops, mis-matched earrings and chain detailing to create an eclectic layered look. Ear cuffs are a great way to give the illusion of cartilage piercings, and we have an amazing selection in Scream Pretty, Rachel Jackson and Dower & Hall,” explains Leanne. “We also have an in-store piercing studio and have been inundated with bookings for new piercings since we reopened!”
With a strong watch offering from renowned Swiss watchmakers Ebel, Tissot and Hamilton, jewellery from Italian high end jewellery houses FOPE and Marco Bicego, jewellery, watches and homeware from Danish design icon Georg Jensen, and the best of British brands such as Shaun Leane, ChloBo, Vivienne Westwood, Olivia Burton and many more, the store is a treasure-trove with a diverse collection of big-name brands and niche designers.
The team’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, and they have won an array of awards, including ‘Multi-Brand Retailer of the Year’ at the UK Jewellery Awards, followed by ‘Fashion Jewellery Retailer of the Year’ at the Inspiring Independents, in which they have been included for the past six years.
“They are accolades of which we’re extremely proud,” says Lauren.
Sarah Layton
71 King Street, Whalley BB7 9SW
01254 822062
sarahlayton.co.uk
