A RICH HERITAGE…
Leonard Dews has just undergone a major refurbishment creating a showroom that features some of the best jewellery and watch brands in the world. Photography: Kirsten Platt
With a rich heritage dating back to 1877, Leonard Dews has forged a reputation for superior quality diamonds and exquisite jewellery.
Boasting some of the finest watch brands in the world, including Patek Philippe, OMEGA, TAG Heuer, Longines and, more recently, Mont Blanc and Bremont, the choice is as diverse as it is impressive.
Operating as a family business since the 1920s, Leonard Dews has an unrivalled commitment to quality and customer service and in keeping with this ethos, the Blackpool showroom has recently undergone a complete refurbishment to create a superb visitor experience.
The split level space was completely gutted, walls were knocked down and a very special area has been created for a dedicated Patek Philippe salon, which is now one of the largest outside of London.
“It has been designed with Patek Philippe Geneva and is a really beautiful space. We have doubled the size of the area in order to create a truly immersive experience for our customers,” explains Leonard Dews’ general manager Gabrielle McNamara.
With its traditional sofas and desks, this exclusive private space features light wood, brass and smart new display cabinets – very much in keeping with the enduring Patek philosophy, that, ‘You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.’
The interior of the new Patek Philippe boutique reflects this with its classical, timeless design.
Also incorporated in the remodelling of the Leonard Dews store is a new Diamond Corner, which has been completely re-stocked. Leonard Dews is renowned for its impeccable sourcing of top quality diamonds.
It has always been the ethos at Leonard Dews to create a collection of beautiful rings and jewellery that reflects only the very best quality and value. The collection is hand-picked by the team and represents a desire to provide customers with the very best, whatever their budget.
The new dedicated diamond area has been refurbished in contemporary style in muted shades of grey, silver and chrome – it is a smart new addition to the store, which shows off the gems to best effect in glittering display cabinets.
On the upper level there is also an OMEGA boutique and on the lower level is a Longines shop-in-shop, along with a Bremont shop-in-shop and a TAG Heuer shop-in-shop.
The spectacular refurb has also enabled Leonard Dews to double its stock in many of the brands in its impressive portfolio, as well as completely re-build its diamond collection from scratch.
This has been a project that has worked on every level for the jewellers, which is very much driving the business forward and upwards taking it to new heights in both its stock and customer experience, as Michael Hyman, of Leonard Dews explains: “This will take our store to the next level. I am so excited about our new collections, in particularly our new bridal offering which we truly believe is unrivalled in the north of England. This is not just about a new look store, this is about creating an experience for our customers. From the store, to our new website, the customer experience is continually at the forefront of everything we do.”
Earlier this year Leonard Dews introduced watches by Mont Blanc – the store has been a long-standing stockist of the Mont Blanc brand – as well as introducing watches by Bremont, Longines and Tissot.
Now open, the new store is set to hold an invitation-only official launch this month and to celebrate and mark their new-look, Leonard Dews are staging an impressive Patek Philippe open event from 28th November to 2nd December.
This will take the form of a complete Patek Philippe Exhibition Collection featuring no less than 120 pieces including special exhibition pieces such as the split second chronometer.
Commenting on the exhibition and Leonard Dews’ recent refurbishment, Mark Hearn, Managing Director for Patek Philippe, UK says: “The unveiling of the new Patek Philippe in-store area at Leonard Dews is truly a remarkable moment in this very special relationship with our Blackpool jeweller. Our history goes back a long way and it is our shared heritage in design craft and quality which has allowed our space to expand from 17m2 to 30m2 and which will now include a dedicated Patek Philippe vitrine.”
This year marks the 140th anniversary of Leonard Dews and to celebrate they are lucky enough to have received a Patek Philippe dome table clock to commemorate this occasion. Produced in very limited quantities, the mantle clock is crafted from the finest Baccarat crystal and 18ct rose gold. The clock is hand-engraved with a bevelled-diamond shape on the clock body with engraved rosettes on the dial centre and dome top.
The Patek Philippe dome clocks are exclusive and form part of their collection of ‘Rare Handicrafts’. For Leonard Dews to receive one of the Patek Philippe dome table clocks, which is also available to purchase, is an honour and testament to the relationship that the Blackpool jeweller has with the prestigious Swiss brand.
PATEK PHILIPPE EXHIBITION COLLECTION
at Leonard Dews, Blackpool
28th November to 2nd December 2017
01253 625302
Leonard Dews
18 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1EW
01253 625302
www.leonarddews.co.uk