The love that women have for jewellery and adornments is well known. Precious stones, gold, and silver are cherished by many. Today, we’re going to talk about the famous British jewellery company Boodles, which was founded in Liverpool. It is a family-run business, managed by six generations of the same family for over two centuries. Read more about the history and development of the brand on the liverpoolka.com website.
The Brand’s History
The history of this famous brand began in 1798 in the city of Liverpool. Initially, the shop was named ‘Boodle and Dunthorne’.
In 1878, Henry Wainwright became an apprentice to his uncle, William Wainwright, who owned a watchmaking business in Leicester. It was from his relative that Henry learned the art of the jewellery trade. It’s worth noting that William Wainwright is the great-great-great-great-grand-uncle of the youngest generation of the family that runs Boodles today.
In 1910, Boodle and Dunthorne merged with the Wainwright family, and the business has remained in their hands ever since.
In 1965, the company opened its second shop in Chester, followed by a third in Manchester in 1982.
The company began to expand actively. Boodle and Dunthorne filmed their first television advert in their Liverpool store. The starring role was given to the 1970s star, Liza Goddard.
Next came the opening of the first London store, located opposite Harrods.
The Jewellery Company’s Growth
Boodles evolved and kept pace with the demands of society. The world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná transformed the brand’s stores in line with modern trends. Her use of light and transparent materials was highly appreciated by clients.
Boodles currently has nine stores, including five in London (at the Savoy Hotel, on New Bond Street, Sloane Street, at The Royal Exchange, and in Harrods), three in the North West of England (Liverpool, Chester, and Manchester), and one in Dublin, Ireland.
The company’s reputation continued to grow. The brand’s first major collection was unveiled at the Haymarket Hotel in London. Furthermore, Boodles was invited to display its Raindance Ring in the V&A Museum’s permanent jewellery exhibition in London, as an example of ‘iconic British jewellery design’.
The name ‘Boodle and Dunthorne’ was officially shortened to ‘Boodles’. And since 2012, the brand’s website has been live, allowing customers to order jewellery online.
In 2022, the company was invited to participate in the centenary celebrations of Liverpool’s iconic Walker Art Gallery. The exhibition presented the brand’s long history and told the story of how the city of Liverpool shaped the development of Boodles. Just a year later, Boodles received the ‘British Luxury Brand’ award at one of the industry’s most prestigious ceremonies, the Walpole British Luxury Awards.
The Jewellery Created by Boodles
It should be noted that in its early years, the company specialised in making silver items and timepieces. Throughout the 20th century, it supplied chronographs and watches to air force and naval officers. They also designed and manufactured trophies for sporting competitions and other events. In fact, the solid gold trophy for the winner of the Grand National is a Boodles creation.
It was only in the second half of the 20th century that the company began to focus on creating bespoke jewellery. They started working with diamonds and gold, developing their own signature designs.
In 2008, the Boodles Raindance Ring was acquired for the Victoria and Albert Museum’s permanent jewellery collection.
In 2014, the documentary ‘The Million Pound Necklace: Inside Boodles’ was released, telling the story behind the creation of a £2.8 million emerald jewellery collection.
And that is the history of a famous brand that began its journey in Liverpool and went on to become renowned throughout the country and beyond.