OUR TIMELINE
James spent the first eight years of his career learning the trade and undertaking repairs for some of England's largest jewellery and watch retailers.
1977
After a short time, a Jewellery store owner approached James and offered him the opportunity to move his business to the relatively new shopping centre in Poole. The deal was to prioritise the stores sales so they could offer any ring in any size and do repairs and alterations directly for the public.
James decided to open his own workshop just outside Bournemouth town centre to better serve the town's most prestigious jewellers.
James Jerrett started his jewellery apprenticeship at The Jewel Box on Winton High Street.
1969
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2001
When the Jewellery store closed its doors, James decided to stay so he took on some of the existing staff and in 2001 he opened his very first retail store.
Seeing a change in market trends, James sought new and innovative ways of designing bespoke jewellery and in 2003 the company started using state-of-the-art CAD as a tool to help customers design their perfect item of jewellery.
2005
following in his father James’ footsteps, Matt started his jewellery Apprenticeship and joined the family business.
With the business growing, James’s wife Sue joined and in 2006 they expanded to another jewellers in Southbourne. Now with two specialist workshops and hiring a fully qualified watchmaker, they could service jewellery and watches for the entire BCP area.
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Later that same year, Peter Hamilton sadly passed away. Shortly after James was asked if he would like to carry on the name at Hamilton Jewellers as Peter Hamilton wanted the store to remain a family owned business.
Considering the heritage that Hamilton Jewellers offers the family decided to keep the business in Christchurch. James and family have now closed their other store in Poole and all focus goes into keeping the prestigious Hamilton Jewellers brand alive.
Hamilton Jewellers is Christchurch’s oldest established family-owned jewellers. Opening its doors in 1967 by Watchmaker and Jewellery retailer Peter Hamilton, and the store continues to serve Christchurch and surrounding areas.