The first official Crown Jeweler for the British royal family, Garrard & Co. Limited has crafted iconic and historically celebrated rings, watches, necklaces and other jewelry for centuries.
Master silversmith George Wickes founded Garrard in 1735 and quickly gained a regal platform with patronage from Frederick, Prince of Wales. The company underwent a range of name changes and shifts in leadership over the years, with Robert Garrard becoming a partner in 1792. He assumed sole control of the firm a decade later and eventually passed the company down to his sons — James, Sebastian and Robert Garrard II — where it would remain in the Garrard family until 1946 with the death of Robert’s great-grandson.
Garrard Co. Ltd registered its current name in 1909 and, despite a temporary merger and relocation with Asprey, the firm still operates out of its original location on Albermarle St. in London. It was acquired by American private equity firm Yucaipa Companies in 2006.
Garrard created silver, tableware and decorative objects for the royal family as well as the Crown Jewels for a range of coronations beginning with King Edward VII’s in 1902. The esteemed luxury house created Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown, which featured colorless stones and was suitable to be worn while she mourned the passing of her last husband, Prince Albert. Later, for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, Garrard provided a pair of gold armlets. The company’s 1893 Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara adorns Queen Elizabeth II on British banknotes.
Among Garrard’s best known works is undoubtedly Princess Diana’s engagement ring — a 12-carat blue sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold. Unlike most royal engagement rings, the one Princess Diana chose wasn’t a one-of-a-kind piece commissioned from the Crown Jeweler, but rather a catalog offering for anyone who could swing the $60,000 price tag. As a result, this was a matter of controversy within the royal family. It is now Kate Middleton’s ring.
Garrard is committed to ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. Today, its all-female design team — led by creative director Sara Prentice — continues to merge ageless techniques with modern technology to uphold the firm’s legacy in the creation of precious handcrafted engagement rings, brooches and other adornments.
While Garrard and the royal family parted ways in 2007, the house still produces pieces that captivate new generations of jewelry wearers all over the world, just as it has for hundreds of years.
Find antique Garrard & Co. Ltd jewelry on 1stDibs.
19th Century Victorian Solid Silver Set of 6 Salts & Spoons, London, c.1876
By Daniel & Charles Houle, Hancock & Co.
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
19th century Victorian set of six silver table salts and spoons, each of circular form, on three ball feet, mounted with a beaded crown boarder, parcel gilt inside and engraved with ...
Silver
20th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Condiment Set, c.1900
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early 20th Century Chinese novelty solid silver condiment set, comprising a pepperette, salt and mustard pot, fitted in a traders pushcart. Hallmarked Chinese Export Silver, ...
Silver
Antique 20th Century English Solid Silver & Enamel Desk Accessory Set c.1912
By WILLIAM HORNBY, LONDON (1898-1913), Kendall & Co.
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 20th Century English gilt solid silver and enamel desk set, comprising a pencil, letter opener, and small knife. Each piece is decorated with inlaid white enamel, with the pe...
Silver, Enamel
Antique 20th Century Edwardian Solid Silver Inkwell Desk Set, Chester c.1908
By George Nathan & Ridley Hayes
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 20th Century Edwardian solid silver inkwell desk set. Designed for both practicality and elegance, it features a refined gadroon-edged tray. The ink stand includes two matchi...
Silver
20th Century Chinese Export Solid Silver Four Piece Tea Set, Paosing c.1900
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early-20th Century Chinese export solid silver four piece tea set, comprising of a coffee pot, teapot, sugar pot and milk jug, each tree-trunk shaped body applied with prunus...
Silver
20th Century Set Of Six Solid Silver 'Tankard' Shot Cups, Adie Bros c.1926
By Adie Brothers
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Early 20th Century set of six solid silver novelty miniature tankards, used as shots, The set of six tankards come in the original retail box. Hallmarked English silver (925 standard...
Silver
Vintage Sterling Silver Condiment Set by D J Silver, England, 1974
By D J Silver Repairs
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage Elizabeth II English sterling silver three piece condiment set - boxed; an addition to our dining...
Silver
Elizabeth II Sterling Silver Condiment Set by Mappin & Webb, 1957
By Mappin & Webb
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1957 by Mappin & Webb, this comprehensive Elizabeth II sterling silver condiment set consists of two salt cellars, two pepper pots, and two mustard po...
Sterling Silver
Vintage George VI Art Deco Style Sterling Silver Condiment Set (1947)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage George VI English sterling silver Art Deco style three piece condiment set - boxed; an addition to our vintage silverware collection. This exceptional vintage George VI sterling silver three-piece condiment set consists of a salt, a pepper pot and a mustard pot. The pieces of this fine silver condiment set have a plain cylindrical tapering form onto a circular foot. The surface of each piece is embellished with concentric bands of tooled decoration, all in the iconic Art Deco style. The mustard pot is fitted with an angular handle with a plain upper plateau. The mustard pot retains the original hinged hallmarked domed cover, ornamented with tiered concentric circular decoration and surmounted with an Art Deco style tapering cylindrical finial. The pepper pot is fitted with a push fit cover with pierced 'pepper' holes. The salt and mustard pot are fitted with removable blue glass liners. This vintage silver condiment set is supplied with associate salt and mustard spoons. These fine examples of vintage silverware are fitted to the original hinged leatherette box with satin and velvet lined interior, securing with two hinged catches. The interior of the box bears the retailer's mark 'By Appointment, Mappin & Webb Ltd, Sheffield & London' and each component of the condiment set bears the retailer's mark 'Mappin & Webb Ltd, Sheffield & London'. The exceptional condiment set will have been crafted in the same year, but due to the hallmarking system the mustard pot is struck with the date letter 'D', whereas the pepper and salt bear the date letter 'E'. Such iconic Art Deco examples in the original fitted box are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. Condition The pieces of this Mappin and Webb silver...
Sterling Silver
Vintage George VI Art Deco Sterling Silver Condiment Set (1948)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage George VI English sterling silver Art Deco three piece condiment set - boxed; an addition to our dining vintage silverware collection. Th...
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Condiment Set in Original Fitted Case, London Hallmarked
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique Sterling Silver Condiment Set in Original Fitted Case, London Hallmarked An exceptional antique sterling silver condiment set, beautifully presented in its original fitted ca...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver Condiment Set (1931)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver Art Deco three piece condiment set - boxed; an addition to our dining silverware collection. This except...
Sterling Silver
