Hampshire jeweller celebrates five decades of personalised craftmanship
18 Jul 2022
Family-owned and run jewellery business Charles Nobel is celebrating its 50th anniversary after serving three generations of local families over its lifetime.
The New Milton business was founded in 1972 by Keith and Jenny Bollard, with the couple moving from the North of England to pursue a shared career ambition.
Jenny Bollard commented,
“My husband has always worked in jewellery, managing shops for various wholesalers, independents, and H. Samuel in its early stages. He always loved the emotive side of the industry, creating something which people can treasure for many years – and he recognised that personalisation was key to making a product truly special.
“Keith’s devotion to the industry was contagious and before I knew it, I was fully immersed myself. I had also seen first-hand the value of bespoke retail experiences, having worked as a freelancer in various customer service roles in the past. With Keith’s years of experience and our combined interests, we decided to launch our own independent jewellery business within a bustling Hampshire market town. We wanted somewhere with a strong community, where we knew we could build a positive reputation and create customers for life.”
The original Charles Nobel store was located up the road from where it is today in New Milton. 18 years after it opened, Jenny enlisted the help of her brother-in-law, a local architect, to help her and Keith secure a larger, more spacious base in the heart of the town to accommodate growing demand.
Over the years, Charles Nobel has expanded its customer base beyond Hampshire – with clients now travelling from as far as Cheshire to visit the shop.
Jenny continued,
“Word of mouth has been a powerful tool for us, with many of our customers recommending our services to their friends and family. One of our local clients moved to Nutsford in Cheshire and still travels to us when he wants a special piece of jewellery – most recently, a Rolex watch for his wife. We still regularly serve his parents and brother who live in the area.”
Charles Nobel attributes its success to its highly personalised service. The jeweller has helped many people replace sentimental items, upcycle existing pieces, and create completely bespoke pieces.
Jenny continued,
“One of our clients went on holiday to Tenerife and their diamond engagement ring was stolen. It was a traumatic event and we wanted to do everything we could to help. We took time to understand exactly what she wanted, so we could give her something which matched both the quality and sentimental value of her original ring. She was so pleased with the replacement that she immediately recommended us to her friend, who came and shopped with us the very next day.
“It’s touching to know so many people support us as an independent business, and value us within our local community. Keith and I have loved every moment of the past 50 years and are looking forward to seeing the business continue to thrive under our son’s direction.”
Son of Keith and Jenny and Director of the business, Piers Bollard, is now set to carry Charles Nobel forwards into a new era while preserving its rich heritage and values. Piers has been working at the business since 2003 and has adopted his parents’ passion for bespoke crafted jewellery.
Piers added,
“Mass-produced jewellery simply doesn’t have the same impact as something which has been carefully crafted with bespoke needs in mind. I never tire of seeing how much people appreciate our work on an emotional level. It is heart-warming to know that over five decades, we have given so many people a product they will cherish for a lifetime.”
Looking to the future, Charles Nobel is focusing on enhancing its range of diamond jewellery – an area in which the business has built a strong reputation over the past 50 years.
Piers continued,
“We want to focus on our best performing areas to secure the future of the business. We have chosen to refine our offering and focus on what we do best – and what we know our customers want. I’m proud of the business my parents have developed and its positive impact on the local community. I’m looking forward to building and growing the success of Charles Nobel over the coming years, while staying true to our values and continuing to provide bespoke services known and loved by our customers.”
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Source: Charles Nobel