Birmingham city centre is a treasure trove of historic and luxury jewellers within steps of New Street Station. Whether you’ve just got engaged or looking for a special gift for yourself or others, here’s a look at jewellery showrooms selling engagement rings, luxury watches and much more.
Birmingham city centre has been bolstered by the latest opening of luxury jewellers with Mappin & Webb, which launched in New Street at Burlington Arcade in December.
It’s the first Mappin & Webb showroom in central Birmingham for 20 years and is a glamorous new offering in the busy shopping area. Along with high-end rings and timeless pieces, expect to find world-class brands of Rolex, OMEGA, Cartier and TAG Heuer in this stylish showroom.
It’s owned by Watches of Switzerland Group, which also has Goldsmiths and Breitling boutique in Bullring. Goldsmiths sophisticated showroom sells everything from glamorous necklaces to bracelets. Nearby Breitling has rows of its timeless watches.
Next door to Mappin & Webb and The Apple Store in New Street is a renowned name in the Midlands – Rudell The Jewellers. Birmingham city centre is its latest showroom, adding to stores in Wolverhampton and Harborne.
It focuses on luxury brands and is renowned for selling watches like Chopard’s Alpine Eagle collection and Patek Philippe and has private rooms including one with a reveal box that is perfect for birthday surprises or engagement rings.
Nearby in Corporation Street are two historic independent jewellers. Roberts Jewellers is a family-run independent business with Daniel Johnson and his daughter Ava at the helm. It has been going strong for 73 years in Corporation Street, selling jewellery for all budgets including popular lab-grown diamonds.
“We are one of the oldest shops in Birmingham city centre,” said Daniel. “The majority of what we sell now is second-hand but customers here can get a gold ring from £50 right up to an expensive diamond solitaire.
“The new lab grown diamonds are cheaper and have become very popular. We give people what they want with amazing prices from £5 to £25,000.”
Daniel’s dad David Johnson and his brothers were all in the jewellery business. Between them they set up this and another shop across the road, which is now Rex Johnson & Sons and still in that family.
Rex Johnson & Sons is now run by Ben Johnson, who is keeping it in the family for the third generation. Ben has grown up surrounded by the jewellery trade and has a long-standing team including his manager Grace, who has worked there for 34 years.
“Rex was my grandfather and this is very much a family-run store,” explained Ben. “We open the door to people and greet them in as I know that personal service is important.
“Three-quarters of what we sell is pre-loved and we have everything from pink sapphire heart earrings to diamond engagement rings starting from £100.”
Over in Piccadilly Arcade, Mike Walsh is the only working jeweller in the city centre at his independent shop Onyx.
Along with selling mainly silver jewellery with his wife Lin, Mike also does repairs and includes many of the local jewellery showrooms among his customers, as he can fix breakages and restore antique jewellery too.
Mike opened Onyx store in 1997 after training in the Jewellery Quarter and learning traditional skills at former PJ Finch jewellers. With experts in the field becoming few and far between, Mike said three quarters of his business is now doing repair.
Along with these independents, Birmingham offers High Street names including Pandora in High Street, Warren James in Union Street and also on the Link Bridge in Grand Central.
While at Bullring, there’s Omega, Rolex and Tag Heuer and Swatch shops along with Breitling. There’s also Ernest Jones, H.Samuel, Goldsmiths and Tiffany & Co inside Selfridges department store, along with other designer names including Gucci.
Over at Mailbox, Harvey Nichols has its own jewellery department in plush surroundings.