New jewellers and watchmakers opens in 'thriving' Swaffham

Having closed years ago, a jewellers and watchmakers was officially reopened in a market town on Saturday as dignitaries attended the shop.

Family-run jewellery shop, Jeweller Unique, was visited by the High Sheriff of Norfolk Lady Georgina Roberts and Swaffham mayor Jill Skinner to cut the ribbon on the new town centre premises.

Jeweller, Vaughan Parker, 55, opened The Jewellery Workshop with his sister thirty years ago after training under high-end manufacturing jeweller, Christopher Wharton.

Since then he expanded the business to Downham and has now decided to reopen the Swaffham shop.

He said: “Swaffham has always been my home and I wanted to invest back into the town and the local community.

"It’s not easy time to open a new shop, but I believe Swaffham is a thriving town and the need for a working jeweller is great and I want to fill that gap.”

Mr Vaughan’s late parents owned a jewellery shop in Lynn, called Parker, for over thirty years, located on Norfolk Street.

“My father was a watchmaker, and he owned his own jewellery and watch shop with my mother," Mr Vaughan continued. "I spent lots of time watching him fixing and repairing watches. His passion for his craft sparked my interest.”

The Swaffham shop's reopening coincided with the town's 'Stars and Stripes' American-themed day, run by Swaffham Town Council.

Organiser and town councillor Lindsay Beech said: "Swaffham seems to be thriving, despite the pandemic. As well as Jewellery Unique two other shops, JPs Farm Shop and Deli and Vintage Moments, a gift shop, have opened here during the last few weeks.

"New market stalls have also recently started trading for the first time in Swaffham.

"Hopefully Swaffham will survive a second lockdown and emerge even stronger and more vibrant than before. We've done it once and we can do it again."

The new jewellery shop will continue to take orders via its website, which includes repairs.

Mr Vaughan said: “Despite the most recent government announcement, we’re optimistic for the future of Jewellery Unique. We hope to be up and running again as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

The Jewellery Workshop is centrally located on the market place, and next to Town Pit Car Park. The shop sells a wide range of jewellery, as well as offering repairs, services and bespoke designs.

If you would like more information, visit www.jewelleryunique.co.uk.