Eric Norris Smith, who owned and ran Eric Smith Diamonds & Designs in the Glasgow suburb of Newton Mearn, has died following a short illness.
Local newspaper Barhead News reports that Mr Smith was admitted to hospital in Glasgow in March and died last Wednesday with his wife Yvonne by his side.
His local MSP Jackson Carlaw described Mr Smith as one of Scotland’s “most formidable jewellers”.
“Together with his wife Yvonne, Eric built up a hugely-successful business in Newton Mearns, together with an international reputation as a designer and manufacturer of award-winning jewellery. He had huge enthusiasm and energy,” Mr Carlaw told the paper.
Eric Smith Diamonds & Designs closed early in 2018 after serving the local community for 45 years.
The Rolex authorised dealer had been up for sale as part of the couple’s retirement plan.
Speaking to WatchPro last year, Mr Smith said he could not find a buyer because he had been told that the Rolex agency would not be transferred to any new owner. “This put them off the deal,” he said at the time.
However, he was positive about his retirement plans and proud of his life’s work. “We have achieved everything we wanted to achieve so we called it a day,” Mr Smith said.
