Robert Stewart Jewellers, which was founded in 1835 and became goldsmith, silversmith and jeweller to Queen Victoria, will disappear from Glasgow’s Argyll Arcade next month as its owner, Laings of Glasgow, converts the store into a third Laings outlet.
Laings of Glasgow will then operate three stores in Glasgow’s prestigious Argyll Arcade, which also houses Mappin & Webb, ROX Diamonds and Thrills and Chisholm Hunter.
Robert Stewart, which is currently advertising a major sale of jewellery and watch brands on its web site, will be renamed as Laings on June 1, according to Laings Group chairman Stuart Laing.
Laings bought Robert Stewart in 1989, and it became home to a large portfolio of watch and jewellery brands that sit a tier below the luxury stable offered by the company’s other two stores.
But, to the surprise of the parent group, customers at Robert Stewart didn’t settle for just the more affordable brands. They increasingly bought much higher priced items, Laing revealed to WatchPro.
“We found we were selling £5000 watches and diamond rings, even though they were being sold alongside fashion brands,” he disclosed.
The continuing growth of Laings, under the stewardship of Joe and Wendy Walsh, was also instrumental in the decision. “We were running out of space because [luxury] brands want to be part of Laings, but not Robert Stewart,” Laing said.
Laings Group recently added Breitling, Chanel and Zenith to its stores, which contributed to rising turnover and record profits recorded in the last financial year.
