Hancocks & Co., a 175-year-old British jeweler, has recently made a grand entrance into the prestigious St. James’s district of London. The jeweler, known for its exquisite designs and royal connections, has relocated its showroom to a renovated Georgian townhouse on St. James’s Street, increasing its retail space tenfold.
The new 2,000-square-foot site has been designed to resemble a private home, with antique-inspired furnishings, paneled walls, and working fireplaces. The three retail floors are named after previous Hancocks locations, each showcasing a different aspect of the jeweler’s rich history.
On the ground floor, the Sackville Gallery displays a mix of signed vintage jewelry, antique tiaras, and Hancocks’ own designs. The Bruton Gallery on the next floor features antique and vintage jewelry from the Georgian era to the mid-19th century, displayed in brass cabinets against teal velvet drapes. The top floor, the Burlington Gallery, houses Hancocks’ newly created jewelry, with a hidden Champagne bar and Art Deco-inspired chandelier.
The move to the St. James’s district marks a “full circle” moment for the company, returning it to its 19th-century glory days. The jeweler, which received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in its founding year, has a rich history of crafting exquisite pieces for royal families and members of the armed forces.
The new showroom also features a set of control copies of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration of the British honors system, which Hancocks still produces. The company has hired a historian to delve into its archives and unravel the stories behind its clients and commissions, including entries from a company diary started in 1866.
For Guy Burton, the company director, the move to the larger space is a dream come true. It took four years to find the perfect spot in St. James’s, and work began on the townhouse in November 2023. Now, the walls of the showroom are lined with evidence of Hancocks’ prestigious history, showcasing the crests of the royal families it has supplied over the years.
With plans to increase the staff count from four to 12, Hancocks & Co. is set to continue its legacy of creating exquisite jewelry fit for royalty in its new St. James’s location.
