Boodles History
The dawn of a golden age.
The year is 1798 and a small jewellery shop called Boodle & Dunthorne opens in the city. Business booms at the shop over the next century as Liverpool flourishes.
In 1910, the Wainwright family acquires Boodle & Dunthorne and begins a journey that continues today. Shortly afterwards, the company relocates to Boodles House, a Georgian home in Lord Street.
Boodles is still run from Lord Street today.
Timeline:
During World War II
During World War II, Henry and his son Herbert supply watches to the Admiralty and Air Ministry, and produce the solid gold trophies presented to the winners at the Grand National horse race.
In 1945, tragedy strikes the family when both Henry and Herbert die within weeks of each other. Henry’s son - Captain Anthony Wainwright who is stationed in Burma – is the first man to be awarded the Burma Star (a medal awarded for service in the Burma campaign) and immediately granted permission to return home to run the family business.
The post-war years
Under Anthony’s direction, the business continue to grow.
Boodles is given the honour of the commission to make the octagonal silver stand for HRH Princess Elizabeth’s wedding cake in 1947. Anthony opens shops in Chester in 1960 and Manchester in 1982.
Retaining his military bearing to the end, he is succeeded by sons Nicholas and Michael in 1992.
Ambitious plans
Nicholas takes over the creative direction of the business and Michael leads the commercial side, opening London stores on Regent Street, Sloane Street, the Royal Exchange and in Harrods.
But, as the 20th century draws to a close, Michael and Nicholas have more ambitious plans. With the growth of international jewellery brands, they have a vision: to become the British jewellery brand that can compete head to head with the best in the world.
A new chapter
A new chapter begins in the Boodles story with the focus on the acquisition of exquisite gemstones, a talented in-house design team and the workmanship of leading British master craftsmen.
In collaboration with the celebrated architect Eva Jiricna, each store is transformed into a gleaming confection of steel and glass. Design honours follow and in 2004 the brand is re-christened, simply, Boodles.
Two years later, the Dublin store is opens and, in 2007, a long-cherished family dream is realised when Boodles’ first store on Bond Street opens.
The story doesn’t end there
The past five years have seen the launch of Boodles first high-jewellery collection called Wonderland. In 2008, the Raindance ring was chosen to appear in the V&A’s permanent jewellery collection and, in 2010 a stylish new boutique was opened at one of London’s most iconic hotels, The Savoy.
Since Boodles first Wonderland collection, we have launched two more stunning high-jewellery suites, showcasing the talent and creativity of the Boodles design team. Recently, Louis Vuitton chose to include Boodles in its freshly revised City Guide London 2012, earmarking us as a “British brand to watch”.
For the past decade Boodles have hosted an exclusive tennis tournament, The Boodles, at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire and organised a unique bi-annual sporting event, The Boodles Boxing Ball with all the proceeds going to charity.
Boodles are also the proud sponsor of Ladies’ Day at Chester Racecourse and, for the first time this year, The Boodles Classique tennis tournament at De Vere Mottram Hall in Cheshire.
Six generations on, Boodles remains a family-owned British company. Nicholas and Michael are still at the helm, with directors Jody, Nicholas’s son and James Amos, nephew of Nicholas and Michael, continuing the family tradition, immersed in the company’s culture of integrity, dedication to quality and customer service.