Our History

40 years of the Company of Master Jewellers

Starting as a group of retailers investing in a small print run in the backs of magazines, we are now the largest jewellery and watch buying group in the UK and Ireland. As then, we are still led by independent retailers.

The Company of Master Jewellers (CMJ) was officially established in 1980. Since then, we have seen many changes in the industry, but our focus and strategy remain the same and we continue to be a buying group made up of independent retailers and approved suppliers with our members’ best interests and needs central to everything we do.

Today we nurture independent retail, offering our members a support network of like-minded businesses. Our members have access to a wide range of exclusive benefits that are financial, practical and inspirational.

1979

A small group of jewellery retailers decided to combine its efforts (and finances) amid a struggle to achieve real traction and growth in the jewellery and watch market, collectively investing in a small print run of public mail order ads displayed in the backs of magazines.

1980

Chance Gold was formed in June 1980.

On 14 October 1980, the first official Board meeting was held at Paddington Great Western Royal Hotel. The Board was made up of the following retailers, who are still CMJ members today: A Ainsworth, Allum & Sidway, TH Baker, Bramwells, Godshaws and H Hogarth.

This same group called a meeting of local retailers and suppliers with a view of forming a buying group in order to receive orders at preferential, “bulk buy” prices. On 17 October 1980, this group became known as the Company of Master Jewellers and had 30 retailer members.

1981

From 31 May to 2 June 1981, we held our first buying meeting. To this day, we hold two-day Trade Events twice a year where suppliers can launch their latest collections to our retailer members in an exclusive environment.

1982

On 1 February 1982, our first company AGM was held at the Falcon Hotel in Stratford-Upon-Avon, with 25 retailers present.

1987

Keen to expand further, the now 40-strong group of members created and distributed a promotional flyer, explaining the various benefits of becoming a member of this buying group.

1989

Our first CMJ Christmas catalogue (The Portfolio) was launched to our retail members.

1997

The first incarnation of a Company of Master Jewellers membership publication was released in spring 1997. It was an A3 sheet of paper folded in half, called Up-Date.

1999

The Chairman of our Board of Directors applied for a Coat of Arms to be granted to the organisation. Featuring a brilliant-cut diamond on the shield, and a griffon holding a gold cup, the Coat of Arms bears the motto “Semper splendidus”, meaning “always splendid”.

2004

In August 2004, we launched a signature diamond cut, called Mastercut, which was exclusively available to Company of Master Jewellers retailers in the UK.

2005

Up-Date evolved into something much more comprehensive as the first issue of the CMJ’s now well-known Facets membership publication was released in the form of a standalone newsletter.

2006

We launched our first website in 2006. Today our website has evolved into an informative place for both existing and prospective members. The CMJ members area hosts exclusive content including webinars, free marketing material to download and “how to” guides, as well as supplier resources for retailers such as training materials, brand literature and social media assets.

2007

We hosted our first Grand Bus Tour, which invited a group of CMJ retailers on a bus tour visiting fellow members. The events have since been known as Quest Tours and Growth & Learning Network meetings, where our members embark on team-building activities and retail tours as well as networking opportunities with their peers and fellow members.

2008

The very first issue of Facets magazine – no longer in newsletter format – was published quarterly. It was sent out free of charge to all our members and featured industry insight, trading updates and offers and news from members.

In August, we held our Autumn buying meeting at the Tower of London and relaunched our exclusive Mastercut diamond brand with master diamond cutter Jean-Paul Tolkowsky.

2016

At our AGM in 2016, we reported another record-breaking year, with sales through the group rising to over £166.6m and gross profit up by 6.6% to £2.44m.

2017

On 13 June 2017 Michael Aldridge of retailer Neil & Barker became Chairman of the Board of Directors. He unveiled our new business strategy moving forward to refocus the business on the needs of its members, returning to its roots as a buying group.

2019

In 2019, we set up retailer and supplier WhatsApp groups with the aim of bringing peers together to chat and offer advice.

2020

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, trade was brought to a stop and the country went into lockdown. During lockdown, we supported our membership by launching weekly virtual Growth & Learning Network meetings, brought forward and doubled our retrospective payment for members and suspended membership fees. We also launched a comprehensive webinar programme and sent out regular government advice and support to all of our members throughout the pandemic. Peter Fry from member A Simmonds said: “The Company of Master Jewellers is to be commended for trying to help us from a distance.”

Newly appointed Managing Director, Emmet Cummins, joined the Company of Master Jewellers in April 2020. Emmet said: “Having been in the industry for nearly ten years, I have always admired what the independent jewellery market has to offer. I firmly believe it deserves its place on the high street and I will focus on enabling the membership to successfully develop and grow their businesses.”

As shops began to reopen post-lockdown of the pandemic, we wrote and distributed a return to work manual and created a comprehensive PPE menu for all of its members so that they reopened with confidence. Our retailers were provided with post-lockdown POS and decals for their stores. Following the many and varied changes in legislation, and the new HR challenges facing the industry, e.g. furloughing, return to work, flexible working, redundancies, we put together a robust and practical HR package for our members.

2021

In September 2021, we won the Service Supplier of the Year award at the industry’s prestigious UK Jewellery Awards, being praised by the expert judging panel for “providing unrivalled support throughout the pandemic and consistently going above and beyond”.