Clogau Gold of Wales Ltd.
| ISIN | 🆔 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Jewelers |
| Founded 📆 | 1992 |
| Founder 👔 | William Roberts |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | 5, Kinmel Park, Abergele Road, Bodelwyddan, Rhyl, LL18 5TX |
Area served 🗺️ | |
Key people | William Roberts - Chairman. Ben Roberts - Managing Director |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | www |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Clogau Gold (pronounced “clog-eye”) is proud to continue a long tradition of creating jewellery that is expertly hand-crafted and uniquely designed, containing rare Welsh gold. Clogau Gold manufactures and retails watches and jewellery containing a small amount of Welsh gold taken from the Clogau St. David's gold mine in Dolgellau, North Wales.
History[edit]
In 1854, Mr Goodman, the original director of the Clogau copper mine accidentally discovered gold. From that day on, the copper mine was given a rich new life with the first seam from the Clogau mine producing very beautiful and distinctive rose-coloured Welsh gold. Between 1862 and 1911, the Clogau mine was Britain’s largest and richest gold mine, producing nearly 2.5 tons of gold.
The first major link between Welsh Gold and the Royal family began on 13 July 1911 when Prince Edward I was officially invested as Prince of Wales in a special ceremony at Caernarvon Castle on the fringes of Snowdonia, North Wales. Carnarvon and Caernarvon are Anglicised spellings that were superseded in 1926 and 1974 respectively.
The regalia used in the investiture of the Prince of Wales consisted of a coronet, a rod, a ring, a sword and a robe or mantle with doublet and sash and incorporated pure Welsh gold, identifiable by the Welsh dragon stamp. The investiture took place at the instigation of the Welsh politician David Lloyd George, who invented a ceremony in the style of a Welsh pageant, and coached Edward to speak a few words in Welsh.
The investiture of Prince Charles on 1 July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle, was an update of what had happened in 1911 and the regalia was used once again.
This very same rare Welsh gold has been used to create wedding rings for some members of the Royal Family since 1923. This tradition was founded by The Queen Mother, then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, on her marriage to the Duke of York on 26 April 1923.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s wedding ring, from her marriage to The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947 is crafted from a nugget of pure Welsh gold from the Clogau St. David’s mine. Other members of The Royal Family to have Welsh gold wedding rings include Princess Anne (1973), Princess Diana (1981), Prince Charles (1981 & 2005) and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall (2005).
The ties between Caenarfon and Royalty remain to this day. The current Earl and Countess of Carnarvons’ Country Seat is Highclere Castle, which was one of the reasons it was chosen as the location for the Clogau Heritage campaign photo shoot – sharing the setting with the world famous TV series Downton Abbey. This programme is set in the same period that our heritage began – and the sentiments and life events of the household, the ups and downs of shared emotions shape the rationale behind so many of our unique and iconic jewellery designs.
Royalty and Welsh cultural heritage are at the heart of the Companies past, present and future. William “Bill” Roberts, founder of Clogau Gold of Wales Ltd was born and raised in Colwyn Bay, North Wales as were his four children and three grandchildren.
In 1989, Bill acquired the rights to mine and conducted a few years of small scale mining at the Clogau St David’s mine in Dolgellau before its eventual closure in 1998 – due to the high costs of extraction and the diminishing quantities of rare Welsh gold being found. Today, there are no active gold mines in Wales, making Welsh gold extremely rare and as a consequence highly valuable and desirable.
Clogau Gold of Wales Ltd started its life with an five-piece jewellery range sold predominantly in Wales. But great things come from small beginnings and today the Company remains loyal to its Welsh heritage with our Head office based in Bodelwyddan employing over 70 full-time staff.
Clogau Gold Today[edit]
This year is the start of Clogau's 25th Anniversary celebrations, commemorating the founding of Clogau Gold of Wales Ltd and all that has been achieved during this time – as well as toasting to a future that is as successful as the story has been to date.
The Clogau story is still in its infancy although the Royal heritage and cultural legacy spans the last century. The brand's background, families, relationships and emotions are all important elements that make up Clogau's heritage, and these remain of the utmost importance to Clogau and their customers. Amongst the many reasons Clogau customers purchase Clogau jewellery, containing rare Welsh gold, is because it is seen as an heirloom with both a personal and cultural meaning and a permanent tie to Wales – something valuable to pass down the generations. It is Clogau's heritage that makes them what they are and defines what they are to become. Great things do come from small beginnings.
The Clogau name has grown both in the UK and abroad since the establishment of the company. Clogau now sell their products through over 500 UK outlets as well as other channels including independent jewellers, department stores, travel-retail magazines, direct mail and shopping channels including QVC.[1] Clogau also opened its own flagship store in Cardiff, St David's center in 2013 as well as outlet stores in the Bridgend Designer Outlet in 2009 and in the Cheshire Oaks Outlet in 2011.
The Clogau brand has become increasingly well known in international markets. In 2013 Clogau expanded into the Chinese market, opening its first international standalone store in Beijing airport.[2] This was followed by openings in Abu Dhabi[3] airport in June 2013 and an increased presence on board Princess Cruises,[4] who stock Clogau’s 18ct range.
As of 2013, Clogau employs over 50 people based at their Bodelwyddan headquarters. In 2012 Clogau was awarded the title of Jewellery Brand of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards.[5]
Design[edit]
Each piece of Clogau jewellery is tested and hallmarked by the Edinburgh Assay Office.[6] Clogau pieces also feature the Clogau stamp, identifying the item as genuine and original Clogau jewellery and the Dragon stamp, guaranteeing that Welsh gold has been added to the product. Clogau gold and silver pieces will also feature hallmarks identifying the item’s purity.
Royal Connection[edit]
The first major link between Welsh Gold and the Royal family began on 13 July 1911 when Prince Edward I was officially invested as Prince of Wales in a special ceremony at Caernarvon Castle on the fringes of Snowdonia, North Wales.
The regalia used in the investiture of the Prince of Wales consisted of a coronet, a rod, a ring, a sword and a robe or mantle with doublet and sash and incorporated pure Welsh gold, identifiable by the Welsh dragon stamp. The investiture took place at the instigation of the Welsh politician David Lloyd George, who invented a ceremony in the style of a Welsh pageant, and coached Edward to speak a few words in Welsh.
The investiture of Prince Charles on 1 July 1969 at Caernarfon Castle, was an update of what had happened in 1911 and the regalia was used once again.
This very same rare Welsh gold has been used to create wedding rings for some members of the Royal Family since 1923. This tradition was founded by The Queen Mother, then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, on her marriage to the Duke of York on 26 April 1923.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s wedding ring, from her marriage to The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 November 1947 is crafted from a nugget of pure Welsh gold from the Clogau St. David’s mine. Other members of The Royal Family to have Welsh gold wedding rings include Princess Anne (1973), the late Princess Diana (1981), Prince Charles (1981 & 2005) and Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall (2005).
The tradition of using Welsh gold in the wedding rings of the British Royal family was carried into its 88th year with the most recent Royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on 29th April 2011. Catherine commissioned her wedding ring to be made from pure Welsh gold.
Associations and Memberships[edit]
Clogau Gold is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council, British Jewellery Association, Jewellery Distributors Association, Tax Free World Association, Institute of Directors and Investors in People. As well as being in association with Historic Royal Palaces, Clogau Gold is an official licensee of the Welsh Rugby Union[7] and was also an official licensee of The 2010 Ryder Cup, for which a dedicated and exclusive jewellery collection was created.
Since 2012 Clogau has also been the official sponsor of the Welsh Polo Association and Wales Polo Team.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ http://www.qvcuk.com/Jewellery.category.3.html?cookie=set&refine=1000044%2B4294966394&viewType=gallery&pageSize=24&uattrmb=
- ↑ http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=34&doc_id=34989
- ↑ http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=34&doc_id=35426
- ↑ http://masterjewellers.co.uk/news/818/clogau-opens-first-international-store-in-china/
- ↑ http://www.retail-jeweller.com/awards/clogau-gold-to-sponsor-multiple-of-year-at-ukja-2013/5042831.article
- ↑ http://www.edinburghassayoffice.co.uk/downloads/news-blog/EAO%20AA%20Press%20Release%20Trade.pdf
- ↑ http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-7536-clogau-gold-becomes-wru-jewellery-licensee/
- ↑ http://www.retail-jeweller.com/in-business/marketing/clogau-to-sponsor-the-wales-polo-team/5037733.article
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