Rudell the Jewellers Heritage
Company History
Rudell the Jewellers was founded on Valentine's Day 1938 by Justin Rudell. Today Rudell's is renowned as a jeweller of excellence and with the finest customer care in the midlands, boasting the most prestigious selection of jewellery, timepieces and luxury giftware brands.
Humble beginnings
Back in 1938 Rudells began as a retailer of leather ware and fancy goods. At the start of the Second World War Justin was enlisted and served in the Warwickshire Regiment. During 1940 whilst Justin was recovering from a bout of influenza he met his future wife Etta who later helped develop the business with him. In 1946 their son Anthony was born and from a very early age was to show a keen interest to follow in his parent's footsteps.
Trading in Diamonds
It wasn't until 1950 that Justin decided it was time to make the transition into Jewellery. After a meeting with his uncle who was a diamond jewellery manufacturer based in Birmingham, Justin went home one evening with a handful of diamond rings and told Etta 'we are going into diamonds' to which Etta replied 'if we're going into diamonds we will need a lot more than just these'.
Once Rudell's started selling diamonds they soon built up a reputation for quality and value with great customer care. Over the following years this reputation was enhanced by the addition of several other jewellery ranges and watch brands.
Expansion plans
Anthony joined the family business in 1966 having worked with other Independent Jewellers, seeing the alternative side to the trade. In 1971 Justin and Etta took their first ever three week holiday, the day after they set sail on their trip Anthony learnt that the adjoining premises had become vacant allowing for the store to expand. Without the modern communications we have today, Anthony made the decision to go ahead with the purchase and proudly announced the company expansion to his parents on their return. 1981 saw further expansion when the adjoining premises on the other side of the store became vacant. The showroom from there on featured new, exciting iconic jewellery and watch brands.
Evolution
1986 was the year when opportunity knocked again when Rudells purchased their premises in Harborne, again a natural instinct for success paid off. The Harborne showroom also began from humble beginnings and with a similar expansion programme in 1992, 1996 and 2009 is today nearly three times the original size.
Service
After sales service has been a major feature for Rudells in recent times, Jon Weston, Director of Rudells has pioneered the set up and installation of state of the art watch workshops at both showrooms. Coupled with a jewellery workshop on location in Harborne, Rudells boast one of their unique selling points, to size a new ring whilst the client sips a glass of chilled champagne. This really is customer care at its best.
Jon Weston, Anthony Rudell and John Harlow
2010
In 2010 Anthony handed over the role of Managing Director to Jon Weston who had been a key figure in the company's development for more than two decades. With Anthony's full support, Jon and the management team continued to push the business forward with new innovative ideas whilst retaining the ethos of Rudells, that being, of a "family jeweller" who genuinely care about their clients and the exceptional personal service offered by the Midlands premier jeweller.
John Harlow, sales director, with over 35 years loyal service thrives on working closely with the sales team, he has contributed greatly to the mentoring of the staff, his words of wisdom have helped all those who join the team understand the true core values of Rudells.
