British jewellery house Garrard has announced the opening of a store in Saudi Arabia – at the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh – marking its first standalone boutique in the country.
The new Kingdom Centre boutique builds on Garrard’s existing presence in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.
CEO of Garrard, Joanne Milner, said: “The new boutique is part of our ambitious expansion plans for the region and underlines our commitment to the Middle East. We are thrilled that we will now be able to welcome our Saudi Arabian clients locally.”
For the official opening, creative director Sara Prentice will be welcoming guests and sharing the history of Garrard, including its close connections to the British royal family and the crown jewels, with local media and clients.
Founded in 1735, the house was the official crown jeweller for more than 160 years, starting in 1843. It has created some of the most famous jewellery the British royal family has worn. Gerrard pieces typically range from $100,000 to $500,000 in price.
Gerrard first set its sights on expansion in the Middle East back in 2014, enticed by Dubai’s long-standing reputation as one of the top destinations for the gold and diamond trade.
The then CEO at Garrard, Eric Deardorff, said: “The Middle East is really huge for us. The Middle Eastern client generally seems to want larger pieces, meaning in some of our markets a necklace that has a single strand of diamonds is an exceptional piece but that would not work here. Generally, the jewellery needs to be much fuller.”
Located on Olaya St, The Kingdom Centre is home to high-end designer stores such as Burberry, Cartier, Armani, Dior and Tiffany & Co as well as various gadgetry outlets.
