E P Mallory & Son

I visited this store during my lunchbreak: I wanted to buy ear-​rings as I am heading towards my 40’s and I am afraid the jewel-​less, make-​up less look is no longer the order of the day!
I have an allergy to zinc and nickel so all my jewels are 18 carats gold. Like most jewellers in the UK, Mallorys are particularly keen on selling you alloys (9 carats gold, i.e. 9 parts of gold for every 24 parts of metal) under the name of gold. They treated me with the utmost contempt, acting as if my allergy problems were psychological, and alloys (i.e. 9 carats gold) were the same thing as 18 carats gold. BTW gold is more expensive than nickel or zinc, so when jewellers sell you 9 carats gold rather than 18 carats gold, they are cheating you big time. One of my great-​uncles was a jeweller (meilleur ouvrier de france, i.e. he came top of his promotion) so I used to buy from him, but unfortunately he is now retired.
Another reason for their contempt was that I am French and they just couldn’t believe that I lived and worked in Bath and was not a tourist. Hum, when I go on holiday, I do not wear a suit! They made fun of my accent, asked me how long I had been living here, whether I often went ‘home’ etc.
I wouldn’t try on any of the cheap 9 carats stuff they had, nor would I consider the cheap diamonds they tried to force on me. Result, I very nearly ended up being expelled from the shop by their security guy!
Advice: don’t walk in unless you are willing to buy whatever they want you to. Very pushy salesmen, none of them professional jewellers.

An absolutely fantastic jewellers shop, selling top-​of-​the-​range jewellery and watches (with price tags to match).
Very personalised service, with an individual sales adviser who really knows the trade and product ranges. When making a prospective purchase you are offered tea, coffee, champagne and handmade chocolates.
We have purchased from there, and were given a gift box containing a bottle of pink champagne with a Mallory label and box of chocs.
A real sense of luxury about the place, and many things to save for and aspire to!