Our Story
The Blacklocks have always been pioneers. When Robert Blacklock founded our company in 1832 as ‘Blacklock’s Fancy Goods’, Blacklocks were one of the first luxury goods shops in the Northeast of England, a traditionally working-class area enjoying newfound wealth on the back of a shipbuilding boom.
A hundred years later, Robert Hodgson Blacklock encouraged his customers to wear a fob watch on their wrist, thus helping to invent the wristwatch. In the mid-20th century, Ralph Blacklock pioneered tension mounting of stones in rings, allowing more light into the gem to enhance its brilliance.
And when the digital age arrived, the Blacklock family embraced it fully, taking the opportunity to exit retail and focus on what we love most: design, gemstones, and working with private clients to produce jewellery that’s as unique as they are.
Discover the key events that have defined the Blacklock jewellery business for over 190 years. A life and a legacy centered around the world’s most precious of materials, crafted into the finest of jewellery to last a lifetime and beyond.
1832
Blacklocks Fancy Goods is founded by Robert March Blacklock, a shipwright on the River Wear. At the time the biggest shipbuilding town in the world.
1850’s
Blacklocks becomes one of the leading Diamond Merchants in the North East of England. The Diamond legacy begins….
1900’s
Robert Hodgson Blacklock patents an innovative bracelet – taking the fob watch and placing it on the wrist.
1930’s
Kenneth Blacklock takes over running the business whilst still at school due to his father falling ill with TB. His father Ralph Hope undertakes a Grand Tour and retires to Switzerland, however the reputation for diamond expertise continues to grow…
1940’s
Blacklocks trades throughout WW2 selling palladium jewellery – defying the trend of closing. Kenneth Blacklock does his national service returns from the war to run and grow the Blacklock business. At this time brooches featuring military insignia became a very popular purchase for Blacklock customers.
1950’s
Blacklocks is the leading County Jeweller in the North East of England. With a thriving business post war the demand for luxury goods increases. Every Friday afternoon, a queue of eager customers forms outside the Blacklock shop on Blandford Street in Sunderland. Pearls are the jewels of choice in the 1950’s for Blacklock clientele….
1960’s
Ralph Blacklock enters the family business and soon makes his mark by becoming a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain - the oldest established, leading gemological authority in the world.
1970’s
Current Blacklock owner Chris Blacklock is born and is soon being indoctrinated into the family business with the gift of a box of multi coloured – tutti fruiti gemstones to play with. A box of 50 stones of varying sizes and colour were soon being traded between brothers. The best coloured being the ones warranting the biggest trade.
1980’s
Kenneth Blacklock buys an ornate Arabian sword at Customs and Excise auction that turns out to be made of solid gold, and embellished with many fine gems, including diamonds, rubies, and sapphires – attracting the attention of the press.
Ralph Blacklock, a leading figure in the industry helps set up the Company Of Master Jewellers.
1990’s
Ralph Blacklock continues in his father’s footsteps at maximising opportunity and purchases a green crystal at auction. This green crystal turns out to be a 10 carat Emerald - it is soon cut and polished by a master cutter and set on its way in a beautiful Blacklock piece of jewellery sold to a lucky customer.
Ralph Blacklock pioneers the tension setting of stones in the newly designed ‘Liquid Ice’ collection
2000’s
Ralph Blacklock sells the Blacklock retail shops.
Blacklocks becomes one of the first independent high end jewellers to embrace the digital age. Chris Blacklock joins Ralph Blacklock in the Blacklock jewellery business - they begin collaborating on the creation of the new Blacklock website and the introduction of their own designed collections.
2010’s
Blacklock Jewellery is an inaugural member of the Professional Jeweller’s Hot 100 ‘Retail Stars’.
UK Retail Jewellery Awards E-tailer of the Year Finalist. The website is described as ‘Sophisticated, beautiful and very luxurious in feel’.
2020’s
Blacklock Jewellery collaborates with Natalie Pinkham – pioneering F1 broadcaster to promote its purpose driven female empowerment collection ‘Empower’ with creation with a limited edition charm bracelet in 18ct yellow gold featuring iconic female empowerment symbols.
