About Us
Saunders & Pughe is an independent contemporary jewellery retailer specialising in handmade modern jewellery. Established in 1994 we design and make our own collections on the premises. We also showcase a variety of other precious jewellery from other leading British and European designers. Joint owners gemmologist, Marianne Saunders and goldsmith, Robert Pughe head a team of dedicated staff.
”Our aim is to produce high quality, creative designs in silver and gold. Specialists in platinum and fine gemstones, we also provide a unique commissioning service to create bespoke jewellery.”
After meeting on a design business Fellowship in Birmingham, Rob and Marianne formed the partnership Saunders & Pughe in 1994.
After running a successful wholesale business from the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham they relocated to a small rural village near Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland and continued supplying over 50 shops and department stores in the with their original designs in silver and gold.
In 2000 Marianne and Rob finally found the perfect location for their retail shop Saunders & Pughe in the busy bustling historic village of Corbridge, Northumberland. Famed for its diverse array of interesting independent shops and boutiques.
In 2004 Saunders & Pughe doubled its floor space by extending the shop into 34 Hill Street, giving us much more space to display our own designs and work by other leading makers.
We celebrated our 10th anniversary in 2010 and carried out a major extension to the shop which enabled us to relocate our workshop from above the shop to ground floor level, giving our customers the opportunity to see our jewellery being made.
2014 has been a busy year We launched our new website in 2014 and added more Saunders & Pughe product to an extensive collection of jewellery available on-line. We also carried out a minor shop refit introducing new free standing showcases.
Big changes in 2016! After 16 years of business we decided it was the right time to fully re-fit the shop. Our doors closed in August for one week to enable us to carry out the necessary alterations. We also took this opportunity to re-brand our corporate image with new colours for our packaging, shop signs and display.
Marianne Pughe travelled to London’s prestigious Westminster Hall to collect the Gemmological Association of Great Britain’s 2017 Bruton Medal, awarded to the overall best candidate of the year in the Diamond Diploma examinations.
Marianne Pughe studied gemmology attaining FGA and DGA status which are specialised qualifications in the study and grading of diamonds and coloured gemstones from the Gemological Association of Great Britain.
Rob and Marianne visit Tucson’s gem show. Tucson plays host to one of the largest gem shows. Every year dealers from all over the world gather to exhibit and buy rare and unusual gemstones including opals from Australia, natural turquoise, multi coloured sapphires. Sadly this meteorite was not for sale!
Rob and Marianne visit Sri Lanka a trip organised by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ). A fascinating educational tour enjoying the culture together with its rich history of gemstone mining. Sri Lanka is home to some of the oldest mines in the world practising ancient mining techniques which preserves the landscape with minimum environmental impact.
Saunders & Pughe celebrate their 20th Anniversary in style and take all of their hard working staff to Inhorgenta, Munich. Inhorgenta is Europe’s most innovative jewellery show showcasing the best in design, style and creativity.
Busy during lockdown! We converted our first floor creating a modern workspace for all of our jewellery. We also created a consultation room and gemmology lab.
“A big part of the brand’s philosophy and day-to-day business practice is the protection and preservation of the natural environment – the source of J. Hunter’s astounding pearls. To ensure the nutrient rich bays stay pristine, the company adheres to a strict environmental code of practice, which has had the added benefit of increasing fish stocks for local communities, who rely on fisheries for food and income.”
J Hunter Pearls, Fiji
Contact Us
Come and Visit Us
Our opening hours are:
Monday to Saturday 10am until 5pm.
We are closed on Sundays, all bank holidays and we are closed between Christmas and New Year.
To arrange an appointment you can call us on 01434 633302, or email [email protected]