Boat International — January 2018

http://www.boatinternational.com | January 2018

PHOTOGRAPHY: OLIVER HOLMS

Pragnell specialises

in fine jewellery and

watches. Opposite

page: Poroca green

enamel and diamond

set ring, £7,500;

brilliant cut diamond

Antrobus solitaire

ring in platinum, POA

Despite the London expansion, the

company remains proudly wedded to its

Stratford roots. In 1990 it launched the

Pragnell Shakespeare Birthday Award, which

annually recognises those who further the

understanding of theBard’slifeandwork.

A silver cup was crafted at its workshop and

has since been presented to the likes of Sir

Nicholas Hytner, Sir Kenneth Branagh and

Dame Judi Dench. “We’re very proud of the

town’s heritage and our place within it,” says

Charlie. “You’d be surprised how much of

a destination Stratford-upon-Avon actually

is to international visitors. Al Pacino was

recentlyintown.He’sabigdeal!”Hewon’tsay,

ofcourse,whethertheHollywoodgreatisa

Pragnell customer. The website lists “royalty,

actors, musicians, African tribal leaders,

Middle Eastern sheiks and English families”

asitsvariedclientbase.Whatisclearisthatit’s

no ordinary small town jeweller.

Today,Pragnell’sofferingiswideranging,

stocking contemporary and antique pieces

as well as its fine jewellery and Masterpiece

collections. In store, it offers services such

as ring re-sizing and re-threading of pearls.

“We’reproudtobeafullserviceBritish

jeweller,” says Charlie. The company is also

arespectedwatchdealer,stockingthelikes

of Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Omega, Rolex

and Patek Philippe. The relationship with

thelatterbeganwhenJeremyboughthisfirst

watchin1969,whichwashanddeliveredby

the now president of Patek Philippe, Philippe

Stern.“There’sarespectbetweenfamily

businesses;theyunderstandeachother,”says

Charlie on the continuing ties with the fourth

generation Swiss watchmaker.

Thereis,intheclientbase,asuperyacht

ownerortwo,andCharliehasbeenknown

tohoponboardtodiscussrequirements.

“Superyachtownerstendtohaveadesirefor

orderedperfection,”hesays.“Theyaresome

ofthewealthiestpeopleintheworld,andyou

don’tachievethatlevelofsuccesswithout

being a perfectionist. What’s nature’s version

of perfection? It’s a flawless diamond.”

Forsealovers,thereareanumberofpieces

inPragnell’scollectionsthatwillappeal.From

anartdecostylelongdiamondnecklacewith

aquamarinependant,oracontemporary

sapphire and diamond pendant from its

Bubblescollection,toauniquediamondand

greenenamelwavemotifringfrom the Poroca

collection,inspiredbytheinlandtidal wave

that surges up the Amazon River twice a year.

But,accordingtoCharlie,thepiece that

takesprideofplaceinitscurrentcollections

isthe“re-imaginedAntrobusbracelet and

ring”, created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth

andPrincePhilip’splatinumwedding

anniversary last November. Homages to both

herengagementring,andthebracelet that

theDukeofEdinburghgavetoher on her

weddingday,thenewlyinterpreted platinum

ring includes a diamond held in an eight-

claw setting with a further four diamonds set

oneitherside,andthebraceletisastriking

geometric design containing more than 320

modern brilliant cut diamonds.

Boththeoriginalpieceswerecreated

byPhilipAntrobusofBondStreet, a jeweller

establishedin1815thatPragnellhas since

acquired. The original Antrobus jewellery

was handcrafted in the workshops of Waters

and Blott Ltd, which in 1947 was run by Albert

Blott.HisdaughterJanewentonto marry

JeremyPragnell.“Theanniversary seemed

afittingtimetotellthestory,andwe wanted

to mark it in some way,” says Charlie, who

ismarriedtoarelativeoftheGarrard family,

another long-standing British jeweller

withroyalconnections.Talesoflove

between houses, marriage and royalty:

howfittinglyShakespearean.B

“Superyacht

owners have

a desire for

ordered

perfection. In

nature, that’s

a flawless

diamond”

BOAT LIFE

Far left: duck egg

tourmaline and diamond

necklace in platinum, POA;

large sapphire and diamond

bubbles pendant in white

gold, £8,250

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