Malvern Goldsmiths

Jan 1st, 2023

Really great and lovely staff. Very helpful to me. Will be returning.
May 3rd, 2020

Malvern Goldsmiths is our nearest jewellery store. I use the term jewellery lightly, as they sell mainly secondhand stuff, and cannot really compete with the more up-market 'proper' jewellers. I took a watch here today for a new battery, and they charged me 12.50. I pointed out that they have only charged 6.00 previously (I took them six watches on one day last year, all in need of new batteries), and indeed displayed a sign in their window throughout last year advertising this service at just 6.00. I was told that the price has been increased, and only old customers who have bought lots of jewellery from them could enjoy lower prices, and that people had been taking advantage of their low 6.00 price by bringing their watches in just for batteries. Why advertise the 6.00 service in the middle of your display window if you regard such customers as ;taking advantage'?! I feel that I should have been pre-warned that I would incur a price increase of more than 100%. Yes, the pandemic has been hard for all shops and businesses, but pensioners on fixed incomes have had difficulties too. We have previously used Malvern Goldsmiths for all types of jewellery repair, such as links added or removed, and for gifts for friends and family. We shall certainly not use them again, and I shall advise all local friends and acquaintances accordingly.
May 30th, 2021

The clasp on a gold chain that supports an amethyst and diamond pendant had broken, so I went in here one Saturday afternoon to get a new one fitted. The jeweller first of all got out a pot of ones that were the next size up to the existing one, saying it would be easier to operate. However, as it was clearly too clunky for the delicate chain, I asked for one the same size as the original, so he somewhat reluctantly picked out the small pot containing that size. He then proceeded to take the chain away from over the counter and wrench off the ring that connected the clasp to the chain, whereupon it immediately fell to the floor. He then put the chain back on the counter and got a small pot of gold rings to replace the one he had carelessly wrenched off. When I questioned this he said it was difficult to use the existing ring as it would break when he tried to open it anyway, and proceeded to fit the new ring by opening the two ends, joining the chain and the clasp and closing it again, in exactly the same way he could have done with the existing ring. He then charged me 4.50 for this new ring! When I commented that this should not have been necessary, he dismissed my concern by saying it was only a few pounds!! I really should have complained when I saw the rough way he removed the ring, walked out and taken the chain elsewhere to be mended, and really wish now that I had, not least because when I got home and studied it carefully, I find the ring that he charged me 4.50 for is too big and therefore looks completely wrong for the very delicate chain. Having already explained my preference for a clasp the same size as the original and not one larger, I would have expected him to ensure that the ring was similarly delicate and as the original. Total lack of artistry and skill. I had thought this was a proper jewellers, set up, as it is in this wonderful old shop. Sadly the service I experienced did not measure up to my expectations. Needless to say I shall not be going in there again.
Apr 12th, 2020

Left my Mondaine swiss watch here for first battery replacement and went next door for coffee while assistant changed battery. Assistant came to cafe and told us that there was charge still in the battery and the watch mechanism was faulty. He confirmed they could not repair it and there was no point in taking it anywhere else for repair as all that would be done is that a complete replacement mechanism would be installed. Why not buy new watch from us? This is a 280 watch which I have owned for about 2 years. Searched on web and found watchmaker licensed to work on Mondaine watches. Locker, Hull & Thornton Ltd. So forwarded watch to them. This was their reply: "Back quite scratched at opening point. Glass scratched. Movement is not faulty as such - person who tried to replace battery did not do so correctly and negative insulator has been lost. Fingerprints and dust on movement. Service recommended at 64.74" Returned to Goldsmiths who denied any responsibility. John Malvern
Mar 2nd, 2020