The Mann family began at the Cross in Gloucester in 1741, a clockmaker named James Jew who took on an apprentice called William Mann. William took the trade over in 1835. Eight generations later we are still here, behind the counter at 18 The Promenade, with an eclectic mix of antique, pre-loved and new jewellery, watches, and the same buying counter the 1835 trade card already advertised.
Diamond and coloured-diamond rings, pendants, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, bangles, brooches. An eclectic mix of new pieces alongside a deep, rotating collection of pre-loved and genuine antique: Edwardian seed-pearl pendants, Art Deco diamond clusters, Victorian and Georgian rings in the lineage of the very first trade. Stock changes weekly. What walks out has often walked in the same week.
The watch tray routinely carries Rolex, Zenith, Omega, Cartier, Tag Heuer and Breitling alongside ladies vintage pieces and modern dress watches. Every pre-owned watch is bench-serviced before it goes on the tray: movement cleaned, timing regulated, gaskets replaced where the case allows. The ticket reflects the service.
Old gold, old silver, unworn watches, antique pieces inherited or unwanted. Independent valuation at the counter, cash or transfer for what we take. The 1835 trade card already advertised Old Gold and Silver Bought or Exchanged. The buying counter is older than most of the country.
Jewellery and watch repair, full restoration of antique pieces, bespoke commissions. Eighth-generation craft knowledge sat behind the counter. Bring the piece in, we will quote at the bench when we see it, and tell you honestly when conservation is the right call and when a clean restoration serves the piece better.
Stock changes weekly. The cabinets are best seen in person, but here are three sat on display today.
The shop is small. The Cross sits at the centre of the city, a meeting of the four old streets. James takes on a clockmaker's apprentice named William Mann. By 1835 William has taken over the business and turned the clockmaker into a retail jewellers, advertising on an engraved trade card as “M. Mann, Clock Maker, Late Jew, Goldsmith, Cross, Gloucester · Old Gold and Silver Bought or Exchanged.”
That trade card survives in the shop's own image library. The same trade, the same buying counter, runs today at 18 The Promenade in Cheltenham, under the eighth generation of the Mann family. Carron Mann and Elizabeth Mann have held the directorship at Cheltenham since 1991. The shop has been on the Promenade for over twenty-five years.
“An independent family-run jewellers, offering bespoke service and the finest luxury items since 1741 on the Cross in Gloucester.” The shop's own account, as it stands today.
William Mann's 1835 trade card advertised Old Gold and Silver Bought or Exchanged. The Buying Centre at the back of 18 The Promenade does exactly that today. Bring in old gold by weight, old silver, inherited pieces, unworn watches. We weigh and value at the counter while you wait. We will tell you honestly when a piece is worth more restored than broken.
Pre-owned Rolex, Zenith, Omega, Cartier, Tag Heuer and Breitling alongside ladies vintage and modern dress watches. Every pre-owned watch on the tray has been through the bench first: movement cleaned, timing regulated, gaskets replaced where the case allows. Pre-loved diamond pieces are independently re-graded for colour and clarity before pricing, so the ticket is what we have measured, not what the previous retailer claimed.
Bring a watch in for service in the same way: drop it at the counter, we will look at the movement and quote turnaround at the bench when we have it open.
A short form for an indicative reply by email. Stock changes weekly, so we will often write back the same day with what is in the cabinets. For valuations, bring the piece in any opening hour. No appointment needed, no fee for the valuation itself.
18 The Promenade
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL50 1LR
Phone · 01242 524519
Email · info@promenadejewellers.co.uk
Park · Regent Arcade or Royal Well Lane multi-storey, three minutes' walk
Nearest landmark · Imperial Gardens at the south end, Long Gardens running the length of the avenue
Walk-ins welcome any hour. The buying counter, valuations and part-exchanges do not need an appointment. Repairs are quoted at the bench when we have the piece open.
Yes. Walk in any opening hour and Mr Mann or the counter team will weigh and value the piece in front of you. We make an offer there and then: cash for smaller pieces, bank transfer for larger. There is no obligation, no appointment needed, and no fee for the valuation itself. The same trade has been on the family record since 1835.
Yes, this is a core part of the rotating stock. Edwardian, Art Deco, Victorian, Georgian when we can find them. Settings, side stones, the cut of the centre stone, the warmth of the old gold: it is genuinely a different counter from the high-street chain a few doors down. Stock changes weekly. Best to come in person.
Yes. The part-exchange counter is a 284-year-old trade for us. Bring in the inherited pieces; we will value each, then offset against anything in the cabinets. Often the right thing is to restore the inherited piece rather than break it up, and we will say so if so.
Yes. Every pre-owned watch we sell is bench-serviced before it goes on the tray: movement cleaned, timing regulated, gaskets replaced where the case allows. We also service watches brought in by customers: drop in, we will look at the movement and quote turnaround at the bench.
18 The Promenade, GL50 1LR, in the heart of the listed Regency frontage between Imperial Gardens and the Town Hall. Regent Arcade and Royal Well Lane multi-storey car parks are both a three-minute walk. The shop window faces directly onto the avenue of horse chestnut trees.