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<a href="http://www.the-quarter.com/index.htm"><img src="nav_buttons/logo2.jpg" width="312" height="85" border="0" align="bottom"></a><br>
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<font color="#000000" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">UK jewellery shops. The jewellery quarter web portal contains : Information on travel, transport, shopping, local history, jewellery insurance valuations, specialists in repairs, ring sizing and resizing naufacturing. Number one destination for the best deals on gold, diamonds, wedding and engagement rings, gems and gifts. Tourist attractions. The Birmingham Mint, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Gift Shops. Visiting Birmingham ? ... visit the Quarter.</font><br><br>
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<div align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Find the treasure buried on the-quarter.com in our TREASURE HUNT competition and<br><b>WIN a £150 voucher</b> to spend in the Jewellery Quarter
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Special offer <B>discount vouchers NOW available</B> for you to print off<BR> and spend in the Jewellery Quarter
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<ul>
<li>retailer directory and pages</li>
<li>miscellaneous traders section</li>
<li>local history and info</li>
<li>gold, gems and jewellery</li>
<li>transport, travel, map section</li>
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<p align="center"><font color="#CC6600" size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Birmingham jewellery shops, gift shops<a href=aaa1_home.htm target=_blank>.</a> Find jewellers. Quality craftsmanship. <a href='http://www.main-chain.com' target='_blank'>Main Chain</a>. Chamberlain clock tower. Insurance valuations and repairs. gemstones. Museum. Jewellers Wedding Rings. certified diamond ring specialists. birmingham mint. Warstone Lane, Vyse Street 'bond & martin' </font> <font color="#CC6600" size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href='http://www.consortium-jewellery.co.uk' target='_blank'>consortium </a>
chain <a href='http://www.crystalink.co.uk' target='_blank'>crystalink</a> exclusive hand-made david's manufacturing jewellers watch repairs
insurance valuations hockley centre quality manufacturers main chain gifts men
women ladies gents J E Marlow & Sons Ltd. marlow certified <a href='http://www.ghmoore.co.uk' target='_blank'>'G H Moore'</a>. Premier Goldsmiths. In-house design Huge range 'Premier Diamonds'
gem-set richards watch services barometer riches watches ring-resizing alterations
polishing engagement love romance anniversary anniversaries timeless chains bracelets
eternity. Where to buy jewellery. Assay office. Listed with <A HREF='http://www.dmoz.org'>DMOZ</A>. Properties for rent in Sandwell at <a href='http://www.firstchoiceproperties.org.uk' target='_blank'>First Choice Properties</a>. Site developed by <a href='http://www.feature-active.com' target='_blank'>feature active</a> </font></p>
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<p><font color="#000000"><i><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">For
over 200 years Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter has been the home of some of the
worlds most highly skilled goldsmiths and jewellery makers. The advent of shops
opening to the public is a recent phenomenon, with the majority of retail outlets
springing up since the 1970's. And now the area is widely known as a place for
both the trade and public to browse and buy the finest products at the keenest
prices.</font></i></font></p>
<p><font size="1">Tradesmen worked from home, or in small workshops, and on the
whole specialised in a particular craft. Many of these specialist craft and services
complimented each other, strengthening the sense of community in the area and
fostering a national and international respect for the indsutry in the area. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">By 1861 over 7,000 people were engaged in the jewellery trade.
The local jewellery industry grew out of the areas toy trade. At that time the
toy trade included the manufacture of a wide range of small items made from steel,
such as buttons, buckles and brooches and various trinkets. The nineteenth century
saw a shift towards the manufacture of jewellery and buttons in the area. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">The gold rushes in 19th century USA and Australia led to an
increase in the supply and demand for jewellery with the Birmingham Assay Office
being granted permission to hallmark goldware from 1824. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">As trade flourished, so the area developed with new streets,
large residential properties built for manufacturers and the well-off, plus more
and more terraces from which many of the tradesmen worked and/or lived in. The
magnificent and compelling dwellings, workplaces, streets and alleyways which
help to make the area such a magnet for visitors derives from this expansion of
industry and craft. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">Less than 100 years ago up to 20,000 people were employed in
the industry. Since the post-war recession of the 1940's and 1950's however employment
levels have fallen and stand at around 4,000 currently. </font></p>
<p><font size="1">For two centuries the Jewellery Quarter existed as a trade and
manufacturing area. The advent of shops opening to the public is a recent phenomenon,
with the majority of retail outlets springing up since the 1970's. And now the
area is widely known as a place for both the trade and public to browse and buy
the finest jewellery products at the keenest prices.</font></p>
<p><font size="1">The Birmingham Mint</font> <font size="1">From 1786 to 1850
Matthew Boulton's mint operated in the area. The minting of coins was then continued
after the Heaton company succeeded Boulton's operation. In 1860 the Birmingham
Mint succeeded the Heaton operation and is still active in Icknield Street. </font></p>
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