- Hancocks
Hancocks is a retail
jeweller inLondon , founded on1 January 1849 by Charles F. Hancock, formerly a partner of Storr and Mortimer. The first shop was opened on the corner of Bruton Street and NewBond Street , in London. It has moved several times since then. Hancocks has become notable for its creation of theVictoria Cross medals and also for the variousRoyal Warrant s that it holds.History
The first store opened on the corner of Bruton Street and New Bond Street, in London in 1849. Hancocks subsequently moved in 1917 to Vigo Street, in 1970 to Burlington Gardens and 1998 to its current location at 52 & 53
Burlington Arcade . Hancocks has exhibited at several renowned exhibitions. The first exhibition that Hancocks attended wasThe Great Exhibition of 1851 atThe Crystal Palace in London. It then exhibited at exhibitions in Paris in 1867 and Vienna in 1873 where Hancocks was awarded medals of excellence. Hancocks continues to exhibit at major exhibitions such as Grosvenor House, Maastricht and New York. [cite web |url=http://www.hancocks-london.com/hancocks_diary.htm| title=Hancocks of London History of VC | publisher=Hancocks of London events | accessdate= 2007-09-02]Royal Appointments and Warrants
On
13 August 1849 , after only eight months in business, Hancocks received the Royal Appointment of Queen Victoria. Many of the principal sovereigns of Europe also became regular patrons. There can be little doubt that the rapid expansion by Charles Hancock during the formative years of the Company led to Hancocks being entrusted with the design and production of the Victoria Cross on the inception of the award in 1856. [cite web |url=http://www.hancocks-london.com/vc_manufacture.htm| title=Hancocks of London History of VC | publisher=Hancocks of London | accessdate= 2007-09-02] This medal is still made exclusively by Hancocks. [cite web | url=http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.941 | title=The Victoria Cross | work=Imperial War Museum Exhibits and Firearms Collections | accessdate=2007-09-02]In 1962 the Company was granted the Royal Warrant as Goldsmiths and Silversmiths to Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.
Current business
Hancocks is still a family owned business and is led by Stephen and Janie Burton. They continue to deal in rare and collectable jewels. [cite web |url=http://www.hancocks-london.com/hancocks_jewellers.htm| title=Hancocks of London today | publisher=Hancocks of London | accessdate= 2007-06-24]
References
External links
* [http://www.hancocks-london.com/ Hancocks website]
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