Sparkly shoes to fill: jeweller to replace Archer & Holland
An Adelaide jewellery business is opening its second storefront in the same shop that housed Archer & Holland for part of its 106 years in business.
Family-run Roberts Jewellers is set to take over the City Cross location as it opens its second store.
Owners Craig and Kirsty Roberts opened their first store in Old Reynella in 2023, and had been familiar with the recently closed Archer & Holland.
“We’ve had a longtime relationship with Bill and Meredith from Archer & Holland, so when this opportunity came up it felt like a natural progression for us to have a presence in the city,” Craig said.
Archer & Holland owners Meredith and Bill Whiting announced in March this year that they would be closing, 106 years after the business was founded, saying they were ready to retire and their children had no interest in taking over.
Speaking to InDaily at the time, Bill said while the main reason for the closure was the couples’ readiness to retire, the advent of chain jewellery stores had also impacted business.
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“It hasn’t been good for people like us. It’s cheapened jewellery a bit – that’s my opinion. They sell stuff that’s not one-off pieces, which is what we concentrate on,” he said.
Bill still hand-made and repaired jewellery in the basement of the Archer & Holland City Cross store before it closed. Photo: David Simmons.
Archer & Holland’s legacy will live on in the new store, with Bill and Meredith’s daughter Kate Whiting set to work at the City Cross location, which is offering free ring cleanings for life for all Archer & Holland customers.
Craig said Roberts Jewellers was “fortunate to continue on their [Archer & Holland’s] tradition as a family-owned local fine jeweller”.
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“Our values of handcrafting high-quality jewellery aligns with theirs and their relationships with their customers is something that Kirsty and I really admire and are passionate about continuing.”
Craig is a second-generation jeweller, having spent 12 years learning from his father John M Roberts, who runs his own jewellery business.
Roberts Jewellers specialises in handcrafted engagement, wedding and eternity rings, as well as precious metal earrings and pendants, focusing on ethically sourced gemstones.
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The couple have received Meredith and Bill’s blessing as they prepare to fill Archer & Holland’s diamond-encrusted shoes.
“We couldn’t be more grateful that Craig and Kirsty have stepped in to continue the tradition of generational master jewellery making,” Meredith said.
“We are thrilled that we know our wonderful community of customers will be in good hands.”
Roberts Jewellers is opening at Shop 26 in City Cross on Monday, September 9.
