Founded 1887 by William G Capps, a watchmaker apprenticed since the 1860s. 139 years later the shop is still run by the same family, now Andrew Statton Snr on the Plymouth flagship at 102 New George Street and his son Andrew Statton Jnr at 51 Fore Street, Kingsbridge. Antique and pre-loved jewellery, watchmaking, bespoke wedding rings, repairs and valuations, across both shops.
Rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bangles and brooches in diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, aquamarine, pearl, opal and topaz. Stock turns over weekly. Pieces come in from estate sales, part-exchange and direct from customers across South Devon.
William G Capps was a watchmaker before he opened the jewellers in 1887. Six generations on, batteries, straps, repairs and service work are still done in house at New George Street. If the watch is older than the assistant on the counter, ask for it to come in.
Matching bands in two metals. Inherited pieces redesigned to wear today. Ring sizing, claw work, stone setting and chain repair done at the bench. Andrew Jnr holds the Diamond Diploma at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, awarded 2017.
Written valuations for insurance, probate and family division. Done in person, in the shop, against the piece on the desk. Records kept so the next valuation runs against the last one rather than starting from scratch.
The business was started in Plymouth in 1887 by William G Capps, having served his apprenticeship as a watchmaker since the 1860s. William trained his son Reginald for three years, then sent him to Jersey for a further two years to do his Improvers. On return, William insisted Reginald start his own shop, so he opened on Westwell Street under the name Wray, his grandmother's maiden name. On 8 July 1921 the two signed a 1,500 pound promissory note for the Union Street premises. We still have the note in the company scrapbook.
Reginald's daughter Bettie and her husband Herbert Statton joined after the war. Their son Richard opened the New George Street shop in 1963. His son Andrew Snr joined in 1985, opened Kingsbridge in August 2006, and works alongside his own son Andrew Jnr who came in in 2012 and earned his Diamond Diploma at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in 2017. Same family, same counter, six generations on.
“William insisted Reginald start his own shop. So he opened on Westwell Street, under the name Wray, his grandmother's maiden name. His father was still trading as W G Capps.” From the company scrapbook
Email contact@wraysjewellers.co.uk, WhatsApp 07723 962760, or fill the form. Valuations, watch repairs, ring sizings and part-exchange enquiries all come through this inbox. We reply the next working day. For an antique piece you would like us to look at, photographs are useful but not essential, bring it in to either shop in person and we will see it on the counter.
102 New George Street
Plymouth PL1 1RZ
Phone · 01752 661651
Walk · New George Street is the pedestrianised run between Drake Circus and the Theatre Royal. Two minutes from Plymouth railway station bus connections.
Closed Sundays and bank holidays.
51 Fore Street
Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1PG
Phone · 01548 857577
Walk · Fore Street runs from the quayside up the hill. We are a third of the way up, opposite The Old Bakehouse.
Closed Sundays and bank holidays.
Yes. Bring the piece in to either shop. We weigh, test and price against the live gold rate and the resale value of any stones. The figure can sit against any cabinet piece on the same day. No appointment needed for part-exchange, walk in any opening hour.
Yes. Ring sizing, claw rebuilds, chain repair, pearl restringing, watch batteries and straps are done in house at 102 New George Street. We keep the metal back from a ring sizing so the customer can see the offcut. Smaller jobs go out the same week, claw work and re-tipping run one to two weeks.
Yes. Written valuations done in person, in the shop, against the piece on the desk. Insurance valuations re-issued every three to five years to keep pace with the gold rate. Probate valuations done within the timeframes the solicitor needs. Andrew Jnr holds the Diamond Diploma at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain.
Yes. Same family, same six-generation lineage. Andrew Snr opened the Kingsbridge shop at 51 Fore Street in August 2006 with his wife Karen. Andrew Jnr joined the Kingsbridge counter in 2012. The two shops share stock and a service desk, so a ring left for sizing in Kingsbridge can be collected at New George Street and the other way round.
No. Closed Sundays and bank holidays at both shops. Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:00 in Plymouth and in Kingsbridge. WhatsApp is checked through the week on 07723 962760 if you need a question answered out of hours.