A successful mother-and-daughter family business is celebrating its 45th ‘Sapphire’ anniversary with a special event.

Petra Jewellery, based at The Cottage in Viables Craft Centre, The Harrow Way, was founded by Petra Moore in 1979 and is now run by her daughter Mitch Lloyd.

The business is now hosting a special event with a mini tour of the professional workshop and an opportunity to watch the goldsmith at work.

(Image: Meghan Claire)

Reflecting on this milestone, founder Petra said: “When I started the business in an old bullpen at the Viables Craft Centre, I was unsure how Basingstoke would react to a young foreign woman who barely spoke any English.

“My customers seemed to value my high German quality standards, honesty, and integrity. Now, 45 years later, seeing how my daughter Mitch and our team have upheld these values, fills me with pride.

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“We’ve had the privilege of serving the Basingstoke community; creating, repairing and restoring jewellery since 1979. With that in mind, we want to acknowledge the support we’ve had from our whole ecosystem; customers, our talented in-house and outsourced team, suppliers, the council, neighbours, friends, and family .”

Mitch, Petra’s daughter, said: “We are part of some of the most important moments in our customers’ lives and Covid highlighted that more than we could ever have imagined.

“While we were at the bottom of the 'non-essential list’ I’ll never forget the joy in people’s faces when we could still offer to repair an engagement ring or remodel Grandma’s rings into a new treasured piece, those moments gave me the motivation to find a way through those challenging times.”

The business has evolved and grown over time and its post-Covid business model enables Mitch to now have time to offer support back to the community by volunteering as an Enterprise Advisor to Inclusion School (SEN) and Bishop Challenor as well as several work experience initiatives with her ‘Business in a Box’ concept.

Petra Jewellery is also the proud sponsor for St Micheal’s Hospice’s Moonlight Walk which goes with its ‘SharingtheSparkle ethos’.

The anniversary event starts at 3pm on Saturday, September 14, with reception drinks shortly followed by a celebratory welcome address by Mitch at 3.15pm and then a special opportunity to have a mini tour with options to visit the professional workshop and watch the goldsmith at work, get hands-on in its Workshop Studio, see a specially curated collection of sapphires.

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The Petra Team will be mingling and sharing stories until around 5pm for those who can stay longer.

Deputy Mayor Colin Phillimore and new MP for Basingstoke Luke Murphy are expected to join the celebrations.

The dress code is blue or pink to represent its most popular sapphire colours.