Our History

1806

During George III's reign, a clockmaker named Samuel Martin opens a business on The Strand in Cheltenham.

George III
1838

Queen Victoria presents Martin & Co with a royal warrant.

Queen Victoria
1841

The company moves to its present site at 19 The Promenade in Cheltenham.

1890

George Dimmer, mayor of Cheltenham and founder member of the Rotary Club, acquires the business and changes the name to Martin & Co.

George Dimmer
1912

Martin & Co becomes one of the first limited companies in the country.

Certificate of incorporation
1929

Leonard Dimmer takes over from his father as Managing Director.

Leonard Dimmer
1930

Michael Dimmer joins the family business.

Certificate of incorporation
1935

Martin & Co creates the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the jewel of the National Hunt Racing calendar and each year a new trophy is handmade by the finest craftsmen. Our close relationship with the horse fraterinty has grown and now extends beyond racing to include a three day eventing point-to-point and polo.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup
1959

Ian and Nigel Dimmer start at Martin & Co. Alexandra and her brother, Jonathan, have since become the fifth generation to join the family business.

3 Generations of the Dimmer Family
2006

Martin & Co celebrates 200 years as the county jewellers.

Martin & Co in Cheltenham