Founding of Hettich
Julius Hettich, a German clock maker and jeweller, purchased premises at 1 King Street in St Helier. The son of Julius, Edward Wyndham Hettich, took on the shop at 21 years of age and began trading as a jeweller and optician.
125 years and counting
The History of Hettich
Hettich have evolved and changed with the times but remain committed to traditional values that have become synonymous with the name. This is our family story...
1900
1901
The Early Days
In 1901, Edwin married Ethel Frances Saunders, a staff member who had also worked for the previous proprietor. The following year, Ethel gave birth to their daughter Agnes, who would go on to play a key role in the future of Hettich. The couple’s second daughter, Frieda, was born in 1904 and the family lived above the shop.
1921
A Royal Affair
n July 1921, King George V, Queen Mary and HRH Princess Mary visited Jersey. Photographs of the royal visit show that the lines of the Hettich building have changed very little in over a century. During the 1920s, Hettich’s services included eye tests and spectacle repairs and Edwin also fitted artificial eyes! The front of the shop displayed an array of diamonds, pearls and other gems, while at the back of the shop, glass and porcelain eyes of all shapes, sizes and colours were discreetly and neatly placed in rows on flat trays.
1934
Looking To The Future
Hettich became a limited liability company and Edwin moved from above the shop to live in a newly built house above First Tower. As a keen innovator, with an interest in
technological advancements, he was the proud owner of one of the first cars on the island of Jersey.
Continuing the theme of firsts, the Hettich shop was one of the earliest in Jersey to have gas-powered electric lighting. But even with an eye on the future, traditional customer service values have always remained one of Hettich’s trademarks.
In the same year, Antony (Tony) Chinn, the son of Edwin’s daughter Frieda and James B. Chinn, was born. Having no son himself, Edwin earmarked Tony to be his successor in the family business.
1939
War Time and Occupation
During the course of the island’s Occupation, Edwin’s home at First Tower was commandeered by the German Army as an officer’s billet, so he and his family moved back to live above the shop once more. Apart from repairs, there was very little business during the years of the Occupation. The shop stayed open as long as it could, but by Liberation Day in 1945, only three silver hatpins remained in stock.
1948
The Next Generation
Edwin was elected to The States in 1948, as Deputy for St Helier. From 1953 to 1966 he was President of the Public Works Committee and, under him, work began on building the Victoria Avenue dual carriageway. As Edwin dedicated more and more time to public service, the optical side of the business was phased out. It then fell to his eldest daughter, Agnes, to take more responsibility in the running of the shop. She was a meticulous and astute businesswoman with great integrity.
1954
Antony Chinn
Edwin’s grandson Antony (Tony) Chinn, returned to Jersey to work in the shop after completing his studies at the London Central School. He focussed on jewellery and design, and he was the first Jerseyman to become a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. In 1958, he went on to win the prestigious George Greenough Trophy, a national competition in which jewellers demonstrated how to achieve excellence in their profession.
As Jersey started to enjoy the prosperity of the Financial Services Industry, wealthy residents moved to the island and soon became loyal customers of Hettich. Tony completely transformed the business by finding new suppliers, reinvigorating the Rolex relationship and secured the highly prized agency for Patek Philippe.
Just like his grandfather, Tony was also prominent in local affairs. He was the Chairman of the Jersey Branch of the Institute of Directors and was elected Senator to the States of Jersey in 1990.
1959
Jeffrey Chinn
In 1959, Tony’s eldest son Jeffrey was born. He studied jewellery in London at St John Cass College, followed by further training at Sotheby’s and Asprey. Jeffrey then entered the family business in 1984. He soon gained a Diploma of the National Association of Goldsmiths and, like his father, became a Fellow of the Gemmological Association.
To this day, Jeffrey still manages the business and is committed to maintaining the high standards of the past, whilst keeping Hettich’s ranges at the forefront of design and innovation.
1966
Building a Business to Last
Tony was dedicated to guaranteeing a future for Hettich, so he orchestrated a refurbishment and hired a Swiss architect to modernise the shop at 1 King Street.
The re-modelling of the shop and its new sophisticated image gave Hettich suitable surroundings for a range of world-class brands. Hettich took on the exclusive rights to Patek Philippe, strengthened its position with Omega and Rolex, and introduced a new range of Italian jewellery.
2000
Moving into the Millenium
At the end of the 20th century, Tony and Jeffrey Chinn realised that, once again, the building had outgrown its surroundings. Within the constraints placed on a listed building, work commenced on a thorough internal overhaul and gentle facelift.
Hettich reopened on 6th April 2000, and while the shop underwent a design evolution, Hettich made sure to retain its traditional character and elegant ambience.
2010
Nick Chinn
Hettich was delighted to welcome another member of the family to the business when Nick Chinn, the fourth child of Tony, returned to Jersey after getting married. Following a career in London as a Chartered Surveyor, Nick retrained as a gemmologist with the Gemmological Institute of America and gained experience working with diamonds and gemstones on London’s Bond Street.
2013
Timeless Elegance
Hettich completed a state-of-the-art shop and workshop refit, in keeping with the high standards of the watch houses represented in store. This allowed the team to continue to offer the very best service in an updated environment that was undeniably elegant and unmistakably Hettich.
2021
A New Era
Hettich decided to make the biggest investment in their future yet and purchased adjacent premises 2-4 King Street. Work then began to restore and develop this landmark building to create a luxury retail space worthy of the Hettich name. In August 2024, the structural phase was completed and work commenced on the Art Deco themed interior design. In November 2024, the development entered its final stage ahead of the grand opening in early 2025.
2025
125 years
After 125 years, Hettich is still looking forward to a bright future and, on 1st February, welcomed customers into the new store at 2-4 King Street. The Hettich family story continues.
