William Asprey 1759-1827 Charles Asprey I 1786-1854 Charles Asprey II Junior 1813-1892 Charles Asprey III 1845-1916 1781 Founded William Asprey in Mitcham, Surrey. Initially Aspreys was a silk-printing business which William’s son Charles expanded into metallic arts. 1841 Aspreys went into partnership with a London stationer called Kennedy’s. 1847 The relationship broke down and Aspreys, headed by Charles Asprey I, subsequently moved to 167, New Bond Street, where the firm still operates from today. 1859 Aspreys brought Edwards, a maker of dressing cases and a holder of a Royal Warrant. Their early speciality became dressing cases. Aspreys purchased the Alfred Club of 22, Albermarle Street, the haunt of Lord Byron, so they could expand their premises and have entrances on two of London’s most fashionable streets. 1862 Aspreys won a medal at the International Exhibition for their dressing cases. The company was granted a warrant from Queen Victoria and began building up their Royal and international clientele. 1920’s Aspreys received numerous commissions from American Millionaires such as J.Pierpoint Morgan and Indian Maharajas, including the Maharajahs of Patiala and Cooch Behar, and the Sultan of Lahore. Ernest Betjeman was hired as a designer, he was regarded as one the best of his time. He was great friends with Philip Asprey, introducing him to shooting. 1927 Saks of 5th Avenue in New York became Asprey’s American agent. 1929 Asprey suffered in the Great Depression, being hit by the decrease in demand for luxury goods. 1930 During the Round Table Conference in India which was held in London, the Maharajahs of Patiala commissioned Aspreys to make enormous Teak trunks, one for each of his five wives. Each trunk ended up being fitted with solid silver toilette utensils, including tiger-spouted bottles. 1953 Elizabeth II’s coronation inspired the design of the ‘Coronation Year Gold Collection’. It went on display in New Bond Street and went on to tour to the United States. It took a year to complete and was compared to Paul de Lamerie’s great masterpieces. 1973 Eric A. Rolls Asprey becomes the Asprey Chairman for the following six years. 1975 Eric Asprey receives the Queen’s Award for Industry. In the following years, Asprey’s would acquire furniture restorers and book binders Sangorski and Sutcliffe. 1979 John Rolls Asprey, Eric’s son, became chairman. 1995 The Prince Jeffrey Bolkiah of Brunei purchased the firm. 1998 Aspreys merged with Garrard, The Crown Jewellers, to become Aspreys and Garrads 2000 Asprey & Garrard was purchased by a private partnership. 2002 The companies separated. 2009 Aspreys still occupies the same location on the corner of Bond and Albemarle Street and continues to produce jewellery, silverware and other luxury goods.
