Dipples Fine Jewellers took the lease of 14 Abbeygate Street in October 2022, when Trevor Salt retired and Thurlow Champness and Son closed after two hundred and seventy-seven years of continuous family ownership. We had been their repair partner; the local press called the handover "heritage secured." Behind the curved walnut window and the brass JEWELLERS lockup, the same team behind the same counter, now under the Dipples mark and the fifth generation of the Dipple family.
“Bury St Edmunds heritage secured after Dipples jewellers takes on former Thurlow Champness and Son in Abbeygate Street.” Suffolk News headline, October 2022
Hearts on Fire solitaires, Brown and Newirth wedding bands, platinum and 18ct white, yellow and rose gold settings. Diamond eternity rings, fitted wedding bands shaped to an existing engagement ring, sapphire and ruby cluster work. The Norwich workshop’s master jeweller Mark designs and makes bespoke pieces by hand; the Bury counter takes the commission and consults with him.
Cabinets at the Bury showroom carry Georg Jensen, FOPE, Hearts on Fire Diamonds and Kit Heath. Dipples is one of the longest-standing Georg Jensen partners in East Anglia and the Bury cabinetry was built around these names when the shop opened in 2022. Walk-in viewing, sizing on the premises, and the same after-care across every brand we stock.
British Bremont (hand-finished in Henley-on-Thames), Swiss Longines, Baume and Mercier, Rado, Mondaine, Certina, plus Seiko, Citizen and Garmin MARQ. The Bury service bench accepts watches across these brands for battery, movement and bracelet work; senior service work routes through the Norwich workshop.
Ring resizing, claw rebuilding, chain repair, clasp replacement, pearl restringing, watch battery and movement service. Remodelling of inherited pieces using your own stones is one of the bench’s favourite jobs. Insurance valuations carried out on the premises. Walk-in repairs accepted across all brands, not only the ones we sell.
The building has been a jeweller's since 1745, when the watchmaker George Lumley set up shop on the site. The trade passed through John Gudgeon in 1815, then to the Thurlow Champness family from 1901, and finally to Trevor Salt who closed the shop in September 2022 after two hundred and seventy-seven years of continuous family ownership. The curved walnut window, the brass JEWELLERS lockup, the projecting street clock on a wrought-iron bracket, all of that is from the late-Victorian rebuild and all of it has been outside this door for a hundred and twenty years.
Dipples is the other story. George Henry Dipple founded the firm in Woodford, Essex, in 1878. The family relocated to Ipswich, Suffolk, by 1890, then to Swan Lane in Norwich around 1894, where the flagship has stood ever since. (The gold swan in the Dipples mark is the swan of Swan Lane.) The Dereham branch opened in 1963, run by Rodney Ellis. Today the firm is run by Rodney's son, Chris Ellis, with his wife Rebecca. Chris is the great-great-grandson of George Henry Dipple, the fifth generation.
When Trevor approached Chris in 2022, Dipples had already been Thurlow Champness's trusted repair partner for years. Chris took the lease, re-employed most of the existing team, kept the Bremont, Georg Jensen and FOPE cabinets, and reopened with, in his own words, "a lick of paint and rebranding." The customers walked in and saw the same faces behind the same counter. The trade has not broken at 14 Abbeygate Street since 1745.
“We have immense respect for the business that Trevor and his family have built over the years. During our discussions, we have realised just how similar our two businesses are, given our longstanding heritages.” Chris Ellis, MD · on taking on 14 Abbeygate Street · October 2022
The first conversation happens at the Bury counter at 14 Abbeygate Street. The design and the bench work then route through to Mark, our master jeweller in the Norwich workshop. You can stay at Bury for the whole process or visit Norwich for the bench fitting. Most engagement-ring commissions run six to eight weeks from first conversation to hallmark.
Sizing, claw rebuilding, chain repair, clasp replacement, pearl restringing, watch battery and bracelet work, all handled at the Bury service bench. Remodelling of inherited pieces using your own stones (and usually your own gold) is one of the bench's favourite jobs. Walk-in repairs across all brands, not only the ones we sell.
Independent insurance valuations for engagement rings, eternity rings, inherited jewellery and watches. Carried out at the counter or by appointment, with a written report and photographs on Dipples and Son Limited letterhead. Authorised and regulated by the FCA (reference 690547) for consumer credit, including interest-free finance on eligible pieces.
A short form to plan a visit to 14 Abbeygate Street. We reply within one working day with two or three suggested times. If the piece is bespoke, the conversation continues with Mark in the Norwich workshop after the first counter visit; if it is a watch service or a repair, we will give you an estimate at the counter before any work is committed.
14 Abbeygate Street
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 1UN
Phone · 01284 754747
Email · burysales@dipples.com
Walk-up · The curved walnut corner shop with the projecting wrought-iron street clock, between the Abbey Gate and the Cornhill
Outside hours by arrangement. Engagement-ring and high-value viewings can be arranged after 17:00 or on a Sunday by appointment. Ring the Bury number or email burysales@dipples.com to book a slot.
Different family, same building. Thurlow Champness and Son traded from 14 Abbeygate Street from 1901 until Trevor Salt retired in 2022, after two hundred and seventy-seven years of continuous jewellery at the address. When Trevor approached us, we took the lease, kept most of the existing team behind the counter, and kept the Bremont, Georg Jensen and FOPE cabinets they had built up. The trade has run without a break at 14 Abbeygate Street since 1745.
Yes. The first conversation happens at the Bury counter on Abbeygate Street. The design and the bench work then route through to Mark, our master jeweller, in the Norwich workshop on Swan Lane. You can stay at Bury for the whole process, or visit Norwich for the bench fitting if you prefer. Most engagement-ring commissions run six to eight weeks from first conversation to hallmark.
Yes. Bring the piece in to 14 Abbeygate Street, we will take a careful look with you at the counter, and Mark in Norwich will draw two or three options that reuse your stones (and usually the gold) in a setting that suits how you actually wear jewellery. The new piece carries the same metal as the original.
Yes. The Bury service bench accepts watches across the brands we stock and many we do not. Battery, bracelet, glass and minor movement work happens at Bury. Senior service work (Bremont overhaul, Longines movement service) routes through the Norwich workshop. We will give you an estimate at the counter before any work is committed.
Yes. Dipple and Son Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer credit (FCA reference 690547). Interest-free finance is available in-store on eligible pieces, subject to status. We will talk through the options at the counter against the piece you have in mind.