Pragnell of Mount Street, Mayfair and Leicester City Centre: British Craft in Two Distinct Worlds
There are two jewellers I love in Leicester, Lumbers on the high st but my favourite in Pragnell 22-24 Market St, Leicester LE1. A sucker for a vintage car and a vintage diamond, I love seeing the old morris minor van parked outside the shop.
Lots of people like new jewellery and you can select stones and settings separately and have something custom created, a wonderful service but I absolutely love browsing the curated selection of the special vintage and estate pieces, starting from early Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, through retro designs and pieces from esteemed houses like Cartier and Van Cleef, Aspreys and Boodles.
You can check the beautiful selection online, easily searchable by price, preferred stones or type of piece you are looking for, necklace, ring, bracelet, and then go into store for a personal shopping appointment where the experience, whether in London’s Mayfair, Leicester or Stratford Upon Avon I have always found to be warm and personal with champagne, tea or coffee if you like.
It’s unusual to find a shopping experience at this level in Leicester, one to definitely experience if you have the budget to cross the threshold and if you are in search of a luxury watch, they are Rolex and Patek Phillipe specialists. The first jeweller to bring these renowned Swiss brands to the UK over 70 years ago.
The Pragnell jewellery chain is still a family business with family values, a modern approach with an old fashioned attention to detail feeling.
If you are in the neighbourhood of Market St in Leicester or the gorgeous Mount Street in Mayfair, make an appointment to pop in and have a shop.
These two locations could not be any more different but the service, comfortable yet refined shop interiors and warm friendly reception from staff where nothing is too much trouble will make you want to return over and over again.
It’s true across Britain’s luxury landscape, from the mill and factory town of Leicester and the hoi polloi, to the ladies and gents of Mayfair few names balance heritage, craftsmanship and modern service quite as deftly as Pragnell. With a London presence on Mount Street in Mayfair and a long-established home in Leicester city centre, the family jeweller straddles two very different worlds: the discreet, international elegance of Mayfair and the warm, grounded energy of the Midlands. Together they form a portrait of contemporary British fine jewellery and watch expertise that is both cosmopolitan and deeply rooted.
A family ethos, refined over generations.
Pragnell’s story is one of independence and continuity. As a family business, it has evolved with each generation while holding firm to the principles that matter most in fine jewellery: honest advice, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to enduring beauty. That ethos runs like a thread through each showroom, informing everything from design to aftercare. And the proof of the pudding is in the eating. My Dad like to shop there so it’s a bit of a family tradition for me too.
The jeweller’s reputation rests on three pillars. First is an eye for exceptional stones and craftsmanship, whether in new creations or heirloom pieces. Second is horological knowledge, drawing in watch enthusiasts who value both the romance and engineering of fine timepieces. Third is a service culture that treats a once-in-a-lifetime purchase with the same care as a small repair, building relationships that often span decades, for us it’s three.
Mount Street, Mayfair: discretion and rarity
Mayfair’s Mount Street has long been a byword for refined taste, where heritage houses and contemporary artisans share a quiet confidence. Pragnell’s presence here feels entirely at home. The space is designed for unhurried discovery, where clients can engage with jewellery and watches at their own pace. Expect a curated selection that leans into rarity and narrative: jewels with exceptional character, signed pieces from important periods, and watches that reward connoisseurship as much as they delight at a glance. Take your time and enjoy the experience, they won’t mind so long as you are shopping.
The Mayfair experience is notably personal. Appointments are unrushed; discussions about provenance, design and care are encouraged; and private areas allow for thoughtful decision-making away from the bustle of the street. It is an environment built for collectors and celebrants alike, from those seeking a singular stone to mark an occasion to clients assembling a coherent personal collection over time.
Leicester city centre: heritage, community and celebration
If Mayfair whispers, Leicester sings. The city centre showroom sits at the heart of a thriving, diverse community, welcoming first-time buyers and seasoned collectors with equal enthusiasm. It is a destination for engagement rings and wedding bands—a place where couples can compare settings, learn about diamond characteristics in clear, accessible terms and find a design that feels distinctly their own. IT’s posh for Leicester folk.
Leicester’s role is also practical. Many clients come with family pieces to refresh or restore, and the team’s expertise in remodelling allows old treasures to enjoy new lives. There is a strong educational element too: staff are adept at demystifying gemstones and watch movements, ensuring that customers feel informed as well as inspired. In a city that values craft and value in equal measure, Pragnell offers both.
Craftsmanship and the art of the bespoke
Whether in Mayfair or Leicester, the path to a finished jewel often starts with conversation. Bespoke commissions are collaborative by design. Clients might bring a sketch, a theme, or an inherited stone; the team translates that idea into renderings, models and, ultimately, a piece that marries personal significance with structural integrity.
Attention to detail runs from claw alignment and metal finishing to how a ring sits between the fingers over many years of wear. Ethical sourcing and transparency are central considerations, with careful attention paid to origin, cut quality and long-term durability. For restorations, the guiding principle is sympathetic craftsmanship: retaining the character of an heirloom while ensuring its future.
Watches with soul and substance
Pragnell’s watch counters bring together technical depth and aesthetic discernment. Clients encounter timepieces that reward close inspection—movements worth understanding, histories worth telling. For those exploring their first mechanical watch, the team can explain the differences between complications, movements and materials. For veteran collectors, conversation often turns to nuances of dial production, period-correct details and long-term maintenance.
Pre-owned and vintage pieces frequently feature, offering a route into discontinued references and a way to connect with horological history. Servicing and aftercare are given the same emphasis as the initial sale, recognising that a great watch is a long-term companion. If you are in search of a specific model secondhand they’ll keep an eye out for you until the watch you want comes in.
Service that outlasts the purchase
One hallmark of a serious jeweller is how they support clients after the ribbon is cut. Pragnell’s services span valuations, cleaning and inspections, resizing, repairs, remodelling, and guidance on insurance. For watches, routine servicing and accuracy checks help preserve performance and value. These practicalities underpin the romance of a purchase, ensuring that beauty remains wearable and dependable for decades.
Design language: British, timeless, quietly modern
Across both locations, the aesthetic is distinctly British. Jewellery designs often blend classical lines with subtle modernity—think clean proportions, tactile metalwork and settings that showcase the stone rather than overwhelm it. Where craftsmanship shines, it does so in the details: the way light returns through a diamond, the taper of a shoulder, the smoothness of a bracelet’s articulation. It is an approach that favours longevity over fashion, meaning pieces feel current today and poised to become tomorrow’s heirlooms.
Two locations, one identity
What unites Mount Street and Leicester city centre is a consistent point of view: a belief that luxury should be welcoming, that knowledge should be shared generously and that what people buy should enrich their lives beyond the moment of purchase. The settings are different—the hushed elegance of Mayfair versus the lively spirit of the Midlands—but the experience is recognisably Pragnell in both.
For those seeking an exceptional engagement ring, a noteworthy watch, or the restoration of a family treasure, these two addresses offer complementary paths. In Mayfair, the emphasis is on privacy, curation and rarity. In Leicester, it is on celebration, community and craft made accessible. Together, they embody a modern expression of British fine jewellery—one that values story as much as sparkle, and substance as much as style.
Planning your visit
1. Book ahead if you want a private appointment, particularly for bespoke commissions or significant watch enquiries.
2. Bring any relevant documentation for valuations or service histories; it helps tailor advice.
3. For remodelling projects, bring the pieces you’re considering; photographs of past wearers can also inform sympathetic designs.
4. If you’re new to diamonds or mechanical watches, don’t worry—expect clear explanations and time to compare options side by side.
In an industry where detail matters and trust is everything, Pragnell’s twin presence in Mount Street, Mayfair and Leicester city centre offers a compelling blend of knowledge, artistry and hospitality—proof that true luxury is as much about how you are made to feel as it is about what you eventually take home.
Thanks to everyone at Pragnell in Mayfair for my experience. You made me feel so welcome and valued as a long standing customer.