Scents of Summer

from Affinity Luxury Lifestyle Magazine July 2021

Your Stars

Jimmy Choo I Want Choo, £44.50, www.theperfumeshop.com

Nothing takes you back to a summer holiday quite like a fragrance does. Whether it’s a limited summer edition or a fragrance with citrus and aquatic notes, refreshing summer scents are powerful in how they invoke memories and uplift your mood. So, with summer firmly on our minds, we thought we’d pick some of our favourites.

Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura, Limited Edition, £124, John Lewis

Issey Miyake L'eau-D'Issey Pure Nectar, £63.99, www.perfumedirect.com

Bvlgari Omnia by Mary Katrantzou, £87, Selfridges

Roberto Cavalli Florence Blosom, £48.99, www.perfumedirect.com

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh, £52.99, www.perfumedirect.com

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Rose Eau De Toilette, £68, Harrods

Sister Act

Successful siblings and leading business women Lizzie McAuley and Rebecca Church have the Midas touch when it comes to making family run business Baker Brothers Diamonds a sparkling success.

The dynamic duo successfully juggle motherhood alongside their roles as Directors of the award-winning, Bedford based business which specialises in diamonds and has prestigious partnerships with luxury brands including Rolex, Tudor, Marco Bicego and BBC’s All That Glitters judge Shaun Leane.

The successful sisters grew up helping at the family jewellers and inherited their late father Kevin Coleman’s unrelenting work ethic, dedication, drive and passion for the industry.

Together the talented two continue their father’s legacy which has seen the bespoke jewellers expand and evolve over the years in an ever-changing retail landscape.

Extensive expertise, years of training, an eye for detail, perfection and precision are paramount to produce a flawless diamond, facets reflected in the commercial approach adopted by the sisters steering their longestablished jewellery business to continued success.

Lizzie said: “We grew up trying to build the business and have always been incredibly passionate about it. When Dad first owned Baker Brothers it was a much smaller affair offering specific low-end gold, however his vision was all about having high class diamonds.

“Dad managed to achieve that ambition and Rebecca and I share his passion for diamonds. When Dad passed away in 2010, because Rebecca and I love the business, we knew we wanted it to carry on and thankfully Baker Brothers has continued to go from strength to strength.”

In the latest development, the big-hearted business announced the launch of the Baker Brothers Community Fund, a project providing support for local charities, schools and community causes.

Lizzie said: “Launching our community fund will continue our Dad’s legacy as he did so much for children’s charities and it was always our plan to carry this on in his memory.

“Baker Brothers has always contributed to a variety of community causes through a combination of donations and raffle prizes to boost fundraising efforts, but we wanted to do so much more to help. During this pandemic we’ve seen how it’s brought the community back together and highlighted how important it is to look after your community.”

The business plans to provide exciting, educational experiences, support, sponsorship and

Lizzie said: “People know we’re a family-run firm, their local jeweller; however it’s also nice to give something back on a personal level. Establishing the Baker Brothers Community Fund will take our ongoing local support to another level, it’s that feel good factor of giving to those in the community that need help the most.”

The sisters have also launched the KC jewellery collection in memory of their father who Lizzie has fond memories of accompanying to Antwerp where he would buy loose diamonds. Lizzie learnt how to grade them, undertaking several courses, visiting labs and was enthralled by the experience.

Sister Rebecca specialises in the design aspect and mounts at the business, which is still situated in St Peters Street in Bedford’s oldest building. While it may be steeped in history and heritage, the business has been transformed by the ambitious sisters.

Lizzie, who originally worked at Hugo Boss and as a buyer for Tesco before joining the family business, explained how well they work together.

She said: “Once I’ve sourced and handpicked the diamonds Rebecca works on all the designs to incorporate them into different pieces of jewellery. We work very well together and have done for 20 years.”

Rebecca has 30 years experience working in the family business, which she joined straight from school. Like Lizzie, over the years she has acquired an array of industry qualifications and extensive expertise.

Rebecca revealed how much she enjoys working with her sister.

She said: “Lizzie is my favourite person in the whole world and working with her is like working with my best friend every day. Our personalities are very different, but we have always got on and rarely disagree on anything as we have such a good understanding of each other.”

Rebecca’s role also includes buying all the jewellery for the shop, purchasing gemstones and designer pieces from the various brands Baker Brothers stock including Fope and Georg Jensen.

Together they make for a winning team. While Lizzie manages the Rolex partnership, established since 2008, Rebecca buys the watches from brands including Tag Heuer, Longines, and Raymond Weil.

Lizzie, who is also Director of Houlden Jewellers, a national buying and networking group involving high end jewellers, ensures Baker Brothers continues to build relationships with local Bedfordshire businesses. They collaborate with

each other with incentives to try and share customers and many local businessmen and women are also regular Baker Brothers customers.

Like many retailers they have faced tough challenges during the pandemic but are proud of how the business has survived and thrived.

Lizzie concluded what drives the dedicated daughters’ determination to ensure Baker Brothers continues to grow and make its mark in the industry: “Whatever happens that Dad would be proud of what we are doing and it’s successful.”

For more information contact Baker Brothers Diamonds at email@bakerbrothersdiamonds.com or Telephone: 01234 352 343