As former jewellers to the court of Ludwig II of Bavaria, the Polish Kutchinsky family had its roots in the jewellery trade. Fleeing Poland in the 1890s, Joseph Kutchinsky’s grandfather moved to London with his family, and started the Kutchinsky jewellery shop in the East End.
Joseph Kutchinsky, commonly known as ‘Joe’, was born and raised in London. In training from his father and uncle, he left school at the age of 14 to work in the family jewellery business. Learning from the bottom up, he quickly became an experienced diamond polisher, and was promoted to overseeing the production of diamond and platinum watches. Joe Kutchinsky, a natural salesman, knew the importance of offering good client service and high quality jewellery to customers, and the cornerstones of the family business were set in place.
Shortly before being called to serve his country in WWII, Joe met the love of this life and married in 1940. After his return from the war, Joe began to rebuild the family business. Two sons were born, Roger in 1945 and Paul in 1950, who would ensure the legacy of the business. Post-War, the Kutchinsky brand truly started to flourish, pioneering the use of platinum in fine jewellery. In the late 1950s, the business moved to the commercially thriving and wealthier client-base of London's Knightsbridge. Once Roger and Paul Kutchinsky completed their education, they joined their father in the family business.
Kutchinsky, known for its trusted reputation and high quality, also successfully targeted London’s rich export market. With its bold jewellery pieces set in an array of precious gemstones, and playing with animal motifs, Kutchinsky became a particular favourite with newly prosperous Middle Eastern clients.
In 1989, Roger and Paul would take the reins, as their father steps down to take care of his ailing wife. Unfortunately, following the boom in popularity in the Middle East, the Gulf War cost the Kutchinsky business most of its important customers and the business was sold to Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd in 1991.
