London & South East

A diamond in the rough

The Graff Diamonds flagship store on New Bond Street, London is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and expansion project. The first phase of the project is now complete and the next phase is due to open in Spring 2012.

Architects for the project are Nightingale Associates and the main contractor is Delcon Construction.

The refurbishment project has incorporated both state-of-the art technology and traditional architectural practice, creating a building that is both classically beautiful and strikingly modern.

The security of the building was a substantial consideration. A large number of cameras are successfully hidden within the detailing, whilst the facade is steel reinforced behind the stone and thick colour-corrected multi laminate glass.

For the figured hand-carved Portland stone facade, models were specifically carved for the cast railings, with the designs loosely based on early nineteenth-century pattern books. The sixteen marble columns of the interior are made of Diano Reae marble, which was selected especially for the job from a single large block in Carrara.

The showcases have been designed with the help of a firm of robotics engineers and have a computer controlled motor system that gently rotates them. This means that the jewels can be accessed from within the showroom whilst displays can be mounted on both salon and street sides of the showcases.

The timber cases are composed of pre-war Cuban mahogany and Nightingale Associates selected specially designed and carved details and brackets in gilded brass (ormolou). These were made in Paris, as France is the only place where the appropriate mercury-gilding can be successfully completed.

It is expected that the completed project will establish something of a benchmark in the world of high quality jewellery and fashion.

Rosguill Developments

Rosguill Developments has been delivering exceptional construction services since 1988. Working with high end clients such as Cartier and Graff Diamond, the company specialises in specialised fit outs for high street stores.

The company also works on new build and residential developments along with commercial developments such as schools and hospitals, specialising in interior finishes such as dry walls, ceilings, flooring and plastering.

With a team of passionate, knowledgeable and dedicated professionals, Rosguill Developments promise to provide a second to none service and assist their client in achieving their exact requirements. They are committed to the creation of long term client relationships and thoroughly understand the importance of commercial realities whilst delivering innovative construction to the highest standards of quality.

For the Graff Diamond project, Rosguill Developments was responsible for the dry walling, carcassing, joisting and ceiling works.

Frank McBride said: “We were extremely pleased to work on this prestigious project. Working for Graff Diamond was a challenge for us as our standards had to match theirs. It was a demanding and testing project with a wonderful result at the end of it.

“Rosguill Developments specialises in high end fit outs because that is what we love to do.”

 

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