Michael Cox
1946 - 2024
The Michael Spiers family are heartbroken to announce that our Director Michael Cox passed away at the weekend. Please note that all our stores and head office will be closed on Wednesday, 26th June 2024, in memory of our Director and friend.
After studying art and design at Hornsey College of Art, the iconic British art institution, Michael moved back to Looe where his family owned a hotel. It was in Looe that he met Michael Spiers who offered him a summer job working in Michael’s first shop in the famous fishing town.
One summer turned into another and by the time a new shop was opened in Polperro, Michael’s life in jewellery had truly begun.
A very different Michael Spiers Jewellers to the luxurious showrooms today, Michael recalled during an interview in 2015 that “I was made Manager and Head of Sales, even though there was only me working in the shop”, Michael laughed at the memory, “our sales consisted mainly of silver charms - lobster pots and Cornish piskies!”
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After opening the Plymouth store, Michael put his artistic skills to work designing the first Michael Spiers diamond jewellery collection, with the two Michael’s travelling to Thailand to buy gemstones for the new designs.
Michael became a well known ‘diamantaire’ within the jewellery industry, travelling the world in search of the perfect diamonds and gemstones and becoming a familiar face at the London Diamond Bourse. Michael would go on to be elected to the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, one of his many industry accolades.
From simple beginnings in Looe and Polperro in the 1960’s to the Michael Spiers stores of today, Michael was there every step of the way. Michael became a coach and mentor to many of his younger colleagues, generously sharing his incredible knowledge.
For those that knew and worked alongside Michael Cox, we celebrate his amazing achievements in the industry and, more importantly, we fondly remember a kind man who was always generous with his time, who came to work every day with a smile on his face, who loved his life, his family and his work. A man who could fill a room with laughter after a sharp and witty aside. A true gentleman.
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