Marcia Lanyon going going... almost gone

The 69 year-old gemmologist, who is one of the leading suppliers to jewellery designers and makers in the UK, announced her retirement last week having carved out an unrivalled reputation for sourcing precious stones from all corners of the planet.

Over a period of 40 years, she has built up an enviable mailing list of around 7,000 clients but says none will be left high and dry when she hangs up her boots, with Christmas scheduled as the time when she will officially close her office .

“I will not be going completely and although I will be giving up my 9 to 5 commitment, I will not be closing down the business,” she told Benchpeg reassuringly.

“We have established a place in the supply chain which has become very important to some customers so I will continue to try and help until they find alternatives. I will not be leaving anyone in the lurch.

Taking the decision to retire was a difficult one, she added.

"I love this business and I love the people. I have a really good staff who have already found other jobs so it was a tricky one. I always said I would retire when I was 60 and I’m not sure at the age of 69, I want to take on the new challenges we face in our industry. 
 

"But I shall continue to be involved. I have volunteered to mentor for the NAJ and also the Princes Trust and I shall be touring around the colleges because if I am going to clear out my stock, I would like to see talented students benefit.”

Her sponsorship of prizes for the use of coloured stones in jewellery will continue, she adds, bringing her experience as a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company and committee member on the National Committee of the British Jewellery Association to bear.

Marcia started her career in London's Hatton Garden, working for the gemstone dealer George Lindley Ltd, becoming responsible for stock and grading gemstones.  In the evenings she studied for her Fellowship of the Gemmological Association, which she was awarded with distinction in 1969. The Association’s diamond certificate followed, in 1970.

In 1970 Marcia joined the business of leading jewellery designer/goldsmith John Donald, where her responsibilities included  sourcing stones. In 1972 she moved to Hong Kong and there she wrote and taught an FGA Diploma course, alongside other gemmology courses. Some of her students have gone on to become luminaries of the gemstone and jewellery business and she was acknowledged at a 2008 ceremony as the founder of gemmology education in Hong Kong. 

“Seeing talented students go on to achieve great things has been one of the highlights of my career especially in a time when we have experienced such a massive change in our industry,” she said.

Her work in Hong Kong included consulting for the Hong Kong Tourist Association and led to the start of her stone-trading enterprise. Following her return to London in 1975, Marcia developed Marcia Lanyon Ltd alongside making necklaces and selling these direct to the public at Covent Garden market and through major stores such as Liberty. 

By 1985 the company had three staff working from the ground floor of her house. It moved to freehold office premises in Hammersmith in 2001, by which time there were six staff. Today the company manages over 17,000 lines of stock, using a computer-based stock coding system that is probably still unique.
 
Marcia Lanyon Ltd has been proud to build lasting relationships with thousands of designers and goldsmiths, supporting their gemstone needs from their very earliest collections. Some now have worldwide reputations.

In 1983 Marcia Lanyon Ltd was the only stone dealer with a stand at what is now the International Jewellery London trade show and IJL 2017 will be the 35th consecutive showing and she says, her last!

www.marcialanyon.com