Christopher Evans: the Poynton goldsmith who started up a staircase

Every successful business has an origin story, and for Christopher Evans it begins at the top of a small staircase in Poynton. That is where the goldsmith first set up his own workspace, an upstairs room that doubled as a showroom, where customers would climb up to meet him and talk through their ideas for a commission.

More than 20 years on, that one-man workroom has grown into Christopher Evans Jewellers & Goldsmiths, with showrooms in Poynton and in Stockton Heath. The company was incorporated in 2003, and Chris built his reputation steadily, one bespoke design at a time.

What sets the business apart is that the making happens on site. Christopher and his team of goldsmiths design and craft each piece of bespoke jewellery in their own workshops, which operate at both showrooms, using high-quality gemstones and precious metals.

For customers, that means a level of involvement that is hard to match. Rather than choosing from a catalogue, clients can work with the people who will actually make their piece, whether it is an engagement ring designed around a particular stone, a set of wedding bands, or a cherished heirloom reimagined for a new generation.

The craftsmanship has earned Chris a name well beyond Poynton. He has been profiled by Cheshire Life, which described him as Cheshire's master goldsmith, a fitting title for someone who has spent two decades at the bench. The two showrooms also make the business easy to reach from across the county. The Poynton showroom on Park Lane serves east Cheshire and the edge of the Peak District, while the Stockton Heath showroom on London Road is a short hop from Warrington and the north of the county.

Bespoke jewellery is often bound up with life's biggest moments, from proposals and weddings to anniversaries and milestone birthdays. Working directly with a goldsmith means a piece can carry personal meaning in its design, rather than simply being chosen from a shelf.

In an age of mass-produced jewellery, there is something reassuring about a goldsmith who still makes things by hand, a few steps from where you sit to discuss the design. It is the kind of service that turns a purchase into a memory.

Christopher Evans Jewellers & Goldsmiths has showrooms on Park Lane, Poynton, and London Road, Stockton Heath. Visit christopherevansgoldsmiths.com.