Jersey Pearl Celebrates 40th Anniversary

This June, Jersey Pearl marks 40 years of sharing the magic of pearls. Since 1985, this Jersey family-run business has welcomed over 30 million visitors to its St Ouen home, offering unforgettable experiences in shopping, dining, and pearl discoveries.

Where it all began…

Pearls have always had a timeless appeal, but when founder Fred Scragg opened a 16,000- square-foot pearl-only showroom out of town, it was a bold move – but it paid off. Holidaymakers couldn’t resist the beauty of pearls and treating themselves to something special right here in Jersey. Today, islanders are just as keen to visit the beautiful location and Pearl Café regularly as a favourite spot to relax and treat themselves.

Jersey family business

Jersey Pearl has always been a family business, with people at its heart. In the early days, Fred ran the company with his son and son-in-law, Mike Scragg and John Taylor. Now John’s children, Julia and Mike, are leading the way with a business that started in Jersey but has now grown internationally across the UK and Spain. Today, the fourth generation also gets involved during the holidays, lending a hand in the café, showroom and workshop. Proof that passion for pearls and delighting people runs deep in the family.

A few favourite memories…

Jersey Pearl’s story is packed with memorable moments. Director John Taylor recalls: “Some of my best memories are when we had ladies queuing around the building to spot John Nettles in our showroom during Bergerac’s ‘80s heyday. Coach drivers racing each other to grab a parking spot, and unforgettable moments like launching our Jersey Ormer collection and learning to string pearls with Queen Elizabeth II’s pearl stringer. It’s been an incredible journey.”

Over the last 40 years, Jersey Pearl has launched best-selling collections, collaborated with top jewellery designers, created their much-loved Pick-a-Pearl experience, designed a world-first pearl jewellery self-service unit at Jersey Airport in World Duty Free, been awarded Carbon Neutral status, launched plastic-free packaging and eco-thread bracelets made entirely from recycled plastic bottles and most recently, gave the Pearl Café a gorgeous new look.

Jersey Pearl Marks 40 Years with a Nostalgic ‘80s Twist

To mark their 40th anniversary, Jersey Pearl is going retro with vibrant 1980s-inspired displays popping up across their St. Ouen, King Street, and Gorey locations. These colourful throwbacks nod to iconic styles from the decade that started it all. As part of the celebration, the brand has launched three bold new colours of its popular tassel bracelet – perfect for adding a playful splash of colour to any outfit. Over at the Pearl Café, visitors can enjoy a taste of the past with a special menu featuring nostalgic classics like prawn cocktail, banana split, and an 80s dinner party must – a trifle!

Everyone’s invited to join the fun and be part of the next exciting chapter in Jersey Pearl’s story.