5 minute read
DALGLEISH DIAMONDS
In their 20th year of owning Dalgleish Diamonds, Lynnette Rowan and Bill Roy received the best birthday present of all – being named the 2025 Supreme Winner at the Taranaki Top Shop Awards.
“It felt really good, and it still feels really good,” says Lynnette. “It feels like a confirmation of what we do.” “And that we’re doing the right things,” adds Bill.
The New Plymouth manufacturing jewellery store also won the Specialty Store Award and was named the North Taranaki Regional Winner.
The husband-and-wife owners say those wins come down to their people. “It’s about the staff; the people that we’ve got on board. They’re fantastic at knowing and looking after the people that walk through our door,” says Lynnette, of the sevenstrong team (five full-time, one part-time, one on parental leave).
The awards mean even more because they began with their customers. “Our clients have been really important in this whole process because, initially, that’s how you get nominated . . . so it’s really lovely that our clients have recognised us and wanted to nominate us as a worthy recipient.”
Lynnette says the whole evening was a positive celebration of the community. The store’s team were all there for the June 14 awards ceremony, organised by the Taranaki Chamber of Chamber.
“It was amazing, and the best feeling ever,” says retail star Bev Churchill, named Service Person of the Year in 2024. “Because we work hard, I think, we deserved it. Every year, that was our aim, to get it, and this year we did everything –I think we were all pretty happy.”
Retail assistant and admin Deb-Lyn Baylis agrees: “I was feeling pretty excited and I felt really proud of the team as a whole, just knowing how hard we’d worked.”
Second-year apprentice jeweller Josh Burger was also elated by the win. “It was nice to see that we were acknowledged. All our hard work was noticed by the people, which is really nice, I reckon. I was pretty excited when that (the supreme award) got announced.”
The award tops off a year looking back on two decades of running the Dalgleish store. The central city jeweller was first established in 1919, and Lynnette and Bill took it over in 2005 – look out for celebration surprises later this year.
“There are so many special stories,” says Lynnette. “But one that’s always incredibly special to me is remaking the wedding ring of a dear friend who passed away. It was made into three beautiful bands for his three beautiful daughters.” The bands were made into tubes, and small pieces of his hair inserted into each one. “So they’re wearing their dad with them every day. And what made it even more special was that they were in here and they helped. The four of them (his wife and daughters) were all here for the afternoon,” she says.
Bill is focused on making bespoke jewellery – working with customers on heartfelt pieces and also creating one-off designs inspired by the stones he sources from around the globe. One of the jeweller’s latest creations was a green garnet and diamond ring, which gained second-equal in the INSTORE Design Awards 2025 – Coloured Stone Over $5000. “That’s quite special for us to compete on the world market and get recognised,” he says.
Bill is also dedicated to sharing his knowledge – Josh is the fourth apprentice
jeweller he has trained. “So he is now able to use the title of Master Jeweller, which has also been a lovely recognition of what he’s done,” says Lynnette.
“It’s nice to retain the skills and be able to pass them on to the next generation, and to give back to the trade as well – it’s given me a lot,” says Bill. “I think that’s an important thing for whatever trade you’re in, to be able to pass those skills on.”
Bill and Lynnette believe the Top Shop Supreme award also reflects the way the store operates. “One part can’t happen without the others. We all take part in each and every sale,” she says. Windows into the workshop also enable customers to watch the manufacturing jewellers at work, including using a new laser cutter and engraver. “It’s about being open, about people knowing what’s happening with their work and being able to see it. So there’s complete transparency in the process.”
Judges of the Supreme award liked what they saw: “Classy shop front, engaging website, beautifully displayed jewellery and the service experience at Dalgleish is outstanding. We walked away with not just a smile, but a willingness to recommend them to everyone. We believe this is truly Taranaki’s Top Shop for 2025.” “We didn’t do anything different. We just kept doing what we do. We are who we are,” says Bill. Lynnette sums it up: “I just want to make sure that everybody who leaves here has left with a piece that feels special to them, and that they’ve had a special experience with a special place.”
Judges of the Supreme award liked what they saw: “Classy shop front, engaging website, beautifully displayed jewellery and the service experience at Dalgleish is outstanding. We walked away with not just a smile, but a willingness to recommend them to everyone. We believe this is truly Taranaki’s Top Shop for 2025.” “We didn’t do anything different. We just kept doing what we do. We are who we are,” says Bill. Lynnette sums it up: “I just want to make sure that everybody who leaves here has left with a piece that feels special to them, and that they’ve had a special experience with a special place.”
