Godshaw Jewellers, a Wewlyn Garden City-based titan, will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this November.
Established in 1947, Freddy Godshaw started the jewellers as a small shop on the outskirts of Hatfield.
A Godshaw spokesperson said: “Anyone that grew up in Wewlyn Garden City knows Godshaws and customers enjoy recalling when they used to visit us at our previous location in Howardsgate, over 30 years ago!
"While other customers share stories of their parents who bought their wedding rings from us or have been bringing their watches to us for batteries for over 50 years.
"Godshaw's is the very picture of your local, family-run jewellers, and this year we are celebrating our 75th anniversary in the business.”
A friend of Freddy's recalled the taking on the small retail unit in the new town of Welwyn Garden City. The offer was accepted, but on one condition; he must either dispose of or purchase all the previous owner’s stock, which happened to be extremely outdated lingerie. 
Fortunately, Freddy managed to shift the old stock in bulk, quickly, and he signed the lease for 36 Howardsgate. Godshaw Jewellers moved into what would become their hometown of Welwyn Garden City in March 1951. 
Freddy trained from a very young age as a watch maker, eventually finding his way to Rolex where he worked on the Rolex Prince, one of their most collectable models.
But it didn’t take him long to realise there was a limit to what could be earned at the bench, and there was very little money in the business.
He managed to purchase a second-hand counter and a small safe and set about making all other shop fittings himself. It wasn’t long before repairs were flooding in, staff were employed, and Freddy began selling watches and jewellery.
Freddy went on to open two new branches in Hatfield and Hertford, and in 1970 his son, Stephen joined the business opening their fourth store in Harpenden which was shortly followed by a fifth in Royston.
Godshaw's main workshop was housed in Hertford, but when the clock and watch industry was revolutionised with the introduction of digital and analogue watches, the demand for skilled watchmakers dropped. The workshop closed in 1995 when Godshaw’s senior watchmaker, Maurice Watson, retired after 37 years with the business. 
Godshaw Jewellers never expanded beyond Hertfordshire, but their reputation grew far and wide. In 1980 several retailers began to explore the idea of forming a buying and marketing group. Freddy Godshaw was one of the founding members of what is now known as The CMJ (The Company of Master Jewellers) - the largest jewellery and watch buying group in the UK and Ireland.
Godshaw's spent 49 years at 36 Howardsgate while opening four more branches, founding a buying group, and weathering changes in the town and industry.
Godshaw’s added: “Christmas in 1990 came along and a customer mentioned that Godfreys, Godshaws main competitor in the town, was closing at 42 Wigmores North. It was a perfectly positioned larger store, and Mr Godfrey accepted Freddy and Stephens' offer within two days of that customer popping in.
"After a complete refit, Godshaws moved to number 42 in June 1990 where we have happily remained ever since!
"Freddy retired in 2003, and the sole shop in Welwyn Garden is run by Stephen and his small team of dedicated staff who have a combined a total of 50 years of service between them. 
“We’re so proud of the last 75 years and all the company and the family have achieved, and we couldn’t have done it without you.
“We would like to invite you to join us in celebrating our 75th anniversary with a very big, one-off, storewide event from Thursday, November 3, to Saturday, November 5."
Follow Godshaw's on social media @godshaws or sign up to their newsletter at www.godshawjewellers.com to be the first to hear about this exclusive event, announced on Monday, October 31.
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