The exact relationship between H. Samuel and Saqui & Lawrence has piqued a lot of interest. This is an attempt to clear things up – please comment if you have more information or images of Saqui & Lawrence shops that I could add to this post!
The London jeweller, Saqui & Lawrence, was acquired by H. Samuel in 1908.
The founders, Saqui and Lawrence — first cousins — were both closely related to the founder of H. Samuel, Mrs Harriet Samuel. She was their aunt.
Three sisters – Harriet, Rachel and Emma Wolf – married three brothers, Walter, Henry and Alfred Samuel, in Liverpool in the mid-19th century. A fourth sister, Sarah, married the watchmaker and jeweller John Jacob Saqui. Their eldest child was Abraham Horatio Saqui (1860-1922).
All four families lived and worked in Liverpool as jewellers and watch dealers, but after Walter’s death Harriet moved to Manchester, where she started a new business, H. Samuel, around 1875. By the 1890s this was in the hands of Harriet’s son Edgar, who must be credited with developing Britain’s best-known chain of jewellery shops.
Meanwhile, Saqui & Lawrence had been established around 1884 by Abraham Horatio Saqui and his cousin, Samuel Lawrence (born Lawrence Samuel but also known as Lawrence Lawrence, 1858-1941), the son of Emma and Alfred Samuel. Saqui & Lawrence developed a chain before H. Samuel, with shops in Borough High Street, Liverpool Street and Fleet Street in 1885. Their chain grew more slowly than H. Samuel’s, however, having just six shops by 1908.
Saqui & Lawrence suffered a string of damaging burglaries, widely reported in the press. Furthermore, in 1907-08 Lawrence became embroiled in a scandalous divorce when his young wife took up with his nephew. This may have triggered the dissolution of the partnership and the sale of the business to H. Samuel.
Once acquired by H. Samuel, Edgar took charge of Saqui & Lawrence shops which continued to multiply and traded into the 1980s.
Building Our Past 
This is fantastic! Many thanks for this snapshot of the Saqui family history.
LikeLike
Thanks very much for this. I’m particularly happy to know where ‘Lawrence’ came from as that name (or variation) was often adopted by members of my Lazarus family; now I know that there is no connection this way. Who knows what other links I’ll find though – so many Jewish families were in the jewelry business and intermarried in the 1800s and early 1900s.
LikeLike
And so many Jewish merchants, in all sectors, changed their names – makes research very tricky!
LikeLike
In case you have not come across this, there is photo from August 1912 of the shop “Saqui and Lawrence” (no Lawrence) at 282 Bishopsgate, London by Philip Davies : Atlantic Publishing. Does this suggest that in 1912 Saqui was in business without Lawrence, or is there another reason why the Lawrence name is missing ? They described themselves as Lever Watchmakers and also offered “Lucky Wedding Rings
LikeLike
How interesting and well observed! Yes, it does suggest that Saqui set up again on his own. More research required!
LikeLike
I have the framed picture of the shop 282 Bishopsgate London with people standing outside. It’s very well framed and mounted 15″ x 21″. hjhowitt@googlemail.com if anyone is interested.
LikeLike
Correction : the shop sign at 282 Bishopsgate is “Saqui and Company” (no Lawrence) !!!
LikeLike
Knew what you meant!
LikeLike
https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2020/08/just-how-much-we-forget-manchester-1964.html?spref=fb&m=1 check out the Saqui and Lawrence store is in this pic of Manchester Piccadilly 1964. Also Henry Wolf, Engagement Rings a few doors along.
LikeLike
The shop Saqui & Lawrence appeared in A Symphony of London on talking pictures channel.
LikeLike
This is a really fascinating thread. I think I have inherited a piece of jewellery that was made by, or at least sold from, one of the London Saqui & Company shops. It’s a brooch that I think is supposed to be Halley’s comet that appeared in 1910. Is there any record of their pieces that I could check against? It would be lovely to find out exactly where the brooch came from
LikeLike
I have a little alarm clock made by American clock company Ansonia. It has Saqui and Lawrence London printed in the dial . It has seen better days but is complete and ticking.
Could send a photo if you’re interested.
Best wishes
Jon
LikeLike
I worked in the City of London from 1956 to 1971 and most days walked from Liverpool St Station to Bank Station passing through the Liverpool St Arcade. The first shop on the right was Saqui and Lawrence, I often stopped to look in the windows at the displays. Christmas 1970 the shop was closed for the Christmas holidays, after the holiday I went into the shop and together with, my now husband, an engagement ring was purchased. The ring was placed on my finger under the Christmas tree in the banking hall where I worked as I returned from my lunch hour. My husband was working south of the river at that time Some years later on a visit to London I was surprised and saddened to find Saqui and Lawrence and the Arcade were no longer there. Now, thanks to this site, I understand why, but I still feel sad. I find this site very interesting. the information and the comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a cool Saqui and Lawrence electric sign in this photo of Piccadilly Circus 1962
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just come across this information whilst looking for any Jewellery or watches for sale with the name Saqui & Lawrence. I am married to Abraham Horatio Saqui’s grandson & we have often pondered why the business ended. Another bit of the jigsaw of the family history. Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jane
Horatio is my great-grandfather!
LikeLike
That’s amazing! Who was your grandfather? Are you in the UK? Would be good to compare notes on the family history.
LikeLike
Hi Jane I can be reached at Cedra@shaw.ca
LikeLike
My great-grandfather’s paternal family were named Saqui. This particular branch came from Spain to Liverpool and London – their records are kept at Bevis Marks – and then onto the US where they had cigar and port wine businesses. I’ve just learnt of the jewellers and I wonder if there is a common link with my ancestors?
LikeLike
P.S. my email address is lyndsylspence@gmail.com
LikeLike
Hi Jane
I’ve just purchased a ring the ‘big online auction site’ (UK) from Saqui and Lawrence, in the original box and have been Googling for information. This is very interesting.
It’s a pretty little, 18 carat yellow gold, 5 diamond half eternity ring, US size 7, half a carat total.
I can’t seem to upload a photo on this website (maybe you need to be a member?) but if you’d like to see it please reply here with your email address and I’ll send some photos. (I can also send to Cedra who has posted below)
Louise
LikeLike
I have a small jewellery box, Saqui & Lawrence 28, 29, 30 & 31 Liverpool Street. Happy to post to any interested parties, for free ( if my postage is covered)
LikeLike
I’d love to have it! Where are you located? I’m in Canada, V9Z 0H9
LikeLike
Hi Sue,
I’d love to have the box, I can be reached at cedra@shaw.ca
LikeLike
i worked for h Samuel in Piccadilly Circus on the corner of Sherwood street and Glasshouse street as a manager in 1983 and as a assistant manager in 1982 .It was a great job every few days i would have Edgar Samuel Visit my shop each morning and point out if a watch had stopped he would stop and make sure i replaced the battery in the watch and it was working before he left the property. I used to travel up from Romford to Piccadilly Circus every day some times going through the arcade at Liverpool street station and walk through the arcade where Saqui and Lawerance Was I was went in there and purchased two Royal Douton Figures
An assistant manager who i knew broke into Saqui and Lawerence Liverpool street came through the roof and stole a lot of Jewellery ended up in prison.They were the days
LikeLike
H Samuel took over Saqui and lawerence jewellers when Gerald Ratner came along before he made a wrong statement about a prawn sandwich and many of the chain of shops closed for good.
LikeLike
Hello Clive… l remember you. I recall you came to Piccadilly when VU was Manager and AS was the AM.. l was a trainee at the time and ended up managing S&L in Portsmouth. HS owned S&L way back from the early 70’s. Didn’t you also work on Cheapside?
LikeLike
Clive,
I came across this clip and randomly investigated a shop fron before going down a rabbit hole ending in your picadilly comment on a blog.
Thought I’d close the loop by sending you the clip.
LikeLike
I have an engagement ring in original box with Saqui and Lawrence ltd,court jewellers,Liverpool Street etc on it, I think from early 1930s, it was my grandmothers, my mum was born in 1938, I’m just trying to find out information about it
LikeLike
Look at this Twitter post of a film taken in 1930 that shows the shop
LikeLiked by 1 person
My brother John worked at Saqui & Lawrence in the 70s. Think he became head of the watch department. He’d have loved to see this. ❤️🙏🏼
LikeLike
I am most interested to read these posts. I have receipts for my late mother’s engagement and wedding rings (still have the engagement ring) purchased from Saqui & Lawrence in Cambridge. The receipt for the latter (August 1947) is “Saqui & Lawrence Ltd., London’s Largest Jewellers – Watchmakers, Jewellers and Silversmiths, Depot for Waltham Watches, 8 Northgate Street, Gloucester”, over-stamped with “Saqui & Lawrence, 29 Sydney (sic) Street, Cambridge”. On the reverse, “London Branches: Piccadilly Circus – 1/3 Shaftesbury Avenue W1; 28/30 Liverpool Street EC2; Hammersmith – 17 The Broadway, W6; King’s Cross – 276 Pentonville Road N7; Holloway – 454 Holloway Road N7; Kilburn – 134 High Road NW6. Branches: Brighton – 75 North Street; Cheltenham – 121 High Street; Derby – 8 St Peter’s Street; Gloucester – 8 Northgate Street; Manchester – 17 Piccadilly; Swansea – 7/8 Oxford Street.” By October/November 1947, when the wedding ring was bought (and subsequently exchanged) Cambridge had its own printed receipts (29 Sidney Street), the King’s Cross, London and Swansea branch addresses no longer appear, but there is an addition of a “Leicester – 23 Gallowtreegate” branch, along with Cambridge. Another receipt for a ‘repair’ dated July 1960, shows another London branch (in The Strand), and others “In the Provinces” appear, namely Darlington, Exeter, Salisbury, Portsmouth and Plymouth. Cheltenham no longer appears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve just looked up this company as I inherited some jewellery from an elderly member of my family. it was in an original box with the Saqui and Lawrence name on the lid with a list of all the addresses of the London shops. The jewellery is a rose gold and garnet pendant and is at least 100 yrs old if not more. I inherited the jewellery in the early 80s when the person passed away. She was in her middle 80s when she passed. I do not know if she herself inherited it or it was bought for her. I still have the pendant and the box.😊 Interesting that they were bought out by H Samuel. Thanks for that information!
LikeLike
In the late 70’s, as a student, I worked part-time for a jewellers, Green & Symons, at Picadilly Circus, in London. One day my mother and I were in town shopping and I took her into the shop to see where I worked. Imagine my surprise when she announced ‘this is where my engagement ring came from’! My father had a relative who worked in Saqui & Lawrence (as it was then) and dad took mum to the shop to chose the solitaire diamond for her platinum engagement ring. (1950’s) Dad always said she had good taste, as she chose the best quality, not the largest stone. Unfortunately her engagement ring was stolen in a robbery many years ago but she then gave me her platinum wedding ring as it didn’t go with anything else. It is still on my ring finger with my own rings. I assume that it also came from S&L. I later worked for Ratners for a couple of years and on another shopping trip to town I discovered that they then owned the old Green & Symons shop and the manager was one I had worked with at Ratners in Hounslow! So many coincidences attached to the building. Unfortunately it’s now Gap and all the character’s been ripped out. I loved the spiral staircase down to the basement and the owners’ offices with the semi-circular windows.
LikeLike