Goldsmiths Limited · Braunstone United Kingdom

Goldsmiths doesn't necessarily turn raw materials into gleaming baubles, but it does deal with the goldsmith's end result: jewelry. The firm, which was founded in 1778 and is a top UK retailer of diamond and fine jewelry and watches, operates about 160 stores throughout the UK. Keeping up with the times, Goldsmiths also sells jewelry online. The chain was the country's first authorized Rolex merchant, and remains a top dealer of Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, and other watch brands. Iceland's acquisitive Baugur Group added the jeweler to its list of UK holdings in 2004 for £110 million. Baugur later bought UK jeweler Mappin & Webb and integrated the two chains under parent Aurum. To read the full description, subscribe now.