About us
Sarah Corbridge & Wearnes
Recent sympathetic re-designing and refurbishment of the exquisite jewellers’ stores by Sarah Corbridge, the great granddaughter of founder William Wearne, has brought a modern influence into an establishment with unmatchable experience and professionalism, bringing Wearnes to the forefront in retail jewellery. Sarah’s artistic flair has created a luxury feel by using hand embroidered silks and crystal, a beautiful shopping experience.
Her jewellery is both classic and contemporary using only the best gemstones cherrypicked worldwide. Hand-made “one off” private commissions designed and made inhouse and remodelling of family heirlooms have become Wearnes speciality - and tokens of love leave romantically from Cornwall for all over the world.
In the 1990s, Sarah designed the “Lily of the Valley” range of jewellery with Helston’s famous Flora Day in mind, as well as the Cornish Diamond Tin Collection - made entirely from salvaged shipwrecked Cornish Tin with diamonds added. An 18 carat gold Lily of the Valley brooch and a pair of Cornish Tin cuff-links were presented to HRH Prince Charles by Sarah in 2002 as Golden Jubilee gifts for HRH and HM Queen Elizabeth II.
The latest and most exciting venture for Wearnes, marking it’s descending history through four generations, is Sarah’s invention of an alloy of 9 carat & 18 carat gold containing historic shipwrecked Cornish Tin (patent pending). Recently Sarah has created a similar alloy in silver. This is intended so that everyone with a love of Cornwall can own a little piece of it and enjoy all types of conventional jewellery made from it with no limitations on stone setting and design. Unique to Wearnes and Cornwall and available in many other stores, Cornish Tin & Gold jewellery is in great demand abroad wherever Cornish Miners and their families settled over the years.
Wearnes History
Founded in 1890 by William Wearne, W. Wearne & Son is Camborne’s oldest established family business. William Wearne began by repairing timepieces in his parents’ kitchen in Centenary Street. He opened his first store in Trelowarren Street, moved to Market Square by 1894 and finally to the present site in 1910. His second store in Helston was opened in 1915 and remains to this day in Meneage Street.
Serving the industrious community in the centre of the Cornish Mining Industry, Wearnes rapidly became a household name.
Around 1920 - 1950 Wearnes had their own range of hollowware manufactured (tankards, candlesticks, teapots etc) made from Cornish Tin. In 1937, during King George VI Coronation Tour of England, he visited Camborne and was presented with a Wearnes Cornish Tin Commemorative Tankard by the Chamber of Commerce.
Many items of this very special historic Cornish Tin still survive - in the back of our grandparents cupboards or at Car Boot Sales - and can even be purchased on ebay! Examples can be seen on display within Wearne stores today.
Left: William Wearne (centre left) outside Market Square Camborne.
Right: William Wearne (back right) in the early 1900s workshop in Camborne