Diamonds go half price as decades old antiques shop reinvents itself

The owner of a 47-year-old family business has decided to downsize - and sell his remaining diamonds at half price.

Diamonds are not forever for Kristian Wimhurst, who opened Black Barn Antiques and Giftshop last week in Roydon, having worked at Diss Antiques for much of his life.

Diss Antiques, in Diss Market Place, was forced to close due to 'difficult circumstances' in July, causing the father-of-four to set up a new venture at his home address on Darrow Lane in nearby Roydon.

The business is split in two halves, one being a furniture restoration workshop run by craftsman Wayne Draper, who has worked with the family for 25 years, and the other a gift shop selling mainly British-made quirky gifts.

Mr Wimhurst said: 'I had a load of diamonds left over from the shop. I'm not selling diamonds here, I don't want that sort of stock value here.'

The jewellery prices range from £50 to £4,000, and are available to view on request.

The 44-year-old added: 'I'm not usually a pushy salesperson but when they're half price top quality diamonds, people should be biting my hands off really to get them! It's really lovely stuff.

'They're from all over, I've been dealing with high quality diamonds for about 25 years now, so supplies are from all over - Pakistan, British-made, Danish jewellery, everything really.'

He said he had been involved with the business since childhood, with his mum and dad working as antiques dealers.

'My brother and I used to travel with dad across to Europe to sell antiques when we were small,' he said.

'My dad and I were running it together for many years. Dad passed away sadly a number of years ago. It's been really odd. Closing the shop is kind of like a death, 25 years of your life all of a sudden stopped. Really very unsettling.'

He said creating the new business and closing the old had been like a 'game of solitaire'.

'There's literally thousands of pounds worth of stuff here and I don't want it anymore, I don't want the stress of it,' he said.

To request an appointment viewing of the diamonds call Mr Wimhurst at Black Barn Antiques and Giftshop on 01379 642213.