The jewellery firm of Kitching & Abud was founded in 1824 and registered at 14 Dover Street in London. Joseph Kitching had been in business on his own since 1817 but made the decision to form a partnership in 1824 and in 1830 the business relocated to Conduit Street. In 1837 they were appointed ‘’Jewellers to the Queen’’ and received many commissions from the Royal household including official gifts, presentation pieces and Orders.

The jewellery firm of Kitching & Abud was founded in 1824 and registered at 14 Dover Street in London. Joseph Kitching had been in business on his own since 1817 but made the decision to form a partnership in 1824 and in 1830 the business relocated to Conduit Street. In 1837 they were appointed ‘’Jewellers to the Queen’’ and received many commissions from the Royal household including official gifts, presentation pieces and Orders.

Perhaps their most famous commission came in 1840 direct from Prince Albert to make a personal gift for his new bride Queen Victoria. Received the year of their marriage, Prince Albert asked Joseph Kitching to make a sapphire and diamond coronet that he had designed himself. It would become one of Victoria’s most treasured jewels and she can be seen wearing it in the iconic 1842 portrait of her by Franz Xaver Winterhalter.

Rather fittingly, it is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s jewellery collection and is one of several Kitching & Abud creations currently exhibited in museums including The British Museum. The partnership continued until 1853 when Kitching either left or retired and the firm became Abud & Collingwood, this would eventually be succeeded by Collingwood & Co. from 1870.