About Us

Battens Jewellers in South Street, Bridport, Dorset is a family business set up by the late Richard Batten in 1974.   Richard was a jeweller and a well-known clock repairer.  He started as an apprentice in 1968 at the age of 17 years to his father, F.J Batten CMBHI, in Lyme Regis.   Richard successfully built a traditional market town jeweller, specialising in antique and modern jewellery, silver, watches and clocks.

The business is now run by his daughter, Gemma Case, who is carrying on the family tradition having learnt the trade from her father who sadly died in 2016 at the early age of 64 years. Gemma has enjoyed working in the business for the past 27 years.  She started helping out at the shop when she was at school, working on Saturdays and during school holidays.  In 1998 at the age of 18 years, she joined the business full-time.

When Wessex Jewellers in West Street, Bridport came on the market in 2009, it gave Battens the chance to expand and start to offer jewellery for the discerning younger shopper.    Gemma became responsible for the management and day-to-day running of the shop helped by her sister, Laura.

Gemma now runs the two shops side by side in the town.