Year established: 1875 & 1910
Commendation: Generational Family Business
Combined, the Arbrecht and Bird families have spent over 235 years in Melbourne making and selling exquisite jewellery. The Arbrecht family immigrated from Stuttgart to Melbourne in 1871 and opened a wholesale jewellery business in 1875.
The Bird family immigrated from Birmingham in 1883, with John Bird and his son Leigh opening a jewellery store in Bourke street in 1910. The two businesses were ‘friendly competitors’ for almost 80 years before they decided to join forces.
Today, fourth-generation owners Peter Bird and Leon Corn carry on the business. Arbrecht and Bird Jewellers design stunning pieces from scratch, dependant on their customers ideas and desires.
Both Peter and Leon explain with satisfaction that many of their customers today are the grandchildren of customers they once designed for.