Peter Jackson retires as WATCHO acquires stores in north west
UK retail jeweller WATCHO is expanding its number of stores to four, following its announcement that it has acquired Peter Jackson the Jeweller’s Blackburn and Preston shops.
It comes as Peter Jackson himself is set to retire after more than 44 years in the trade, and he will remain in his position for two months to manage the transition to the new owners.
WATCHO’s current stores are in Milton Keynes and Richmond, so this acquisition represents its first foray into the north west of England.
Peter Jackson the Jeweller carries several high-profile Swiss watch brands, including TAG Heuer, Longines, and Raymond Weil.
“I am delighted to announce that our beautiful shops in Preston and Blackburn will be under new ownership from Monday 20 July,” said Peter Jackson. “WATCHO, an established and respected family jeweller will bring with them new ideas and collections and take the business forward to its next chapter. The management and staff will remain and look forward to welcoming you as always.”
WATCHO’s co-founder, Pradip Sarda, was delighted with the acquisition. “We are acquiring these stores as custodians of what Peter has built and to honour the loyalty of the long standing customers. The team stays, the standards stay, and the brands stay.”
Speaking to Watch Insider, Sarda added: “When we heard that Peter Jackson — a name that has meant so much to watch and jewellery lovers across Lancashire for decades — was retiring, we knew we had to be part of what came next.
“Peter Jackson jewellers had two beautiful stores, a team with genuine expertise, and a loyal community of customers who trust the people behind the counter.
“At WATCHO, we have spent our own years building exactly that kind of family — from Milton Keynes to Richmond, guided by a simple belief that every customer deserves to feel genuinely looked after. Bringing that to Lancashire feels like a natural next step. For the first time, customers in the north of England will have access to everything WATCHO offers — our depth of knowledge, our handpicked range of watches and jewellery, our concierge approach, and our commitment to going the extra mile long after the sale.
WATCHO will also be rolling out its successful Watch Heritage Events programme to Blackburn and Preston, a series of brand-focused and collector-led evenings.
