BOND STREET

January 10, 2023

There’s no such street as Bond Street; New Bond Street and Old Bond Street is the one continuous road running through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. There is, however, a Bond Street tube station - which is on Oxford Street.

The whole thoroughfare is made up almost exclusively of exclusive shops. But there’s some interesting stuff if you know where to look.

The Graff Diamonds robbery took place on 6 August 2009 when jewellery worth nearly £40 million was stolen. It is believed to be the largest ever gems heist in Britain, beating the previous record of six years earlier - at the same shop.

Graff CEO Laurence Graff left school at 14 to clean toilets as a jeweller's apprentice. In 2024 he and his son Francois were 50th in the Sunday Times Rich List and worth +£3.6 billion.

‘The Allies’ was unveiled in 1995 to commemorate 50 years of peace. Churchill’s mother was American and he and Roosevelt were distant cousins …..

….. it provides a nice photo-op for slim people who eat lots of veggies like Keng-Yee. But it would have worked better if she’d worn the Joseph Stalin uniform and false moustache.

These Henry Moore abstracts are on the Time & Life building. Moore unsuccessfully tried to buy them back as he thought their third-floor position was too high to be appreciated.

I couldn’t do Bond Street (or any street) without digging up a James Bond reference (or three):

Founded in 1887, Smythson is the ultimate luxury stationary shop.

In 1908, the company created the first 'Featherweight' diary, enabling diaries to be carried about. The shop also has a small museum.

Paul, Alec and Steve are seen discussing whether they really do need to spend £230 on a pocket diary. Other distinguished clients have included the current Royal family, Grace Kelly and Madonna.

The charming Royal Arcade in Old Bond Street was originally the home of Dollond’s opticians ….

Lord Nelson had no need for binoculars having lost one eye attacking Corsica in 1793. But he did buy a telescope at Dollonds, as did Captain Cook.

Founded in 1750, pioneers in many advances in optics, Dollond & Co merged with Aitchison & Co in 1927 to form Dolland & Aitchison, the well-known British high street chain of opticians.

The business was absorbed by Boots in 2009 and the stores have gradually been rebranded as Boots Opticians.

Lord Nelson briefly lived in two houses in New Bond Street: numbers 103 and 147 ….

This was handy not just for his telescope shop but also The Goat Tavern in Stafford Street ….

So we head off for lunch at Piccolino in Heddon Street.

On the way we pass 3 Savile Row, once the HQ of Apple Corps. The roof was where the Beatles famously made their last public performance on January 30^th 1969. And they recorded the Let It Be album in the basement – not at Abbey Road.