Smales Jewellers is one of Western Australia’s oldest jewellers and watchmakers, and with this age comes precision and history – all beginning with Thomas Smales, the father of founder Ron Smales Sr.
Coming from the trade of stonemasonry, Thomas fixed mantel and wall clocks with his son, who went on to establish a small business at the family home in Kalgoorlie.
Ron later worked as an instrument maker for the Royal Australian Air Force’s 451 Squadron, fixing crashed aircraft in the Middle East during World War II.
After the war, Ron formalised his qualifications and completed a watchmaking apprenticeship in Perth, before opening his ‘watchmaking jewellery store’ back home in Kalgoorlie.
When Ron retired, his son – Ron Smales Jr took over the Kalgoorlie store and later expanded the business to a second location in Subiaco, Perth in 1989.
With the success of the Subiaco store, Ron Jr’s name became synonymous with the Perth luxury watch industry and his lively personality well-known on the Perth social scene.
Over the following years, Smales Jewellers opened an additional three stores across the state and three jewellery workshops in Subiaco, Kalgoorlie and Bunbury.
Within any business – especially a family business – death is a great hardship, and indeed the most recent challenge faced by Smales Jewellers was Ron Jr passing away in April 2018.
Smales operations have been continued on by the family, with ownership bestowed to Tony Smales as Ron’s brother and business partner.
Alongside Tony, Trish Smales manages the Bunbury store and regularly travels to Perth to oversee the Subiaco store and office operations.
The business continues to celebrate craftmanship every day through watchmaking services and jewellery creations.
