Soklich & Co. was founded in 1965 as a colour gemstone exploration company in the Pilbara region. In 1986, the company shifted to Perth to focus on wholesaling to jewellery stores in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2014, the company opened a store on Angelo Street in South Perth, selling jewellery directly to the public. Today, the company is active as a retailer via Socklich & Co. and as a supplier via Ellendale Diamonds.
The new flagship store, located in a former post office at the Civic Heart Centre, is the culmination of a five-year renovation project. Owner Lexie Soklich told PerthNow that preserving the building's rich history was a priority.
“This building was originally built in 1900. We’ve tried to preserve its history as much as possible while creating something fresh and exciting. It’s a historical gem in South Perth and we want to honour its story,” she explained.
“It’s not just a shop. We wanted people to be able to walk in, feel inspired and actually see how the pieces are made. It’s about the full experience, from imagination to creation.”
The interior features an Italian-made chandelier shaped like cherry blossoms and a visible workshop where customers can watch bench jewellers hard at work.
Soklich said that there are plans to make use of the post office’s original fittings, including more than 1,200 vintage mailboxes. Reflecting on six decades of trade, she said that thinking outside the box in terms of designs remained a rewarding pursuit.
“If I had to attach an emotion to our business, it would be joy. We want people to leave here feeling like they’ve created something that makes them happy,” Soklich said.
“We have big bees the size of your palm, and even a fish made of aquamarines and diamonds. We even turned a piece of wood our son found into a paperweight. People come to us because they know we do ‘different’.”
The new Soklich & Co. store is open to the public.
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