An entrepreneur who spent a decade running one of the region's top rated fish and chip shops has swapped chips for carats with the launch of a jewellery business.
Wasim Mir managed Harbour View fish and chips in Seaton Sluice, which has a near perfect score on Trip Advisor, and has now returned to his family roots in the jewellery trade. The 36 year-old has refurbished the former Jan Forster offices on Gosforth High Street, launching Mir Diamonds.
Mr Mir is the fifth generation of his family to enter the jewellery business with his father having been a jeweller in Newcastle since 1990, running Mir Jewellers. He said: "After spending nearly 80 hours a week at the chip shop, I made the decision to return to the family trade. Jewellery is in my blood. I was practically raised in my dad鈥檚 shop.鈥
Having started in his father's shop at a young age, Mr Mir went on to jobs at other jewellers in Newcastle city centre including Northern Goldsmiths. He went from salesperson to watch manager and was part of a leadership team that grew the business' turnover from 拢6m to 拢10m.
Mir Diamonds - which opened earlier this month - offers a range of products and services including ring sizing, polishing, custom jewellery design, rhodium plating and natural and lab-produced diamonds. The business also specialises in luxury watches, including brands such as Rolex, Cartier and Breitling.
"Many people are put off by the bureaucracy around luxury watches 鈥 we cut through that. If you want a timepiece, we鈥檒l help you source it honestly and fairly," Mr Mir added. "I鈥檝e got a full jeweller鈥檚 bench in-store and can create or repair jewellery from scratch. Whether it鈥檚 silver or platinum, classic or modern, I鈥檒l help customers find something special.
鈥淢y dad built a respected name in the city, and I鈥檓 proud to continue that tradition in Gosforth 鈥 with my own twist. At Mir Diamonds, we blend modern techniques with old-school service. We鈥檙e about honesty, quality, and relationships, not just sales.鈥
Mr Mir is joined in the business by his wife Anam, who has left a long teaching career. He added: 鈥淪he supported me when I took on the fish and chip restaurant, and now again with Mir Diamonds 鈥 I couldn鈥檛 do it without her.
"I鈥檝e been lucky. I鈥檝e had success in food, but jewellery is where I belong. We鈥檙e building something our kids can one day be proud of, just as I鈥檓 proud of what my dad started."
