San Diego Jeweler Jim Jessop Unveils Restoration of Historic Jessop Street Clock

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) November 13, 2009 -- Jim Jessop, the great-grandson of clockmaker Joseph Jessop, has unveiled the newly restored Jessop Jeweler clock in Horton Plaza. On Thursday, November 5, the gentle push to restart was made by David Jessop, Sr., who at 98 is the longest lived owner of the clock. Fifty other Jessops attended the restarting as well as the craftsmen who worked to restore the historic clock.

The task took more than two months and the costs exceeded $35,000, all covered by the Jessop family. The historic clock, which is included in San Diego walking tours featured in Frommer's guidebooks and The New York Times, stands at 22-feet and is more than 100 years old.

“It's got a lifetime warranty by the Jessop family. We plan to keep it in San Diego for the pleasure of all San Diegans,” said Jessop, who currently runs the Jessop downtown San Diego jewelry store and another store at the Hotel del Coronado.

For its restoration, every part of the timepiece has been removed and the movement completely disassembled by Paul Smith of House of Clocks in San Diego. All parts have been scrubbed of oil and grease, then carefully re-gold plated before being reassembled into the antique movement. The case, tower and head of the clock have been stripped of old paint, re-primed and then spray painted using modern methods never available to the clock in the past. All the gold leafed areas have been stripped down to the underlying copper, primed twice to reseal the copper, then gold leafed using the same practice that has been used for hundreds of years. The painting and gold-leafing was done by Peek Brother’s painting.

The dial markers of the clock had worn and many had flaked off. All four dials were completely repainted by Randy Clark of RC Signs to look like new. All the brass in the clock case, including the Jessop Jewelers name on all four sides, were polished mirror bright, then lacquer coated - a coating never used on the clock in the past.

Jim Jessop is the last of the Jessop family involved in the jewelry business. He is proud to keep his family tradition of honestly offered, fair jewelry value here in San Diego, whether it is a diamond engagement ring or simple jewelry repair.

Jim Jessop's downtown store is in the Emerald Plaza building at 401 West C Street where the family continues its business as a prominent San Diego jeweler.

“At least during my lifetime,” Jessop said, “San Diegans will not see the clock stop again.”

About Jessop Jewelers

Jessop Jewelers is a trusted San Diego Jeweler that has been in business for more than 100 years. Today, they remain family-owned-and-operated and are committed to providing customers with the highest-quality diamonds and gemstones, professional customer service and the best value in fine jewelry and diamond engagement rings. With two locations, one downtown and another in the Hotel Del Coronado, Jessop Jewelers strives to provide only the highest quality of jewelry at both of their San Diego jewelry store locations.

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