Hi, my name’s John.

I’m a freelance engraver, here in Central Manchester, where I’ve been doing the job that I love, since 1978.

And over the years, it’s been my privilege to engrave for countless projects and occasions. But to this day, the most important piece of work is always the job being currently engraved; from a wedding ring to a set of titanium golf clubs and just about everything else in between.

All work entrusted to us receives equal care and attention and is guaranteed to be of a high standard, at a fair price and just as importantly . . . on time.

Amongst our clients are jewellers, watchmakers and other engravers throughout Britain, who have placed their trust in our reputation for over 45 years.

So for a beautiful inscription that breathes life into a cherished gift, rest assured that you’ll be in safe hands for jewellery, watch and glass engraving.

The Guild of Master Craftsmen

Hello John, just wanted to thank you for your outstanding service today. The glass engraving is beautiful, and your service was exceptional. The whole experience from start to finish exceeded all my expectations. Thank you so much! 
Lizz Meredith, Stockport

You can see more of our testimonials here.

Crafting fine inscriptions is wired into our DNA.

Hand engraving of glassware, titanium and jewellery, is a specialty which I first began when I was freelance at House of Fraser.

But there are certain types of work, where state of the art technology takes pride of place. A fingerprint, for example. It’s not suitable for engraving by hand, but now we can capture the unique intricate loops and whorls into items such as signet rings and pendants with computerised equipment. It’s also possible to engrave corporate branding into iPads, decanters and glassware, all with incredible accuracy.

Whether by hand or machine, everything we do is bespoke. From engraved names inside an engagement ring, to a set of beautifully entwined initials on a bottle of Champagne. Or perhaps someone’s signature, inscribed into a fountain pen, or musical notes engraved into the back of a watch. Meticulous attention to detail ensures beautiful results.

Here’s a list of items we engrave. It’s not exhaustive, and we’re always delighted to be surprised by something new. So, if you have something you would like engraving that isn’t shown, please feel free to ask because we love a challenge.

At this point, you may be wondering how much a carefully engraved inscription might cost. Well, not as much as you might be thinking. In fact, you’ll find our prices are surprisingly affordable. Especially when you consider the craftsmanship, and years of experience that is reflected into everything we do. All major credit and debit cards are welcome and preferred over cash.

If distance, or travel is an issue, we’re as near as your local Post Office and recommend Royal Mail Special Delivery whenever sending precious items.

Here’s our address.

And you’re always welcome to visit without an appointment, Monday to Saturday. If we’re able to do same day service, we will with pleasure, but a few days timeframe is always guaranteed.

We’re in the Royal Exchange, room 226 on the 2nd floor. To help you find the entrance and avoid walking round in circles, we’ve put a directions video at the top of our Instagram page here.

Our clientele include…

John Dearden hand engraving a crystal vase

If there’s anything further you require, please phone for a chat Tel. 07740 152394.

Or send an email we’d love to hear from you. But we NEVER pester you with spam.

John Dearden Engraving Location Map