Royal Selangor

Royal Selangor is perhaps one of the most well-known names in pewter. Presently, the company offers over a thousand different tableware and gift items, from traditional tankards and elegant tea sets, to captivating photo frames and handsome desk accessories.

Distributed worldwide from its home base, the company has more than 40 shops. It exports to more than 20 countries, with its own retail shops in London, Toronto, Melbourne, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. Royal Selangor is also found in fine stores such as Harrods and John Lewis in United Kingdom and Wako and Mitsukoshi in Japan.

Founded in 1885, the company has a workforce of more than 600 skilled craftsmen. The Royal Selangor factory is reputed to be one of the world’s largest. During the 18th century, items were mainly incense burners and candle holders for the oriental market. With the British colonials, the offering expanded to tankards, ashtrays and even tea services. The brand was then known as Selangor Pewter.

In the 1970s, the company started exporting, firstly to Singapore, Hong Kong and then Australia. Towards the 1980s, the market expanded into Europe and then later to Japan. In 1992, the company changed its name to Royal Selangor to reflect its royal endorsement from His Royal Highness and to reflect its diverse product range, which has extended beyond pewter.

Royal Selangor pewter is composed of tin, with a small proportion of copper and antimony added to strengthen it. Unlike pewter in the olden days, pewter produced by Royal Selangor does not contain lead, and adheres to international standards.

Royal Selangor maintains stringent standards of quality control such that any item that does not meet these standards is rejected. It is certainly assuring to know that no Royal Selangor tea or coffee pot will ever drip because each spout has been flawlessly designed and crafted.

One of the reasons for Royal Selangor’s success in the gift and tableware market is its commitment to innovative designs and excellent craftsmanship. Every year, the company comes up with new ranges, some of which have received international recognition. For instance, in 1989 and 1991, Royal Selangor received the Design Plus award at the Frankfurt International Gift Fair. And in 1997, Royal Selangor received the Gift of the Year Award in the licensed gifts category, from the Giftware Association of the United Kingdom.

With a talented team of designers and a versatile manufacturing facility, Royal Selangor also custom-manufactures exclusive pieces for corporations and individuals. The company was appointed Official Supplier of Medals and Official License for Pewter for the Kuala Lumpur 98 XVI Commonwealth Games.

Royal Selangor trophies have also graced the winners’ podium for other major world-class events such as the World Cup Golf 1999 and the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix. Its latest achievement was its appointment as the License for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Millennium Collection, a pewter range exclusively designed to commemorate this spectacular event.

Since 1970s, the company has diversified extending its business to the design, manufacture and marketing of precious jewellery and also 925 hallmarked sterling silver. Under the names of Selberan and Comyns, each individual company strives to create things of beauty, maintaining the tradition of excellence and innovation synonymous with Royal Selangor.

A reputation for uncompromising quality, Selberan has a team of qualified gemmologists, designers and craftspeople trained by European master jewellers. Renowned for its beautiful designs, Selberan has won more than 20 design awards.

Founded in England, Comyns is one of the oldest and more prestigious manufacturing silversmiths in the world. Royal Selangor acquired it in 1993, together with its magnificent archive of over 35,000 drawings, patterns and moulds. Comyns continues to make objects of the finest quality for both the world’s leading retailers and discerning individuals.