Valletta’s local shops are sadly closing down one by one, but this iconic gold and silver smith shop still remains.

‘Salv. Caruana Goldsmith Jeweller’ was first opened by Salvu in 1905 at 51 St. Paul Street. His son, John, took over in 1962. John’s son, Manuel started helping his father and grandfather from when he was still a child and remains as the shop’s custodian till this very day.

The shop remains almost exactly the same as it was when it was first opened 118 years ago.

Manuel is one of the few remaining people in Malta and Gozo who still can make silver delicate filigree pieces.

Nowadays, Manuel opens his shop more as a hobby rather than as a source of income as “he still very much loves what he does”. In fact, he only opens his shop three times a week and only in the mornings.

Apart from being a master jeweller, Manuel is also an avid collector of CD’s and tapes including those of organ and classical music.

Jean-Paul Borg, the man behind ‘Kappa Vision’, who interviewed Manuel, expressed how the shop is like a time capsule.

“A shop that is a joy to just be inside it and wander about, looking at all the interesting things, from old cabinets and furniture, miniatures, jewellery and tools of the trade”, he expressed.

Manuel even showed him a historic filigree pulling machine which is over two hundred years old.

Well done Manuel on so many decades of incredible service to all your customers.