Our Team
Mark Evans
Managing Director
Mark Evans, Managing Director of Bentley & Skinner, joined Bentley & Co, the family-run firm of Bond Street jewellers, in 1973 at the age of seventeen. He became a Fellow of the Gemmological Association in 1976 and Managing Director of Bentley & Co in 1985. In 1998 he acquired Skinner & Co and was granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment as Director of Bentley & Skinner, Jewellers and Silversmiths to H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. He is a connoisseur of antique jewellery with a specialist knowledge of Fabergé and gemstones.
Paul Greer
Manager
Paul Greer DGA, RJDip, PJGemDip, FJVA, has been the Manager since 1992. He has a great love of antique jewellery and was the project manager for the Damien Hirst diamond set skull ‘For the Love of God’. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Freeman of Goldsmiths Company.
Arvin Shah
Arvin Shah BSc (Hons) is the Financial Administrator of Bentley & Skinner. He joined the company in 1989 and is the longest serving member of staff.
Omar Vaja
Senior Sales Director
Omar Vaja has been a Sales professional with the company since 1993. He has a passion for antique jewellery with a special interest in the Belle Époque era.
Luigi Milano
Stock Keeper
Luigi Milano is the Company’s Stock keeper and is responsible for recording the full details of all of Bentley & Skinner’s stock. He joined the company in 2010.
Ilias Kapsalis
Assistant Manager
Ilias Kapsalis BSc, MBA, GG has been a Sales professional with the company since 2013. He oversees the online web-enquiries and social media of the company. He has a passion for antique jewellery with a special interest in Victorian era and natural pearls.
Reg Penfold
Senior Sales Adviser
Reg Penfold FGA, has been involved in the jewellery profession since 1972. He joined Bentley & Skinner in 2014. His particular interests are jewellery from the Art Deco period and antique silverware.
Lola Rafieva
Appraiser and Gemmologist
Lola Rafieva PhD, FGA, DGA has been in the antique jewellery business since 2014. A scientist by training, she has strong analytical skills and a good eye for details.
Julia Westerman
Julia Westerman BA, MA joined the company in 2020. Having studied art and fashion history, she has strong research skills and knowledge in the history of jewellery. She has a particular passion for the Georgian era and the Victorian era.
Karen Avakov
Goldsmith
Karen Avakov has been with Bentley & Skinner since 2010. Originally from Georgia, he started learning the craft from his grandfather and father when he was in his teens. Karen is a goldsmith and a diamond mounter. He has passion for design and manufacture of bespoke precious jewellery. He has great experience in remodeling, alteration and restoration of Victorian and Edwardian era fine jewels and reworking antique or vintage jewellery.
Luca Barattucci
Goldsmith
Luca Barattucci, was brought up in his family’s jewellery business. He has over 10 years of workshop experience at the bench and obtained Diploma di Artigiano Orafo and Specializzazione in Maestro Orafo at Scuola orafa Sulmonese. He specializes in creating bespoke jewellery and has a deep knowledge in the repair and restoration of antique jewellery.