Selangor India Retail Pvt. Ltd.

The discovery of tin in Malaya had lured him and thousands of other Chinese to the fledgling tin-mining town, where he joined his brothers who had established themselves as tinsmiths. Yong Koon enjoyed brisk business making simple household items of tin, operating from his shop at No. 23 Cross Street. He later made pewter incense burners, joss stick holders and candlestands for the altars of Chinese temples. Employing a few other craftsmen, he was among the first pewtersmiths in Kuala Lumpur. Just as silver products are hallmarked, Yong Koon stamped each of his products with the mark "Yu He Zu Xi", where "Yu He" or Jade Peace was the name of the shop, and "Zu Xi" or pure tin reflected the high quality of the material used. In the 1930s, when demand for traditional ceremonial pewterware was on a decline, Yong Koon and his sons started making European-style products for the British and other expatriates. This was an important turning point for the business. The 70s was an exciting period for the company as it started exporting to Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Australia and the UK. It also diversified its business to the design, manufacture and marketing of precious jewellery under the Selberan brand name. Later in 1993, the company acquired Comyns, one of the oldest and most prestigious silversmiths in the world. Both companies continue to be a part of the Royal Selangor group. In 1979, the company received a royal warrant from the Sultan of Selangor and in 1992, changed its name to Royal Selangor. Today, the third and fourth generations of the Yong family work with a passionate team of managers to build Royal Selangor into a truly global brand. ... ...Less