Hi everyone! Sorry we've been scarce with the entries lately. The crew and I were away to attend conferences in London, England. But while we were gone, we went exploring and saw TONS of stuff which had us rather wishing we had more time in the country. So we thought we would share some of the gem-related stuff with you! Here are 5 jewelers that stood out in our minds:
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| Photo Courtesy of www.5ivestarlondon.com |
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| Photo Courtesy of www.5ivestarlondon.com |
1) Ritz Fine Jewelers: On our first day we took a stroll about Piccadilly circus and took a turn in at the Ritz Fine Jewelers. Beyond the iconic arches of the Ritz Carlton London lies an off-to-the-side room which houses some exquisite jewelry. Open since 2000 and exclusive to the London location, this store is best known for its use of unusual colored stones and designs that are envisioned and made into reality right in this great city.
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| Fine Emerald Necklace. Photo Courtesy of www.boodles.com |
2) Boodles: Don't be fooled by the name, Boodles, once Boodles and Dunthorne, has a long history in England. Starting out in 1798 in Liverpool, this once family-run store took on greater dimensions when the Wainwright family took it over. With a reputation for distinguished jewelry, fine silverware and watches, this company would evolve primarily into a retailer of bespoke jewelry.
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| Various pieces from Garrards & Co. Photos courtesy of www.royalwarrant.org, www.thecourtjeweller.com & Pinterest. |
3) Garrards: Speaking of long histories, one could not list British jewelers without listing Garrards, a jeweler whose illustriousness is second to none. In a nutshell, Garrards is an institution. While today it is best known for producing the Premier League Trophy as well as Princesses Diana and Kate's sapphire engagement ring, Garrards was and still is charged with the design, care and upkeep of most of the British Crown Jewels (which by the way, will make your jaw drop). Established in 1735, they have seen every modern jewelry era, spanning from Georgian to the more recent Retro and Art Deco of the 20th century. Needless to say, a visit in their store is nothing short of an experience.
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| Bespoke Hummingbird Bracelet and Bird Ring. Photo Courtesy of www.professionaljeweller.com |
4) Stephen Einhorn is incredibly proud to be British. A self-proclaimed born and raised Londoner, his work as a creative designer has been motivated by the desire to bring back authentic British craftsmanship. Perhaps first brought into the limelight in the mid 1990s due to collaborations with fashion designer Paul Smith, he is noted for producing edgy yet sensible men's jewelry (a market that is still seldom explored today). Even further, he was among the first to produce lines of jewelry designed as commitment pieces for the LGBT community. If you are in the area of Islington, it is definitely worth the visit.
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| From the Couture Voyage collection. Photo Courtesy of www,stephenwebster.com |
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| From the Fly by Night collection. Photo courtesy of www.nawo.com |
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| From the Magnipheasant collection. Photo courtesy of www.stephenwebster.com |
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| From the Seven Deadly Sins collection. Photo courtesy of www.technabob.com |
5) Stephen Webster is what I would call a story-teller. While described by most as a modern-classic designer, I'd like to think that his use of vibrant and visceral colored stones illustrate his work (may I call it art?) beautifully. With collections including the Seven Deadly Sins, Magnipheasant and the more recent Fly by Night, it is clear that he wishes to convey very powerful messages through jewelry.
Anyone want to catch a plane with us? Let us know if you know of British jewelers we didn't get to visit, we'll be happy to check them out!
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