London is home to a vast number of prestigious jewellery stores, including both international luxury brands and independent outlets too.
(Photo: De Beers Jewellers)
From the glistening shopfronts off of ritzy Bond Street to the edgy, hipster-dominated corners of East London, London’s jewellery scene is as diverse as it is large. Whether you’re looking to pick up a modest decorative trinket or a special occasion statement piece, you’re certain to find what you want in one of the capital’s myriad of jewellery shops. Here are 10 of the best.
De Beers
Renowned for creating the finest diamond jewellery, with a focus on bridal and engagement rings, London-based De Beers are one of the world’s most prestigious jewellery brands. They have several stores dotted across the capital, including the original flagship in Old Bond Street which opened in 2002. In keeping with the brand’s hallmarks, the beautifully-designed store showcases the impeccable craftsmanship that goes into the creation of exquisite diamond jewellery. The store also offers a ‘For you, Forever’ Service which gives couples the chance to sit down with a De Beers Ambassador and create a custom design, diamond and setting combination.
46-50 Old Bond Street / Mon-Sat 11am-6pm Closed Sun
Maya Magal
(Photo: Maya Magal)
Applying traditional techniques to contemporary designs is the core principle of acclaimed jewellery brand Maya Magal, whose swanky Kings Cross store houses everything from birthstone necklaces to mixed-metal rings. All of the brand’s striking pieces are made in small batches by a team of skilled artisans and come from the creative vision of its eponymous founder, whose signature style is characterised by the use of mixed metals, off-centre stones and geometric lines. As well as its in-store jewellery, there’s also a bespoke engagement and wedding ring service.
Unit 34 Coal Drops Yard / Mon-Weds & Fri-Sat 11am-7pm Thurs 11am-9pm Sun 12pm-5pm
Tiffany & Co.
No introduction is required for Tiffany & Co. The legendary American jeweller has multiple London outlets, including its first ever store in the UK on Old Bond Street, which opened in 1996. Bringing together a beautiful Victorian façade with New York class, the 15,000 square foot space offers a dramatic entrance for clients, who walk under a large Tiffany clock to discover dazzling fine jewellery and watches, as well as fashion items and other accessories. In-store experts are on hand to guide clients through the process of choosing their preferred diamond shapes, styles and settings.
25 Old Bond Street / Mon-Weds 10am-7pm Thurs-Sat 10am-8pm Sun 12pm-6pm
Tatty Devine
(Photo: Tatty Devine)
Established in 1999, female-founded Tatty Devine is the home of playful, original art jewellery, crafted in their signature acrylic. Their London store has been nestled in the heart of Covent Garden for 12 years and is a cult destination for finding truly unique souvenirs and gifts for fashionista friends. Design your own personalised Name Necklace in a choice of rainbow, glitter, mirror and recycled acrylic colours and watch their team laser cut and hand make it while you wait. Look out for seasonal collections and limited edition jewellery officially designed in collaboration with icons including the David Bowie collection, too.
44 Monmouth Street / Mon-Sat 11am-6pm Sun 12pm-5pm
Boodles
With a heritage dating back two centuries, starting in the iconic city of Liverpool, Boodles are a veritable institution on the UK’s high-end jewellery scene. Their chic, modern flagship store on New Bond Street sells British-crafted jewellery, all bearing the distinctive Boodles hallmarks, including ultra-high quality precious gems, and a commitment to brilliance, both in the cut of its diamonds and the beauty of its designs. Awash with striking glass design touches, the store itself is decorated in the brand’s signature soft grey and Boodles pink and features luxurious entertaining spaces, a discreet, private sales area for VIP clients, and a dedicated bridal and engagement ring department.
178 New Bond Street / Mon-Weds & Fri-Sat 10am-6pm Thurs 10am-7pm Sun 12pm-5pm
The Great Frog
(Photo: The Great Frog)
Founded almost 50 years ago, The Great Frog’s small black-fronted store in Carnaby, Central London, sells hand-carved and crafted “Rock ‘n’ roll jewellery, including silver skull rings, skull pendants, celtic jewellery, and solid silver biker trinkets. The brand can count among their clients a vast number of renowned cultural figures from the music and entertainment world, past and present. Among them are the likes of Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Kate Bush and Alice cooper, as well as more contemporary names such as Lada Gaga, Kiera Knightly and David Beckham, all of whom are major fans of their pieces inspired by dark themes and symbolism designed to challenge the status quo.
10 Ganton Street, Carnaby / Mon-Sat 10.30am-6.30pm Sun 11am-5pm
London Rocks
London Rocks opened their doors in 2014 in the heart of London’s Jewellery Quarter, Hatton Garden. Offering something completely unique in design to the historic district, they combine traditional handmade techniques with contemporary aesthetics across a range of fine and designer items. The showroom features a variety of styles spanning engagement, wedding and eternity rings as well as unique dress jewellery. The heart and soul of the store is the jewellery workshop, seen through a glass floor that looks down onto the craftsmans’ benches where the brand’s bespoke commissions are created. Staff on hand to guide clients through the jewellery-making process from concept to the finished article.
87 Leather Lane / Tues-Fri 11am-5.30pm Sat 11am-4.30pm Closed Sun-Mon
WeAreArrow
(Photo: WeAreArrow)
Previously housed in a shipping container, in 2020 We Are Arrow moved to a studio and storefront on historic Columbia Road in East London where they create and showcases a collection of small, ethically-produced wearable treasures. Drawing heavily from the natural world, the brand’s pieces are hand-made to order in-store, each sculpted individually in wax before undergoing the ancient “lost wax casting” method. Organic shapes and textures lend the brand’s designs an unconventional and highly distinctive style, with many of their items cast from found objects and even plant parts, with seeds, pods, and petals brought to new life in fine metals, accentuating their natural textures.
118 Columbia Road / Mon & Weds-Fri 12pm-6pm Sun 10am-4pm Closed Sat & Tues
Tessa Metcalfe
London based designer Tessa Metcalfe has become famous for her trademark pigeon claw jewellery. Hand made in her independent London studio, her collections feature silver and gold plated pigeon and taxidermy-inspired pieces, often including stunning natural crystal. Her works are heavy in dark humour, embracing the irony of the luxury objects she creates by working from something commonly considered repellent: the foot of a dead pigeon. She takes the fantasy further by hand-making miniature rings to adorn the pigeons own claws and painstakingly giving her vermin birds their own gold manicures, drawing parallels between the birds instinctive desires and our own visceral lust for jewels.
6 Laystall Street
EC One
Home to a cool local gem of a store in funky Exmouth Market, EC One has nearly 25 years’ experience designing and handmaking jewellery in its on-site London workshop. Globally-sourced collections, from both local designers and companies around the world, have an easy-to-wear, stylish feel displayed within the bright space with floor to ceiling windows. The brand also pride themselves on only using recycled gold and platinum conflict-free diamonds and are always working to source ethical gemstones, meaning that as well as creating new pieces they also remodel loved heirlooms and repair old favourites.
41 Exmouth Market / Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10.30am-6pm Closed Sun