Jewellery shopping in Europe
-
A
Gloria Astolfo
Take your fashion cues from Venetian painting masterpieces at this Venetian bead artisan’s showcase. Garlands of beaded tiger lilies make open-necked T-shirts instantly glamorous, and those baroque pearl earrings would gently tickle your shoulders if you started to nod off at La Fenice. Prices starting at €35 are surprisingly down-to-earth for jewellery this original, especially so close to Piazza San Marco.
reviewed
-
B
AGAU
Brightly coloured precious and semiprecious stones from India are used by Italian designers to form the dazzling modern jewellery at this reasonably priced shop. There's another branch at Via della Vite 57 (06 693 80 699).
reviewed
-
C
Marogna
Agostino Marogna has been working in the business for years and now owns the finest coral shop in Alghero, at Palazzo d'Albis.
Their signature necklaces composed of big, round coral beads often take years to create. As there is only a certain amount of coral for sale each year, they often have to put these necklaces aside until the new season, when they have to hunt for exactly the same shade and quality of coral. One such necklace with beads measuring 11mm in diameter will set you back a cool around €11,000, rising to around €30,000 for beads measuring 13mm.
Not everything in the shop is this expensive, and it's certainly worth a visit to see the sheer artistry of som…
reviewed
-
Diamond District
Immediately southwest of Centraal Station is the Diamond District. The first things most people see of this quarter are the gold and diamond shops newly located inside Centraal Station. Here you'll find people from all over the world, including plenty of newly engaged Brits (prices here average 30% lower than in UK High Sts) browsing the bright lights and gleaming displays.
But outside, it's a vastly different world. Orthodox Jewish men clad in distinctive black coats and hats shuffle around the lacklustre quarter, traders with briefcases handcuffed to their wrists hurry into diamond exchanges and armed guards keep watch over the little huddle of streets where multimillio…
reviewed
-
D
Sigfrido Cipolato
Booty worthy of pirate royalty is displayed in this fishbowl-sized window display: a constellation of diamonds in star settings on a ring, a tiny enamelled green snake sinking its fangs into a pearl and diamond drop earrings that end in enamelled gold skulls. Though they look like heirlooms, these small wonders were worked on the premises by master jeweller Sigfridio – and you’ll pay half the price here than you would at the high-end jewellery showrooms near San Marco which carry Cipolato’s work.
reviewed
-
E
Vivien Walsh
One of Ireland’s best-known jewellery designers, Vivien Walsh uses Swarovski crystal, glass, feathers, pearls and beads to create delicate, fantastical pieces that hark back to the 1920s and beyond. The elaborate necklaces, in vivid turquoise, pink, purple and green, are quite an investment, but simple bracelets can be had for under €40. French and Italian leather bags and shoes complement the displays.
reviewed
-
F
Helena Rohner
One of Europe’s most creative jewellery designers, Helena Rohner has a spacious boutique in La Latina. Working with silver, stone, porcelain, wood and Murano glass, she makes inventive pieces and her work is a regular feature of Paris fashion shows. In her own words, she seeks to re-create ‘the magic of Florence, the vitality of London and the luminosity of Madrid’. She has also recently branched out into homewares.
reviewed
-
G
Granát Turnov
Part of the country’s biggest jewellery chain, specialising in Bohemian garnet, with a huge range of gold and silver rings, brooches, cufflinks and necklaces featuring the small, dark blood-red stones. There’s also pearl and diamond jewellery, and less expensive pieces set with the dark green semi-precious stone known in Czech as vltavín (moldavite).
reviewed
-
H
Bülow
Stine Bülow is one of the city's best independent contemporary jewellers. Her studio-shop is tucked away behind Højbro Plads and is thus easy to miss if you don't know it's there. Her delicate, original earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets skilfully blend metals and precious stones, abstract and often with a rough-edge finish to surprisingly sophisticated effect.
reviewed
-
I
Lime Blue
Put on your shades and tighten your grip on that purse – you’ll be dazzled by both the merchandise and the pricetags in this elegant and clean-cut jewellery emporium, with diamond-encrusted necklaces and rings by Leo Pizzo, finely crafted brooches by Picchiotti and watches by Versace. Downstairs you’ll find a broad range of silver jewellery, crystalware and other luxury goods.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Gandolfi
A jewellery store with attitude, Gandolfi blends Malasaña edge with the sophistication of the new Madrid. The rings and other accessories are pretty outlandish, but you’ll figure that out as you soon as you walk in and find yourself confronted with a full-size Texaco petrol tank and larger-than-life human statues as props, which are works of art in themselves.
reviewed
-
K
Atelier Naske
Elke Naske’s passion for jewellery is intoxicating. Delicate butterfly pendants, perfectly sculpted rings, cufflinks embedded with precious stones, and more are all painstakingly hand-tapped. Commission her for a piece and she’ll make an initial model of it in (less expensive) silver, just to make sure it fits or hangs correctly and suits you unequivocally.
reviewed
-
L
Bucherer
If you can't stretch to a TAG Heuer, Rolex, Cartier or Patek Philippe, then a Swatch will stylishly tell you the time. But for high-end, elegant watches, jewellery, pocketknives and crystal, check out Bucherer, a family business that began in Lucerne in 1888. It still has its principal outlet and workshop here, where everything is designed and handcrafted.
reviewed
-
M
Brusaferri
Shapes so harmoniously organic, you'll almost believe deep sea-green tourmalines naturally burst from silver pods. Matteo makes each piece by hand, including black diamond earring cascades that spill onto shoulders, and holey silver rings that stack into moon-rock formations. Custom-made baubles you won't find at Bulgari, at a teensy fraction of the price.
reviewed
-
N
Tempi Moderni
Tempi Moderni is packed with wow-factor: quality vintage costume jewellery, wonderful ‘20s and ‘30s Bakelite pieces, Art Nouveau and Art Deco trinkets, Pop Art bangles, 19th-century resin brooches, and pieces by couturiers such as Chanel, Dior and Balenciaga. Plus you can mix and match with the fine array of vintage designer clothing.
reviewed
-
O
House of Amber
This rather touristy but extremely central establishment houses a small, suprisingly fascinating amber museum in its 17th-century quarters. House of Amber exports worldwide and sells some fantastic pieces of jewellery here. (Some pieces even have specks of prehistoric plant life in them.) Service and standards are high, and staff are multilingual.
reviewed
-
P
Belda Jewellery
Belda & Co is a long-established Czech firm dating from 1922. Nationalised in 1948, it was revived by the founder’s son and grandson, and continues to create gold and silver jewellery of a very high standard. Its range includes its own angular, contemporary designs, as well as reproductions based on Art Nouveau designs by Alfons Mucha.
reviewed
-
Q
Attombri
Bold enough to get noticed on Milan catwalks, Attombri’s original sculpted wire collars and bracelets frame glass cameos, crest into beaded green waves and burst into precious garnet blooms. With prices starting at around €40, Attombri jewellery may be among the best designer values to ever grace the pages of Italian Vogue.
reviewed
-
Jewellery Quarter
The obvious place for unique local shopping in Birmingham. Much of the jewellery manufactured in England comes from this region and there are more than a hundred shops selling traditionally handcrafted gold and silver jewellery, watches and more. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter has leaflets detailing notable retail outlets and artisans.
reviewed
-
R
Efva Attling
At first Efva Attling was a model, then a singer in a band called the X-Models. Now she’s even more famous as one of Sweden’s funkiest silversmiths. Her designs are clean-cut and stunning, with names like Homo Sapiens and Make Love Not War. Accessorise with a pair of Efva Attling sunglasses (as worn by Lisa Marie Presley).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
S
Sergio Aranda
Trained in the art of jewellery creation in Switzerland, Aranda produces an original line of goods, including jewellery made using ancient coins. He also specializes in pearls, making all sorts of original and even daring necklaces and other items for ladies looking for something combining the extroverted and unique with the classic.
reviewed
-
T
Cavurotto Argenteria
The location has been home to a store since as early as the 18th century but this, one of the city's senior names in the silver business, has been going since 1919. Nothing much has changed since then, when the town's aristocracy and Jewish community converged here for their silver needs - even the Savoy royal family shopped here.
reviewed
-
U
Goldstrasse
Some 14 designers from the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Austria and more exhibit here. One example is Amsterdam-based Marina Alexandre, a jewellery designer and teacher. You'll see rings (in gold, silver and silicone). Fittingly, since many of the artists graduated from the Rietveld Academy, works here are more like wearable art.
reviewed
-
V
La Bottega di Gio
Murano glass necklaces you see in the shops not quite your style? Make your own with lampworked Murano glass beads beginning at €1 and your choice of coloured wire, silk thread or leather cord from this DIY jewellery shop. To contain your creations, try a hand-stitched jewellery pouch graced with a glass bead (€15 to €25).
reviewed
-
W
Antiquus
Pirates and doge descendants would feel right at home among the bejewelled chalices and twinkle-eyed baroque portraits in this heirloom showcase. Even if you’re not in the market for a €5,000 silver coffee service, these Venetian splendours are worth a peek – especially that necklace of golden pomegranates with ruby seeds.
reviewed
