Gone are the days when your only options for jewellery were eye-wateringly expensive Tiffany diamonds or turn-your-finger-green high street rings. Now, thanks in large part to Instagram and TikTok allowing brands to share their wares and us to discover emerging talent, there’s a plethora of brilliant jewellery labels making high-quality investment pieces that won’t break the bank.
From 14th-century-inspired keepsakes to contemporary styles that will slip seamlessly into your everyday attire, we’ve collated 10 jewellery brands we’re telling our friends about. Now, which piece to choose first…
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by us. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, we may earn a commission.
Ottoman Hands
The story: Ottoman Hands is an artisanal, British brand with roots in Istanbul where each piece is hand cast. They specialise in handcrafted, gold-plated jewellery set with semi-precious gems.
The look: Designs are rich in symbolism and pay homage to the brand’s Turkish heritage, including goddess-inspired pendants, intricately engraved coin earrings, delicate beaded necklaces and rings set with mother of pearl or lapis.
The most-wanted piece: These baroque-style pearl earrings.
The price tag: £19 – £175
Ottoman Hands Mavis Pearl Drop Stud Earrings, $, available at Ottoman Hands
Wilhelmina Garcia
The story: Launched in 2012 by designer Rocio Canals, Wilhelmina Garcia’s pieces are the nostalgic hits your jewellery box needs. Working out of her studio in the heart of Barcelona, she sources precious and semi-precious stones from around the world to handcraft the cutest and most kitsch rings, necklaces and earrings going.
The look: Delicate rings, whimsical designs and chunky gold pieces with nods to summer and the nature all around us.
The most-wanted style: We love the Gold Ladybug Rope Earring and the Gold Daisy Ring.
The price tag: £32 – £308
Wilhelmina García Gold Daisy Ring, $, available at Wilhelmina García
Mathe
The story: Founder Mathe Fotini draws inspiration from Grecian summers for her eponymous jewellery brand. If lazy days on Crete beaches sounds like your idea of heaven, her brand, which began as a direct-to-consumer shop on Instagram, is one to add to your jewellery box. All pieces are handmade in Greece by her and her sister.
The look: Colour-pop beads, freshwater pearls and quirky pendants — it’s all about layering up the pieces.
The most-wanted style: We love the Emma necklace for a fun twist on the classic pearl choker.
The price tag: £10 – £133
Mathe Emma Necklace, $, available at Mathe
Paola Vilas
The story: Brazilian Paola Vilas founded her eponymous brand back in 2016 and has fast become a favourite of the fashion set. Each piece is handmade in Rio de Janeiro, in silver, vermeil or 18-carat gold, and her brand is now stocked everywhere from Tokyo to Odessa by way of Net-A-Porter and Not Another Label.
The look: Paola creates jewellery that can feel more like art than accessories. Her sculptural designs are inspired by surrealist artists and the female form. You’ll want to wear your hair up to show off her trapeze earrings or hold out your wrist to draw attention to her wraparound woman bracelet. Simply put, they’re conversation-starters.
The most-wanted style: Her Eva earrings take the torso candle trend to a whole different level.
The price tag: £175 – £2,500
Paola Vilas Eva Earrings, $, available at Paola Vilas
WALD Berlin
The story: Joyce Binneboese and Dana Roski, former model and fashion stylist respectively, together ran one of Berlin’s coolest multi-brand boutiques before founding their own: Wald. They presented their first collection at Berlin Fashion Week in 2018 and have gone from strength to strength ever since, proving along the way that social media is one of the best ways to get your label out into the world.
The look: Wald Berlin has their finger on the pulse so their most recent collection features all the top jewellery trends du jour, from puffy hearts on velvet ribbons to Harry Styles-esque beaded necklaces.
The most-wanted style: The Amour Nasty Gal necklace is our current fave.
The price tag: £13 – £256
Wald Berlin Amour Nasty Girl Necklace, $, available at Wald Berlin
Anissa Kermiche
The story: Anissa studied engineering and computer science before changing paths and taking a jewellery course at London’s Central Saint Martins. In 2016 she founded her namesake brand and had early support from fashion buyers and influencers who fell for her bold designs. The rest is history.
The look: Her reference points include sculptors Alexander Calder and Constantin Brâncuși (think abstract lines and architectural shapes). The style set has been won over by her tongue-in-cheek pieces such as female busts with ruby nipples and black onyx armpit hair.
The most-wanted style: The Budding Romance earrings are the most stylish way to celebrate spring.
The price tag: £65 – £3,900
Anissa Kermiche Budding Romance Earring, $, available at Anissa Kermiche
Ejing Zhang
The story: Ejing Zhang grew up in China, where she fostered a love of traditional crafts like ink painting and calligraphy. She founded her eponymous brand in London in 2014 after graduating from the Royal College of Art. Still based in the capital, she designs and handmakes all pieces in her studio. Stocked at The Wearer, Selfridges and Boutique 1, she’s made her name by using experimental mixed media such as bamboo, cord and resin.
The look: Art teacher cool. Think marbled and mobile-esque earrings, chunky resin rings and constellation-inspired cuffs. Originality is at the heart of this intricate label.
The most-wanted style: The mottled, resin Corinthos ring is a real work of art.
The price tag: £20 – £250
Ejing Zhang Corinthos Ring, $, available at Ejing Zhang
Faris
The story: Designed by Seattle-based Faris Du Graf, this is another sculpture-inspired label (Faris had a career in architecture before launching the brand). Available at Selfridges, SSENSE and Nordstrom, Faris’ artfully created pieces have gone from under-the-radar hits to firm fashion favourites.
The look: Mixed metals, from melted silver ear cuffs to punky gold chains. The name of Faris’ game? Take a classic — a hoop earring, a drop pendant — and give it an off-kilter twist.
The most-wanted style: The Glaçon earrings, which come in sterling silver and bronze, are head-turners.
The price tag: From £40.
Faris Glaçon Hoops, $, available at Faris
aeydē
The story: The Berlin-based footwear brand was founded in 2015 by Luisa Krogmann and Constantin Langholz-Baikousis, who set out to offer contemporary, subtle and distinctive footwear designs. (Fun fact: the ē in aeydē is a nod to the hand-sewn signature stitch in every shoe they make.) Their jewellery is every bit as great as their shoe offering.
The look: Each piece is handcrafted in Italy in brass, 18-carat gold or silver. Designed to fit seamlessly into your everyday wardrobe, the pieces are distinctive but minimalist — like the brand’s footwear, it’s all classic shapes with a contemporary twist.
The most-wanted style: The intricate Shelley chain bracelet.
The price tag: From £40.
aeydē Shelley 18k Gold Plated, $, available at aeydē
Alighieri
The story: London-based Rosh Mahtani was inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy when studying French and Italian at Oxford University. After graduating, she worked in styling and e-commerce and founded Alighieri in 2014 with no formal training. Each of the pieces in her collection is connected to one of Dante’s 100 poems.
The look: Imperfect, heirloom-like pieces that relate to hell, purgatory and paradise. From craggy coins to misshapen pearls, her pieces have inspired many a knockoff.
The most-wanted style: The Celestial Raindrop earrings are just as magical as they sound.
The price tag: £35 – £12,000
Alighieri The Celestial Raindrop Pearl Earrings, $, available at Alighieri
JOY BC
The story: Conceptual fine jeweller Joy Bonfield-Colombara hasn’t had your average career start. She paid her way through art school by hand-making ‘Lil Wayne an effigy of his face, complete with diamond tear tattoos. The piece was commissioned by a friend of the rapper’s for his 36th birthday. She’s been featured on design site Dezeen and creates keep-forever pieces.
The look: Part religious artefact, part found object from ancient Rome; think pendants and rings of fractured faces, emerald-encrusted Medusas and profiles of Nefertiti.
The fans: ‘Lil Wayne (of course), Lynette Nylander, the Babyface ladies.
The most-wanted style: The aforementioned Medusa ring, a formidable hand embellishment for anyone.
The price tag: Price on request.
Miansai
The story: Based in New York, founder Michael Saiger sources Italian leather, pure precious metals and custom-made marine-grace ropes for the label’s pieces. Think high-quality craftsmanship meets contemporary design.
The look: From geometric bangles to gold hoop earrings, all of the pieces take classic styles and tweak them with statement-making points of difference.
The most-wanted style: In keeping with the brand’s homage to maritime aesthetics, the thin screw cuff is the Insta-fave.
The price tag: Around £150.
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