The journey of jewellery in Britain echoes the development of the land itself. From the Bronze and Iron Age tribes over 4000 years ago, there is evidence of beautiful brooches and armlets crafted with gold, bronze and jet that would have appeared from another world entirely to most of the population. The Celts, who hold such an essential cultural foothold in everything across the country, became master metalworkers who produced gloriously intricate motifs that reflected their deep connection with nature and spirituality. And as classical influence came to their shores, jewellery was able to define new tribal and warrior status right up to the Middle Ages.
Soon this idea gave way to the rise of royal patronage that made the gems, pearls and pieces a symbol of divine power. Kings and Queens at court commissioned their own projects that grew in complexity and scarcity of materials to create many of the remarkable and iconic pieces that are still connected with the British Royal Family to this day, such as the Crown Jewels themselves. Through the age of Empire and on to the freedom and expressions of modernity, British jewellers and brands remained at the forefront of innovation for clients all over the world.
In the 21st century, it would appear that there is certainly a lot to live up to for British jewellers. However, there are several that are writing their own history with elegance, charm and excellent craft. Our guide to a small collection of the very best among them demonstrates how this can also be achieved in the most interesting and eye-catching manner possible.
Boodles
The maritime city of Liverpool was considered the richest city in the world for a prolonged period of time in the 19th century. Its position as the world’s port saw all manner of goods pass through its waters and hundreds of businesses were built on this trade that are still important to the country today.
Boodles, as it is now known since the 2004 rebrand, was a collection of silversmiths and clockmakers in the city that went through a process of development until it found recognition as a luxury jeweller across every generation since then.
Its active engagement and presence in the arts and highest calibre of social events has resulted in awards and accreditations such as the British Luxury Brand of the Year in 2023. Much of this can be attributed to the enduring craftsmanship and emerging values that emphasise traceability and provenance for the gemstones they use through ethical sourcing methods and partnerships. Although commissions are possible, it is often the Boodles collections that steal the headlines with projects such as The National Gallery Collection, embedding British art into the process and pieces from the exquisite Raindance creation becoming a part of the permanent collection at the V&A museum.
Flagship stores on New Bond Street and Sloane Street are now fixtures alongside the regional sites of Liverpool, Manchester and Dublin. This is a brand that effortlessly blends tradition and imagination with nature-influenced design and unmatched artisanal skill.
Garrard & Co
It seems that Garrard & Co was always destined for greatness ever since founder George Wickes created his first workshop on Threadneedle Street around 300 years ago. For over half of this history, this iconic British jewellery brand was officially recognised as the Crown Jeweller and therefore responsible for some of the most famous pieces of all time. They recut the iconic Koh-i-Noor diamond, created a crown for Queen Mary’s coronation and were commissioned for the Imperial State Crown that we know today. Perhaps the most notable of all Garrard creations in modern times is the engagement ring presented to Princess Diana by the Prince of Wales. The oval blue sapphire with a halo of diamonds around its centre has now become a clear part of the design language from the brand that informs many of its current collections and influences.
The positioning of Garrard in 2025 involves a brand identity that builds on its royal connections to demonstrate cultural weight and important historical significance. The motifs and grammar of their shapes and forms still reference this past with a ceremony and grandeur that set it apart from most of its direct competition. What Garard does so effectively is to blend all of this prestige and iconography with a willingness to push further for creativity and new forms. All of which is an admirable philosophy for such an established and well-loved brand to maintain.
Sybarite
British jewellery brands would not be in the revered position they are without new ideas and fresh innovations, voices and visions regularly appearing. Sybarite Jewellery fulfils all of these criteria in a unique and magnificent style. Created in London by the trained architect Margarita Prykhodko and her sister Alyona, the brand has earned a stellar footing in the jewellery world through the engineering level of precision craft with the artistry of fine design. Named after the ancient Greek city of Sybaris that prioritised beauty, luxury and refinement, they create pieces that transform through interaction and pulse with kinetic energy.
Their inspiration was drawn from theatre and horology, where moving parts are often hidden to spin and pivot bracelets and rings into blooms of new colours and changing looks. The Sybarite team of goldsmiths and gem setters are accompanied by micro engineers who bring a cutting edge to age-old traditions to pull everything together. Extremely limited numbers or one-of-a-kind pieces that use storytelling and fairy tales as their muse demonstrate a playful nature and the Fairies Earrings and Marry-Go-Round Rings collections align all of this overall philosophy with real sparkle and flair.
Understandably, praise has been garnered for Sybarite and with features in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Tatler, it is clearly on a rise towards the top table of British jewellery brands for the future.
In 2025, there is a responsibility on British jewellery brands to protect their heritage with a new and developing understanding of how to drive their art forms forward in ethical and sustainable ways. As our guide shows, this does not mean that the quality and refined aesthetics should ever be compromised. Indeed, they all appear destined to keep delivering on that promise for a very long time.
