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, totally unique and fashion-forward investment pieces that won’t break the bank.
From witchy-inspired crystals to architectural statement styles, we’ve collated 14 jewellery brands we’re telling our friends about. Now, which piece to choose first…
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Pupari
Eager to make jewellery that he hadn’t seen anywhere else before, Jason Bourne founded Pupari in 2023. In just two years, he’s done exactly that. The brand has become a go-to for unique, whimsical and joyful pieces to make your inner-child very happy, with necklaces, earrings and rings featuring sweet animal motifs and tongue-in-cheek anatomical designs. Every piece is made-to-order in 100% recycled silver or gold and is handcrafted by Bourne in his Brighton studio. We love that every piece is available in sterling silver, gold vermeil-plated silver, and solid 9ct or 18ct gold, making it more accessible for a range of budgets.
Pupari Bunny Ring, La Conejita – Silver, $, available at Pupari
Ottoman Hands
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.
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.
Ottoman Hands Moon Face Pearl Drop Stud Earrings, $, available at Ottoman Hands
Crystal Haze Jewelry
Founded in Oslo, Norway in 2017, Crystal Haze is all about bringing fun back to fine jewellery design. The brand’s whimsical, playful and childlike ethos combines with bright and bold designs. Unsurprisingly, crystals play a big part. You’ll find everything from gem-encrusted Care Bear charms to confetti-filled resin hoops, rainbow-crystal, evil eye bracelets, and big, chunky raw-cut pendants like this.
Crystal Haze Jewelry Amethyst – Classic Connector, $, available at Crystal Haze Jewelry
Agapée
Agapée is a French brand whose timeless designs are inspired by the rich culture, vibrant hues, and classical myths of the Mediterranean. Think organic, nature-inspired shapes, fluid lines, and simple statement pieces — all made in gold-plated bronze in the brand’s Paris atelier.
Agapée Amara Earrings, $, available at Agapée
Paola Vilas
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.
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.
Paola Vilas Nina Earrings, $, available at Paola Vilas
WALD Berlin
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.
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.
Wald Berlin Drop It Like It’s Hot Shell Necklace, $, available at Wald Berlin
Ejing Zhang
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.
Ejing Zhang Astra Earrings, $, available at Ejing Zhang
Alighieri
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.
Shop for imperfect, heirloom-like pieces that relate to hell, purgatory and paradise. From craggy coins to misshapen pearls, her pieces have inspired many a knockoff.
Alighieri The Ancient Incantations Ring, $, available at Alighieri
Faris
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.
Shop here 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.
Faris Glaçon Hoops, $, available at Faris
Awe Inspired
Awe Inspired was founded in 2018 by jeweller Jill Johnson. It started with the Goddess Necklace, a design inspired by Johnson’s battle with cancer; a symbol of female strength, mysticism and power. Now the brand’s full collection encompasses an entire pantheon of deities (from Athena and Aphrodite to Lilith and Lakshmi), astrological motifs and magical symbols; as finely wrought rings, charm bracelets, pendants, drop earrings and more. Its latest drop is inspired by sea sirens and features mermaid, starfish and shell designs, and uses pearl and labradorite.
Awe Inspired Labradorite Signet Ring, $, available at Awe Inspired
Aeyde
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. Their jewellery is every bit as great as their shoe offering. 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.
aeydē Ravi 18kt Gold-Plated Earrings, $, available at aeydē
Ece London
Ece London is, of course, a London-based brand whose jewellery is designed in the UK and made in Turkey. Each meticulously crafted piece balances old and new — made with traditional jewellery-making techniques and infused with ancient mythology, history and culture, whilst also straddling the modern with fresh and contemporary designs. The brand is also dedicated to transparency, using certified natural gemstones and responsibly sourced metals.
Ece London The Aphrodite Baroque Pearl Ring, $, available at Ece London
Briwok
From chunky, organic swirl pendants strung on a cord to delicate fish charm necklaces; pearlescent shells and colourful, beaded keyrings — all of Briwok’s designs are infused with free, summery energy. Naturally so, this brand hails from Australia’s sun-drenched Gold Coast. Shop for pieces that you can wear to the beach, to the club, to a festival and to a wedding.
Briwok Silver Swirl Necklace, $, available at Briwok
Emma Pills
Emma Pillemer was only 19 when she launched Emma Pills in 2020, but in just a few years it has evolved into one of Australia’s most exciting and fast-growing jewellery brands. In 2021 she was the youngest designer to showcase her work at Australian Fashion Week, and now you can find the brand stocked at Revolve and Anthropologie. You can expect bold, statement designs with youthful motifs like butterflies, shells and hearts. Brand signatures include oversized chains and, of course, pill charms. In fact, rather than the traditional jewellery box or pouch, your order will arrive in a mock pill bottle in a rather topical shade of neon green (very Brat).
Emma Pills Butterfly Effect Ring, $, available at Emma Pills
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.
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
Linjer
The story: Based in Hong Kong, Linjer’s goal is accessible luxury. How? They’ve done away with the usual supply chain that contributes to massive price markups. Instead, they partner with manufacturers to sell the very best quality materials directly to customers online. This means Linjer can keep its costs low. According to the brand, this includes up to 50% lower than the luxury market.
The look: Delicate and elegant gemstone pieces in gold and silver, perfect for extra special events like birthdays, anniversaries or engagements — all for much less than most in the industry.
The most-wanted piece: We have our eyes on the brand’s beautiful mother-of-pearl designs, especially the rings.
The price range: £17 – £3114
Linjer Mother of Pearl Ring – Margit, $, available at Linjer
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.
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
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 cheeky Yes We Can Can earring is certainly a statement piece and good conversation starter.
The price tag: £65 – £3,900
Anissa Kermiche Yes We Can Can Earring, $, available at Anissa Kermiche
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