Finding super cool, good quality jewelery in the £50-£250 price range used to be a challenge.
But now, thanks to a host of new ‘demi-fine’ and ‘contemporary’ brands filling the awkward gap between a Topshop choker and Chanel pearls, we’re spoiled for choice.
Whether you’re treating yourself or a boyfriend or girlfriend, or looking for something for the special lady in your life, you can’t go wrong with something from one of these brands.
Tada & toys
Prices: from £30 – £350
From playful ear cuffs to statement hoops & tiny stacking studs, Tada & Toy is a London-based demi-fine jewelery studio specializing in truly outstanding earrings. Founded by best friends Tansy & Victoria, the brand makes affordable, high-quality pieces that are perfect for layering and donates 5 percent of sales to animal protection charity, The Aspinall Foundation.
Astrid & Miyu
Prices: from £29 – £115
Connie Nam founded Astrid & Miyu from her flat in Notting Hill in 2012 after struggling to find contemporary jewelery at affordable prices. All designed in-house at the brand’s London studios, Astrid & Miyu specialize in dainty yet stackable pieces – check out their Vintage collection for some gilded beauty. Their five Instagrammable shops in London also do ear piercings, welded bracelets and tattoos.
Daisy London
Prices: £19-£250
Londoner and founder Ruth Bewsey conceived Daisy London in 2009 on Portobello Road. Fast forward ten years and the brand has developed something of a cult following. Following the wildly successful first collaboration with influencer Estee LaLonde, the second 28-piece collection, Goddess, is packed with now chunky gold chains, signet rings and sculptural hoop earrings. These are jewelry that can be stacked, layered and worn every day.
Edge of Ember
Prices: from £35 for tiny stud earrings to £175 for a statement necklace. Prices for the solid gold collection go up to £235.
Failed to get one Celine’s first pendants? The sustainable jewelry brand Edge of Ember has the perfect alternative.
Founded by ex-financier Lynette Ong Gladstone in 2014, Edge of Ember aims to provide high-quality, well-designed jewelry while empowering the communities that make it.
Designed by an all-female team in London and then made in artisan workshops and small-scale factories across Asia (all of which follow ethical practices), the brand is worn by everyone from Lady Gaga to Ellie Goulding.
Stocked in Harvey Nichols and beyond EdgeofEmber.com
Missoma
Prices: From £19 – £215.
The British brand Missoma creates perfect jewelery for your everyday wardrobe. Their delicate, distinctive pieces combine semi-precious stones with zircon pavé set in 18kt gold vermeil to give a sophisticated yet playful feel.
Their pieces are designed to be worn alone or layered, and with interchangeable studs, pendants, and charms, you can make them your own.
They’ve also created three wildly popular collections in collaboration with lifestyle influencer Lucy Williams, the second being inspired by a trip to Rome.
Buy it in Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Fenwick and Fortnum & Mason, or online here.
Monica Vinader
Prices: From £35.
The eponymous brand of British jewelery designer Monica Vinader rose to fame soon after its launch in 2008 thanks to the widespread popularity of her Fiji bracelets. The grown-up take on friendship bracelets was a sell-out hit and remains the brand’s best-selling style.
This is the go-to brand for instantly wearable contemporary pieces to style, stack and personalize with engraving.
Visit one of her boutiques in Chelsea, Mayfair and Canary Wharf; or shop it online here.
Mary Black
Prices: £40-£300
Copenhagen-born Maria Black founded her eponymous jewelery brand in 2010. She creates two lines: one fine jewelery in 14k white and yellow gold, ranging from around £125-£465, and the other, her fashion collection, is gold plated silver and ranges from around £40-£300. Designed in its Copenhagen headquarters and produced in Thailand and India, Black’s designs feature art-inspired shapes inlaid with precious metals and pearls. And they are really nice.
Stocked on Net-a-Porter and in Liberty, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Boutique 1.
Stellar 79
Prices: £45 to £395
Created by sisters Natasha and Sheena, East London-based demi-fine jewelery brand Stellar makes 79 affordable gold vermeil jewelery influenced by the founders’ Trinidadian and Mauritian Indian ancestry. All jewelery is designed by the sisters in London and handcrafted in Jaipur using ethically sourced gemstones and recyclable packaging, and 10 per cent of the sale of each of the ‘Stellar Studs’ will be donated to the Educate Girls charity.
Daphine
Prices: From £40 – £180
Launched in 2018 by friends Damasia and Philippine, Daphine takes inspiration from the archives of fashion and art history – and the impressive wardrobe of co-founder Philippine’s Parisian grandmother to create bold, sculptural bling. Believing that luxury should not have unnecessary costs, Daphine is committed to transparent prices and sustainable production. All pieces are handmade by artisans in the brand’s Jaipur workshop using recycled brass.
The £65 gold-plated Oli ring, whose design was based on a classic dome design Damasia’s mother had in the 90s, has exploded on the ‘gramand is a sure way to give your look a fashion insider spin.
Ask
Prices: from £65, to £480
Created by two half English-Sicilian sisters, Francesca Kelly and Marianna Doyle, Soru means ‘sisters’ in Sicilian. All pieces have a touch of Italian flair (de Sicilian collection is our particular favourite) and can be worn every day or for a special occasion – they also have a special bridal section on their site.
Worn by the likes of Kate Middleton, Chiara Ferragni and Rita Ora, the brand has a strong celebrity following, but the price means the semi-fine pieces are affordable.
All ethically handmade in Italy or Turkey, Soru is available from Selfridges, Harrods, Fenwicks and Harvey Nichols.
By Alona
Prices: £50-£350
The daughter of a fine jeweler, London-based jewelery designer Alona Shelemy draws on her European and Middle Eastern heritage as inspiration for her effortlessly cool designs. Using gold-filled, sterling silver or 18k gold-plated metals, she rediscovers ancient treasures of the Mediterranean to create chunky, cool-girl jewels. It’s all made in London and 10% of the proceeds from each order go to Ocean Conservation charities.
Buy it online here.
Ottoman hands
Prices: from £16 – £75.
Deniz Gurdal, who started selling her jewelry on Portobello Road in 2009, designs jewelry inspired by the old Ottoman Empire.
Each piece is handcrafted from 21 ct gold-plated brass and hand-set with semi-precious stones by master jewelers in their workshop in Istanbul.
For sale in Topshop Oxford Circus, The British Museum, The National Gallery and The V&A. Or shop online here.
Theodora Warre
Prices: from £50 to £1950
If you like moons, stars and talisman references then Theodora Warre is the jewelery designer for you. Warre, the great-granddaughter of former crown jeweler Harry Garrard, specializes in eclectic semi-precious stones with a bohemian vibe.
Passionate about preserving traditional craftsmanship and supporting local communities, Warre works with a small team of artisans in Jaipur to create each piece. All the stones and materials she uses are conflict-free and she ensures that the professionals she works with receive a fair wage.
Pink Piglet
Prices: £100-£180
Inspired by her travels to India, Millie Carr, founder of Pink Piglet, creates bold, colorful crystal earrings from gemstones ethically sourced in India, cut and polished by Indian artisans. With the belief that crystals heal the soul, each of the big, bold styles has mood-altering properties to heal and uplift. Oh and they look pretty cool too.
Alex Monroe
Prices: From £70 for a simple pendant to £700 for more serious stuff.
Alex Monroe celebrated its 30th birthday in 2017, making the British brand one of the more established brands in this category.
All jewelery is inspired by nature, designed by Alex and his team and handmade in England. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the iconic bumblebee necklacea piece that propelled the brand to the forefront of fashion in 2008 and remains the bestseller today.
The brand has a boutique in London Bridge under Alex’s workshop, or you can shop online here.
Ana Come on
Prices: from £15 to £100
Launched in 2018, Ania Haie is a London-based jewelery brand that focuses on fashionable, trendy jewelery at an affordable price. Available exclusively at AniaHaie.comthe brand has mastered sophisticated jewelry that can be styled, stacked and layered as desired.
Crafted from gold plated and rose gold plated sterling silver, Ania Haie’s designs are perfect for layering and stacking.
Shop it here
Charlotte Falconers
Prices: from £70 – £550.
Charlotte Valkeniers launched her eponymous jewelery label in 2014, after graduating from the MA Fashion Artefact program at London College of Fashion in London.
Her minimalist pieces, which she designs in her London studio, are all made from sterling silver or 18ct gold-plated sterling silver and often feature Swarovski crystals.
Shop online here.
Otiumberg
Prices: start at £25.
Founded in 2014 by sisters Christie and Rosanna Wollenberg, who have backgrounds in fashion (Burberry and Louis Vuitton) and art, Otiumberg’s sterling silver and gold-plated designs are fashionable and incredibly wearable. Their personalized bracelets make perfect gifts… and the wallet-friendly prices don’t hurt either.
Shop online here.