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An expert in Greek antiquity, Ilias Lalaounis spent his lifetime breathing new life into iconic jewellery designs from the key periods of Greek history. Combining ancient goldsmithing techniques with modern-day jewellery-making technology, he worked primarily in gold, creating pieces that honoured the aesthetics of the originals, made wearable for modern-day life. Lalaounis passed away in 2013, but his designs live on in the highly collectible jewels he has left behind. In you are in Athens, there is a museum devoted to his work near the Acropolis, which is a must-visit for jewellery fans. 

Jewellery designer Neha Dani from New Delhi creates one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Nature is often the catalyst of Neha’s designs, which frequently evolve into more abstract shapes, retaining just a hint of the designer's original inspiration.

The legendary designer Elsa Peretti, famous for her daring approach to design, has been collaborating with Tiffany & Co. for more than four decades. Inspired by everyday objects – apples, feathers and beans have all appeared in her jewellery – Peretti’s mantra, “style is to be simple”, continues to generate almost 10% of the New York jeweller’s global sales.  Her iconic bone cuff is an example of pared-back design in its purist form. 

Piaget has been making luxury watches since 1874, and since the 1960s has been applying its expertise to fine jewellery with incredible success. Both its watches and jewellery embody the innovative and original craftsmanship of the company that, more than 50 years ago, took the bold decision to only work with precious metals. Watchmaking feats include the ultra-thin Calibre 9P manual-winding movement in 1957, and in 1960 the automatic Calibre 12P movement at 2.3mm - making it the thinnest self-winding movement in the world. The house's ultra slim movements have made an icon of the Altiplano, as it allowed the house to experiment with exotic stone dials in the 1960s - a spirit that fuelled later design audacity such as the Emperador, or the perennially popular Piaget Polo.

Pippa Small's fine jewellery pieces are instantly recognisable with their natural, tactile and earthy designs. Having collaborated with Gucci, Nicole Fahri, Chloe and more, her own collections have a raw, quite literally strung-together quality, which feels both effortlessly elegant and comfortably down-to-earth. As an anthropologist and humanitarian, Pippa Small spends much of her time with the poorest communities around the world from the Afghan jewellers of Turqouise Mountains to the slum children of Nairobi, helping them to create and bring to European and US markets their jewels - the income from which helps improve their lives. She is also one of the first fine jewellery designers to use FairTrade gold.

Established in Milan in 1967 by Pino Rabolini, Pomellato has already become one of the giants in European high jewellery. A forward-thinking company in its philosophy, Pomellato originally made waves with its prêt-à-porter collections, liberating women to take advantage of luxuriant elegance wherever they where, whatever they were doing. From its classic Re and Regina pendants through to "M'ama non m'ama" and the phenomenally successful Nudo stacking rings, its innovative and colourful use of precious stones makes for cuts that carry a softer shape than other companies, displaying an unquestionably unique style.

Before launching his eponymous fine jewellery collection in 1999, Shaun Leane was a longstanding collaborator with the late Alexander McQueen, providing provocative jewels for his legendary catwalk shows. Be it his recent Blackthorn collection, or the exquisitely shaped and gracefully set Salomé pieces, his works channel Art Nouveau aesthetics with a sentimental, often poetic edge, that appeal to the likes of Daphne Guinness, who recently commissioned the "Contra Mundum" gold and diamond gauntlet.

Solange Azagury-Partridge's fine jewellery collections blend pop-art immediacy with ancient mysticism - the pieces themselves bearing vigorous energy and bold craftsmanship. From the striking rock-and-roll colours of her enamel pieces to her wildly colourful Poptails cocktail rings, and her collaborations with Swarovski and H&M, there's much to admire here.

Polish-born Tomasz Donocik is a trailblazer in contemporary jewellery, creating pieces that combine the traditional craft of an artisan with bold and inspired designs that take their cue from literature, architecture, surrealism and even 80s sci-fi. Named UK Jewellery Designer of the Year in 2011, his jewels win awards year after year, including the 2016 Couture Design Awards in Las Vegas for his Stellar earrings, pictured.

Founded in Rome in 1884, Bvlgari has long been synonymous with bold design, rich colour, and unapologetic glamour. Its high jewellery is known for architectural volumes and vivid gemstones, while its watchmaking arm has emerged as a leader in contemporary horology. The Octo Finissimo collection has set ten world records in ultra-thin mechanical design, and the Serpenti continues to evolve as both a jewellery icon and a watchmaking signature.

Bvlgari has also made sustainability a priority, powering its Valenza jewellery site entirely with renewable energy, introducing plastic-free packaging, and using 100% recycled gold across all collections.

Today, Bvlgari stands at the intersection of Italian creativity and Swiss technical excellence—driving innovation in design, craft, and environmental responsibility.

Steeped in family history that utilises the very best of Florence's goldsmiths, Carolina Bucci's high jewellery is regularly on display in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and W magazine, appearing herself on Vanity Fair's "Power Player" list. Her high jewellery designs are ingenious, such as her Woven collection using an ancient Florentine textile loom adapted by her father to weave together gold and silk threads.

London's Hannah Martin founded her very particular fine jewellery and accessory brand in 2005, aiming it at an audience often overlooked by other companies: men. Since then Hannah Martin has also designed collections for women, but regardless of gender, the ethos remains the same. Each fine jewellery piece is imbued with a carefree rock and roll approach, defined by strong lines and an extravagance with an almost cavalier attitude. Every design stems from Martin's firm belief that luxury is something that should have a lasting veracity, which stems from edgy, inventive, and genuinely unique craftsmanship.