IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOODLES
Boodles has always been about joy and discovery. Nicholas Wainwright, Boodles President, describes how a family trip to Africa inspired a dazzling new jewellery collection …
It began with a conversation over Sunday lunch … as many things do in our family! We were reflecting on my travels through Europe a few years ago, which inspired a European-themed jewellery collection: A Family Journey. More and more, we’ve found that people are looking for jewellery that holds a memory and, of course, tells a story. Very few things in life can do that quite like jewellery – something you look at, and it instantly takes you back to a moment, a person, or a place.
So, in October 2024, my niece Honour, Director of Marketing at Boodles, and I embarked on an adventure that took us from South Africa, where we boarded the iconic Blue Train with our long-time friend and gemstone partner, Saul Goldberg, up through Tanzania and onto the Masai Mara in Kenya.
We witnessed the wildebeest migration from the skies, spent time with craftspeople, swapped stories with local guides and, of course, we found some rather special stones. These include stunning Ashokas, a 34 carat tsavorite from Tanzania and Single Mine Origin gold from the Sabodala-Massawa Mine in Senegal, which is fully traceable and responsibly sourced gold, from the mine into our showrooms.
We used these and other gemstones in our new collection, Around Africa in 10 Days. In this collection, we have sought to capture the vibrancy, energy, and spirit of the African continent – from the majestic lions in the Masi Mara to the deep blue tones of the Tanzanian skies. There are 42 pieces in total, each one full of colour and character and special memories. The Victoria Falls earrings are inspired by the dramatic falls known as Mosi-ao-Tunya meaning the “smoke that thunders” and feature Ashoka cut diamonds set in 18 carat white gold.
Highlights of the collection include an elephant necklace featuring a 26 carat pear shape morganite and ten white agates, each carved by hand. Both the pendant and the morganite are detachable, meaning the necklace can be worn three different ways – a versatility we are seeking to offer more and more in our jewellery.
Boodles ‘A Family Journey: Zebra’ necklace set with an octagonal shape emerald and marquise diamonds with black enamel in platinum, POA.
Then there is a zebra collar set with a 3.35 carat Colombian emerald and over 1,000 diamonds, among black enamel.
The lion pendant and earrings feature multicoloured marquise-shaped diamonds set in 18 carat yellow and rose gold.
Boodles ‘A Family Journey: Zambezi’ bracelet set with Ashoka cut diamonds and white agate in 18 carat Single Mine Origin yellow gold, €77,000 (right).
My personal favourite is the Zambezi bangle set with an oval 3.03 carat tsavorite overlaid with delicate dark enamel shard, and surrounded by carved mother of pearl – the vivid green of the tsavorite catches the light just like the alligator’s eye we witnessed peeking out from the river did.
Need to know: The new collection can be viewed at Boodles, 71 Grafton Street, Dublin 2 and online. Coincidentally, Boodles’ charity of the year this year is Just a Drop which provides communities around the world with access to safe water. In Africa there are over 380 projects. @
SEE MORE: Runners, Riders And Fabulous Jewels
