This International Women’s Day, let’s look at the women behind the jewellery we love …
From Ireland’s first female diamond setter to uncovering record-breaking Kashmir sapphires, these extraordinary women are shaping the future of fine jewellery in Ireland and beyond.
Monica Doyle, Newbridge Silverware
Something of a hidden gem (excuse the pun), the Vintage Luxe range at Newbridge Silverware spans delicate Edwardian and ornate Victorian pieces to the flowing forms of Art Nouveau, the glamour of Art Deco and statement jewellery from the 1980s and 1990s. Each piece has its own personality and story, having been carefully selected by Monica Doyle for their craftsmanship and creativity.
As a member of the family behind the renowned Irish brand, Monica has spent many years carefully curating and expanding the range, bringing together extraordinary pieces of vintage costume jewellery from across the world. With a natural instinct for style and history, Monica searches fashion houses, specialist dealers and international auctions to discover unique treasures that deserve a second life. Among the highlights are beautifully carved Victorian cameo brooches, as well as striking designs from celebrated names such as Miriam Haskell, Yves Saint Laurent, Trifari, Gucci and Oscar de la Renta. The collection also includes iconic pieces from the 1990s, including designs by Donna Karan. Despite their heritage and rarity, many pieces remain surprisingly accessible, with customers sometimes discovering a vintage ring for as little as €30.
For Monica, vintage jewellery is about freedom of expression. “I like to put eras together,” she says. “I might pair an oversized Victorian cameo brooch with a pair of 1980s earrings. The pieces tell a story in their own right and there are no rules. Jewellery can create a signature look. I don’t think about it too much – I layer, clip, pin and drape it all together. It’s fun and it always makes me happy.” She is particularly passionate about the revival of brooches. “Wear a few together, place one on a scarf or even pin it to a headpiece. It’s incredible what happens when we let the design history of the last century come alive through vintage pieces.” @newbridgesilverware
Claire-Laurence Mestrallet, Adam’s Fine Art Auctioneers, Dublin
Claire-Laurence Mestrallet, the globetrotting director at Adam’s Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, will be celebrating IWD 2026 with her team, doing what they love best – showing clients precious pieces from the upcoming Jewellery Box auction (on Tuesday, March 10). She’s particularly excited about gemstones recently sourced in Monaco for the Fine Jewellery & Ladies Watches auction on May 12. After all, Claire is on a roll.
2025 was something of a record year for Adam’s Jewellery Department. Central to its success was four Kashmir sapphires, one of the rarest gemstones in world and highly sought after, all discovered, valued and sold by Claire. The first Kashmir sapphire came from a French family who were unaware of the sapphire’s Kashmir origin until meeting Claire. It was sold for a staggering €660,000 – one of the best results per carat that seen at auction worldwide in the past decade. Soon afterwards, against all odds, Claire discovered two further Kashmir sapphires, this time from an Irish-American family, whose family mansion and parties are said to have inspired F Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.
These gemstones were sold in September 2025 for an impressive total of €1.36m. The fourth gemstone was discovered on a ring by Boucheron, dating from the early 20th century which was consigned as a part of a private collection from a member of the Guerlain family. This example, a smaller carat size than its predecessors, sold for €350,000. The discovery and sale of four Kashmir sapphires by one specialist in just eight months is almost unheard of in the auction world. Such an achievement has drawn considerable attention from the international jewellery industry, and has elevated Claire’s Fine Jewellery auctions and credentials to a new level of global recognition. @clm_adams_auctioneers @adams.auctioneers.
Peggy Appleby, Appleby Jewellers
Appleby Jewellers, one of Dublin’s most loved family-run businesses, boasts a rich heritage. Indeed this year marks 70 years since Peggy Appleby, Ireland’s first female diamond setter, began her craft in her Dublin home. Later, joined by her husband John, their shared passion built Johnson’s Court, Dublin 2 into a landmark destination for exceptional jewellery. Customers will know an Appleby piece offers lasting value, inherent beauty and sparkle – objects that are meant to become heirlooms.
Peggy’s sons, Gerry, Joe, Mark and later, Johnny, all became involved in the business, expanding their parent’s vision and helping shape Appleby’s into the household name it is today. Now, the third generation is stepping forward, carrying on their grandparent’s legacy, respecting the past, but with a clear vision for the future. Three members of the third generation – Kate, Nicholas and John Appleby – are involved in different areas of the business, yet are all focused on delivering trusted, high-quality client experiences.
“Trust, craft and care define the values of Appleby Jewellers,” says Kate. She recalls a favourite memory which embodies the family firm’s role in life’s special moments. “While working in the boutique, one school holiday, a customer brought in a ring from the 1980s that was showing wear and tear. My Dad, who was helping her, said ‘This ring was designed by my mother; it probably means as much to me as it does to you’. That statement illustrated so clearly, the heart of our family business – where every piece carries a personal meaning.” @appleby_jewellers
Honour Wainwright, Boodles
When Honour Wainwright got married last year, her fiancé Charlie Coleman was under more than the usual pressure when choosing an engagement ring. After all, Honour is a jewellery connoisseur – her family have been at the helm of Boodles for six generations. In the end, he chose a 2-carat Ashoka-cut diamond, a rare 62 facet stone, which he had secretly arranged with Honour’s brother months in advance. The ring was inspired by a Boodles design Honour had always loved, reimagined with an Ashoka centre stone and two tiny Argyle pink diamonds on the shank, a subtle nod to Boodles pink and their incredible rarity.
As a luxury brand, Boodles’ presence on London’s Bond Street and Dublin’s Grafton Street is exceptional in that they are one of the only family-owned British jewellers. Nicholas is President, while Michael serves as Chairman. Honour joined in 2020 after working for Condé Nast. She has spent time as both head of communications and brand manager, and now oversees the marketing department, an element of the business she has always been passionate about. She’s hugely proud of being the first female family member to join Boodles – with that comes an enormous sense of responsibility. “Although over 50 per cent of Boodles management roles are held by women, the industry is still very much male dominated. Therefore, I feel a duty to advocate for greater female representation, whether that be as craftswomen, gemmologists or within other senior management positions in the industry at large. This, alongside ensuring Boodles continues to be a pioneer in the field of traceability, is what I am truly passionate about.”
Part of her role is discovering rare stones. She recalls an unforgettable journey to South Africa in 2024 which included a trip through Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya where they discovered stunning Ashokas, and a 34 carat tsavorite. These were later used in the 42-piece Around Africa in 10 Days collection. Highlights of the collection include an elephant necklace featuring a 26 carat pear shape morganite and ten white agates, each carved by hand. During the trip, Honour visited projects associated with Boodles’ charity of the year Just a Drop which provides communities around the world with access to safe water. For her wedding, Honour wore her favourite earrings which were especially meaningful because the stones came from the Cullinan Mine is South Africa which she had visited. @boodles @honourwainwright
Lucinda Andrews, Weir & Sons
One of Ireland’s most iconic family-run luxury businesses is Weir & Sons, which has been operating in Dublin since 1869. Lucinda is part of the fifth generation of the family involved in the business. She works alongside her father, David Andrews (Chairman) and siblings Chris Andrews, MD, and Natasha Andrews, website manager in running the historic jewellers on Grafton Street. This has helped them balance tradition with modern retail strategy.
Lucinda is the marketing director, leading the company’s brand communications and promotional activities. In her role she has overseen campaigns, collaborations with luxury watch and jewellery partners, and helping produce Weir & Sons The Magazine, which has won recognition for excellence in content marketing.
Under her dynamic leadership, Weir & Sons has strengthened its visibility and expanded. The recent opening of The Weir Laboratory on Castle Market Street marks an exciting new chapter for the company. Lucinda was a key figure in bringing the concept to life, helping to shape a space that adds a distinctive new dimension to the Weir & Sons retail experience. This contemporary environment has a carefully curated selection of luxury brands such as Gucci and Shaun Leane, alongside an exceptional collection of fine vintage watches. Although Lucinda won’t be in Dublin this IWD, she will be marking the occasion. “While I’ll be travelling to the UK for a week of buying meetings, I’m really looking forward to spending time with peers in the industry, sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and continuing to support women and uplift each other along the way,” says Lucinda. @weirandsons
