The Best Jewellery Shops in Ireland

A HARTMANN & SON 29 William Street, Galway

This fourth-generation family business is an institution in Galway, specialising in engagement rings, diamond jewellery and fine jewellery brands such as Fope, Fabergé and Marco Bicego. “We are also the west of Ireland’s only stockists of Tag Heuer and Longines watches,” says owner Richard Hartmann. www.hartmanns.ie. 

AMOC, Church Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow 

Danish jewellery designer Mette O’Connor is a trained gemologist, diamond grader and a member of FAIRMINED, an institution that supports ethical, artisan and small scaling mining. The open plan shop/workshop is where Mette handcrafts her pieces. Mette accepts commissions where she will work with the client from sketch to finished piece and will remodel old jewellery. www.amoc.ie Photography by Mette O’Connor.

BLACKBIRD, Unit 4, Bank Place, Ennis, Co Clare

A pretty pink shopfront is home to Blackbird a jewellery shop featuring contemporary Irish and European jewellery designers. Blackbird was opened in 2019 by Katie Rogers whose vision was for a jewellery store more accessible to customers, especially men. She has achieved this using freestanding units rather than having everything displayed in a glass counter as at a traditional jewellery shop. www.blackbirdennis.ie. Photography by www.vagelisart.com.

BOODLES, 71 Grafton Street, Dublin 2

Designed by architect Eva Jiiná, Boodles’ Dublin store is a stylish, welcoming space reflecting the family ethos of the Boodles team who prides themselves on their warm relationships with Irish clients. Known for statement-making, exquisitely designed, elegant fine jewellery, Boodles designs and produces all pieces in house and sources gems from all over the world. Boodles has a long-standing 25- year partnership with Patek Philippe watches, the only other brand stocked in the store. www.boodles.com. 

ESL, 2 Chatham Street, Dublin 2

Known for redesigning clients’ existing pieces with more contemporary settings, ESL also specialises in ethical lab-grown diamonds. Their innovative “Click Clasp” pearl systems allows the owner to match different outfits using one set of pearls with different coloured clasps. Staudt Twenthe watches, from Dutch watchmaker Yvo Staudt, is another ESL exclusive. www.esljewellery.ie. 

GELLETLIE JEWELLERS, Main Street, Wicklow

Gelletlie Jewellers is one of the oldest jewellers and goldsmiths in Ireland, established in 1818. “We have a reputation for handcrafting bespoke jewellery and redesigning customers’ antique jewellery into beautiful, new contemporary pieces,” explains Joan Gelletlie. The now-famous Bobby Bird, a Christmas tree decoration featuring an initial on a delicate silver chain, is one of Gelletlie’s popular designs. “It’s a memorable way to mark a baby’s first Christmas, or a special gift for a friend.” www.gelletlie.com. 

KEANES JEWELLERS 93-95 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork

Established in 1948, Keanes Jewellers has stores in Cork, Limerick and Killarney. The group stocks the largest range of diamond rings in Ireland, due to its membership of the Houlden International Buying Group, which negotiates competitive prices for all of its members. Impressive Swiss watch brands (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega, Tag Heuer, Breitling and Longines), high-end jewellery (Fope and Shaun Leane) and fashion brands such as Armani, are further reasons to visit. www.keanes.ie.

HARLOW FINE JEWELLERY, 15 Baileys New Street, Viking Triangle, Waterford City

Lisa Statham is descended from a long line of goldsmiths, dating back to the early 19th century. So, it’s fitting that after gaining experience in the jewellery industry in Ireland and Australia that she open her own boutique. Harlow Fine Jewellery in Waterford’s historic Viking Triangle, established in 2020 features Irish and independent jewellery designers alongside her own designs and is perfect for when you’re searching for that something special, for yourself or for a loved one. www.harlowjewellery.ie 

LOULERIE, 14B Chatham Street, Dublin 2 

“Having a splash of colour beside the face is a great way to update your look, especially on darker winter days,” believes Louise Stokes, who invests in great tailoring and accessorises with pieces from her fine jewellery collection. “The Diamond Martini necklace and 9mm Diamond Huggies are my go-to for everyday wear. In the evening, I switch to a pair of statement Mignonne Gavigan earrings.” www.loulerie.com

MOMUSE, Unit 5, 59 South William Street, Powerscourt Townhouse, Dublin 2 

“Our store mirrors the experience of opening a MoMuse box,” explains owner and jewellery designer Margaret O’Rourke. Understated, with an emphasis on clean lines and geometric shapes, each MoMuse piece is created with versatility and longevity in mind. “Our core collections feature stars, moons, circles, bars and squares rendered in ethically sourced 9kt, 18kt and 14kt gold and are inspired by travel and the night sky.” Customers can visit MoMuse’s new creative studio, on the top floor of the Powerscourt Townhouse, where O’Rourke creates and crafts her collections. www.momuse.ie

RARE JEWELLERY DESIGN 12 Castle Market, Dublin 2

This family-run business, founded by third-generation jeweller Denise O’Connor, specialises in understated, contemporary jewellery. “We bring a thoughtful, considered and practical approach to the Irish jewellery market at a time when there is so much choice.” Rare also supports and nurtures students with internships from colleges in Ireland and abroad. O’Connor says, “This training and development ensures the craft and skills of jewellery design, goldsmithing and gemology continue for generations to come.” www.rare.ie. 

SEOIDÍN, 52 O’Connell Street, Ennis, Co Clare & Limerick & Skerries, Co Dublin

SEODÍN means “little jewel” in Irish, an appropriate name for Maureen Harrison’s jewellery shops. After leaving school, Maureen worked in a local jewellery shop and through repair works in the service department, she learnt she had a natural talent as a jeweller. When the stars aligned, she fulfilled her dream to open her own shop which she did in Ennis in 1996. Leveraging on the success of that first store Maureen has opened three more boutiques, adding another store in Clare and shops in Dublin and Limerick. www.seoidin.com Photography by Leon Murphy.

STONECHAT JEWELLERS, Westbury Mall, Dublin 2

Customers can shop the designs of contemporary Irish jewellers such as Seamus Gill and Helena Malone at Stonechat Jewellers, and also watch goldsmiths making jewellery at their workbenches in store. This interactive experience is part of owner Ann Chapman’s vision for the store, which opened in 2012. Stonechat’s Stepping Stones collection has raised over €30,000 for Aware, the Irish mental health non-profit organisation. www.stonechatjewellers.ie. 

WEIR & SONS 96-99 Grafton Street, Dublin 2 and Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin 16

Founded in 1869 by Thomas Weir, Weir & Sons is still a family business, employing over 80. A team of inhouse jewellers creates the exclusive Weirs Collection and the grand store includes departments devoted to watches, jewellery, silver, leather goods and antiques. Bremont is the latest watch brand to be stocked, while Weir & Sons has just been authorised as a Rolex Service Centre. www.weirandsons.ie.