We’ll always be a forward-looking business. But once in a while, it’s nice to look back.
This collection celebrates a milestone in our history: a family journey that opened up
a new world. In 1962, Anthony Wainwright went on a remarkable adventure, meeting
dealers in fine diamonds and gemstones, on a tour lasting just 16 days. The
friendships he made transformed Boodles. It enabled us to offer jewels of a quality
hard to find anywhere else. Six decades on, our Chairman, Nicholas Wainwright has
honoured his father’s initiative with a journey of his own. Ten European cities, in ten
days. They’ve inspired what you’ll find in this collection, which we believe would have
made him very proud.
A Family Journery, Europe
A journey of a lifetime
The Journey
Boodles’ history remains central to the brand’s identity. This collection celebrates a defining moment in Boodles’ story: a family journey that transformed the way the brand sourced exceptional gemstones. In 1962, Anthony Wainwright travelled across Europe on a 16 day journey, meeting diamond and gemstone dealers and building relationships that would shape Boodles for generations to come. These connections allowed him to access some of the world’s finest stones and cemented its reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and design. Sixty years later, Boodles President Nicholas Wainwright retraced this spirit of exploration with a journey of his own, travelling through ten European cities in ten days. From Liverpool to London, Dublin, Paris, Antwerp, Geneva, Vienna, Venice, Florence and Rome, each destination provided inspiration for this 50 piece collection.
The Inspiration
The collection reflects the character of each city visited by Nicholas, drawing on their individual histories, architecture and artistic influences. From Antwerp’s diamond heritage to Vienna’s artistic legacy and the endless beauty of Florence and Rome, each destination informed the choice of majestic gemstones and the extraordinary design of each piece.
Special Stones
Exceptional diamonds and coloured gemstones form the foundation of the collection, with each stone carefully selected for its rarity, colour and character. From vivid gemstones inspired by the destinations visited on the trip, to rare diamonds including Boodles’ signature Ashoka diamond,
every piece of jewellery reflects the beauty and individuality of the stones at its centre.
Behind The Design
Led by Director of Design Rebecca Hawkins who visited Nicholas on his travels, the collection translates the essence of each European city into jewellery. Architectural details, cultural influences and the atmosphere of each destination informed the designs, with every setting and silhouette carefully considered to reflect its inspiration.
Heritage
The collection is rooted in one of the most significant journeys in Boodles’ history. Anthony Wainwright’s 1962 travels established many of the relationships that continue to influence the House today, reinforcing Boodles’ longstanding commitment to sourcing exceptional gemstones from trusted partners around the world.
Craftsmanship
Combining extraordinary gemstones with intricate design, the collection showcases the skill and expertise of Boodles’ craftspeople. Each piece was brought to life through meticulous setting, goldsmithing and polishing, ensuring every detail reflected the quality and individuality of the materials used.
Boodles & Friends
The journey also celebrated the longstanding relationships that have been central to Boodles over generations. Along the way, Nicholas reconnected with trusted diamantaires and gemstone specialists in Antwerp, as well as the team at Patek Philippe in Geneva, reflecting shared values of craftsmanship, independence and family heritage.
Behind the design
Behind the design of this 50-piece collection lies a thoughtful interpretation of each European city’s unique character. Led by our Head of Design, Rebecca, every piece was realised to reflect the spirit of its inspiration, drawing on architectural details, landscapes and cultural nuances, from the structure of each setting to the silhouette of every form.
The Boodles Archives
The Boodles Archive offers a glimpse into a series of exclusive high jewellery collections, each defined by one-of-a-kind designs and exceptional gemstones. Drawing inspiration from places, people and journeys, these collections reflect moments in time translated through craftsmanship and creativity.