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
To mark sixty years since Anthony Wainwright’s remarkable 1962 journey, his son Nicholas Wainwright retraced that spirit of exploration with a European tour of his own, setting out from Liverpool and travelling through some of the continent’s most inspiring cities. Travelling from Liverpool to London, Dublin, Paris, Antwerp, Geneva, Vienna, Venice, Florence and Rome, he drew inspiration from each destination along the way.
The Inspiration
Each destination along the journey offered its own distinct source of inspiration, reflected in both the choice of gemstones and the character of the designs. From the diamond heritage of Antwerp to the artistic richness of Vienna, and romantic spirit of Florence, every city informed a unique creative direction.
Special Stones
The influences of each city were translated into carefully sourced and selected stones; vivid coloured gems and exceptional diamonds, including our signature Ashoka stone, each cut and colour meticulously chosen to capture the spirit, light, atmosphere and architecture of the places that inspired them.
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.
Heritage
At the heart of this archive collection lies a defining moment in Boodles’ history: Anthony Wainwright’s extraordinary journey in 1962. Travelling across the world in just 16 days, he set out with a clear purpose, to seek out the finest diamonds and gemstones, and to build relationships with trusted dealers beyond the confines of his everyday network.
Craftsmanship
This highly opulent collection is defined by its extraordinary gemstones, many personally sourced by Nicholas during this very journey, each chosen for its exceptional colour, clarity and rarity. Brought to life by some of the world’s most skilled goldsmiths, mounters and polishers, every piece reflects an uncompromising level of craftsmanship.
Boodles & Friends
Throughout the journey, Nicholas reconnected with a number of Boodles’ long-standing partners and friends, whose relationships have been integral to the business over generations. In Antwerp, he met with trusted diamantaires and gemstone specialists, while in Geneva he spent time with Patek Philippe’s president, a fellow family-owned house renowned for its craftsmanship.
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.