A UK jeweller beloved by the Royal Family has been awarded a royal warrant. Kiki McDonough has been in business since 1985, when she opened a concession in her friend’s Mayfair boutique.
She is a fifth-generation jeweller; her father owned an antique jewellery shop on Bond Street in London. McDonough opened her own shop on Elizabeth Street in 1989 and moved it to Walton Street in 1992. In 2007, she opened a shop on Symons Street off Sloane Square in Chelsea. Colourful gemstones are what McDonough is best known for, and it is credited with introducing them to the British jewellery scene. She also introduced detachable earrings to the British jewellery market. The jeweller credits Diana, Princess of Wales, with catapulting her brand into the spotlight, as she began wearing Kiki McDonough jewellery in the 1990s. Queen Camilla and Princess Kate both sport her pieces, and she has now been awarded a Royal Warrant from the Queen.
A Royal Warrant of Appointment is granted as a mark of recognition to people or companies who have regularly supplied goods or services to the Royal Household.
McDonough said: “Receiving a Royal Warrant is the greatest honour of my career – something I could scarcely have dreamed of when I sat down with a pencil and paper contemplating my first design over 40 years ago. To be recognised in this way for craftsmanship and consistency over decades feels incredibly special.
“A Royal Warrant is the ultimate mark of trust and excellence, built over time, and that makes it all the more meaningful. This moment feels like a celebration of a lifetime dedicated to the beauty and individuality of colored gemstones.”
McDonough told Town & Country that the Royal Family likes her pieces because “you can’t buy it anywhere else except for me…there’s such an identity”.
She added: “There are lots of people doing colored stones out there and lots of people doing different things, but I tend to focus on what I like, what I think works, and the mix of colours that work together.”
The jeweller said that the Princess of Wales has “changed so many brands and taken them to the next level – and every brand would say how grateful they are to her”. She said that, like Diana, Kate understands how she can help British brands by wearing them and “it’s massively helpful”.
With a focus on striking yet wearable designs, McDonough aimed to shake up the “traditional” view of fine jewellery by encouraging women to invest in precious pieces for themselves.
A long-time fan of the ballet, many of her designs and colour combinations are inspired by ballet costumes and sets, while flowers also feature prominently in her collections.
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