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Few brands have captured the attention of the Royal Family quite like sustainable jewellery label Monica Vinader.
Kate has been a dedicated fan of the discreet and affordable range since as early as 2014 – often pictured in her staple 18ct gold green onyx ‘Siren Wire’ earrings, costing a modest £128.
And the Princess of Wales’ commitment to sustainability efforts may be the reason for her love of the jewels, as the demi-fine brand utilises 100 per cent recycled gold and sterling silver along with recyclable packaging and reusable pouches.
Now Monica Vinader, whose royal clientele also includes the likes of Queen Camilla, Meghan and Princess Beatrice, has launched its first fully traceable collection, Odyessy, charting new territory in the company’s journey towards gemstone traceability.
The collection features exquisite aquamarine jewels and comprises five distinctive styles: a cuff, necklace, cocktail ring and two pairs of earrings.
It was created in collaboration with Zimbaqua, Africa’s first female gemstone mine in Karoi, Zimbabwe.
Kate’s favourites are the £128 Siren Wire Earrings in Green Onyx
The Princess of Wales teamed a Self-Portrait dress with a delicate pearl necklace by Monica Vinader for a visit to the Royal College of Midwives in 2022
The new collection joins the brand’s existing Product Passport programme, which promotes full transparency of the supply chain, allowing every piece to be traced back to the people and places involved in its creation.
Such tracking enables the company to improve its social and environmental impact, while empowering customers to make informed choices.
The brand’s founder and namesake Ms Vinader tells MailOnline: ‘We have been shining a light into our supply chains for the last ten years, pushing to know the origins of our gemstones and precious metals to understand their impact, both environmental and social, and be able to make better choices.
‘With Product Passport, we wanted to take this a step further and be totally transparent. Sharing this with our customers allows them to make better, more informed choices, and we hope it will encourage them to demand this from more brands.
‘Ultimately, we hope this will inspire widespread action and lasting change within the jewellery industry.’
She said her team visited Zimbacqua in 2023, adding: ‘We heard incredible stories from the women on how much this work had changed their lives and saw the stunning raw cuts of aquamarine that inspired this collection.’
Ms Vinader, who received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development in 2022, finds inspiration in art, sculpture and nature.
‘We wanted to contrast the clean facets in the aquamarine with our trademark sculptural and organic design aesthetic. We named it Odyssey to reflect the epic journey of this stone – handled by this community of female miners – from the mine direct to our customers.’
She continues: ‘Our aesthetic is simple and we always look for clean lines and good proportions.’
Monica Vinader’s latest collection Odyssey, a fully traceable aquamarine range, charts new territory in the company’s journey towards gemstone traceability
Created in partnership with Zimbacqua, Africa’s first all-female operated and managed gemstone mine, each exquisite piece is both sustainable and ethical
Monica Vinader’s fully traceable aquamarine range sets itself apart from a historically opaque industry
The Princess of Wales naturally gravitates towards Monica Vinader collections. She has notably worn the £125 ‘Nura Pearl’ necklace, featuring an elegant freshwater pearl set on an 18-carat gold-plated vermeil chain.
Kate has reached for her dainty ‘Siren Wire’ earrings an impressive ten times during official engagements and international tours.
These earrings are simple yet sophisticated, designed for everyday wear. Kate has showcased their versatility, pairing them with everything from formal coat dresses to jeans and a shirt.
Meanwhile, the brand’s bestselling friendship bracelets are popular with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Meghan and Princess Beatrice.
One of Monica Vinader’s signature offerings, these bracelets represent the bond between two people. They are available in an assortment of styles, including engravable, cord and diamond options, crafted in 18-carat gold vermeil, rose gold vermeil or sterling silver.
Meghan favours the £138 ‘Linear’ friendship bracelet in gold metallica, incorporating a streamlined silhouette and a curved bar that can be engraved with a name or date, adding a personal touch.
Sophie has chosen the ‘Fiji’ bracelets, recognisable by their adjustable slider and cord-style strap, in both gold vermeil and sterling silver.
The duchess has also opted for the £115 ‘Siren’ earrings in aquamarine on 19 occasions, most recently during her August trip to Guernsey as Patron of the Association of Sail Training Organisations.
In 2022, Princess Eugenie wore the classic ‘Disco Hoop’ earrings, priced at £150, to the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
At Sandringham Flower Show that same year, Camilla paired a floral shirt dress with layered gold jewellery, featuring the ‘Goddess’ coin pendant charm.
Inspired by a rare Celtic coin depicting a warrior queen, the £95 necklace is described as a symbol of strength, protection and courage.
Camilla’s appearance came shortly after a visit to the Monica Vinader HQ in Holkham, where she mentioned to the staff that her granddaughters were fans of the brand.
Camilla visited the Monica Vinader HQ in July 2023, where she mentioned to the staff that her granddaughters were fans of the brand
At the 2023 Sandringham Flower Show, Camilla wore layered gold jewellery, including the Goddess Coin Pendant Charm
Meghan Markle has worn the £138 Linear Friendship Bracelet in Gold Metallica, featuring a curved bar and streamlined silhouette, a number of times
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore £115 Siren Earrings in Aquamarine on 19 occasions, most recently during her trip to Guernsey as Patron of the Association of Sail Training Organisations
In 2022, Princess Eugenie wore the classic Disco Hoop Earrings, priced at £150, to the Easter Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor
Born in San Sebastian, Spain, Monica Vinader moved to London to study Fine Arts before starting her career in the jewellery industry.
However, she left her job to travel through the remote regions of Patagonia and Mexico, where she found endless inspiration and built a network of artisans.
It was with these artisans that she began cutting her own gemstones and creating jewellery collections.
In 2008, she launched her eponymous brand, which has garnered a global following.
At the core of the business is responsible and sustainable production. The brand’s focus on circularity is evident in its five-year warranty, lifetime repairs service and jewellery recycling scheme.
Monica Vinader’s popular products are sold in over 70 countries and the company employs more than 350 people worldwide
Monica Vinader’s popular products are sold in over 70 countries and the company employs more than 350 people worldwide.
The brand, led by digital innovation, has a strong online presence, complemented by 19 international stores, concessions and a partner network.
‘We founded a brand that focused on being inclusive and accessible from the start, our customers are global and diverse, as is our team,’ Ms Vinader says.
‘The global appeal feels like a true reflection of our founding spirit and who we are as a brand.’
Since 2016, overall sales have quadrupled to approximately £100million, and the brand has expanded into global markets, including China and the US.
Last year, the company received an £8million reinvestment from UK-based consumer brands investor Piper to continue its growth worldwide.
This investment followed the sale of a majority stake in the brand to Bridgepoint Development Capital.
‘I am most proud of having founded the brand with my sister in 2008 and building it together, with all the challenges and learnings this journey has brought to us as female leaders,’ Ms Vinader adds.
‘We have grown the business without compromising our values, our high standards and our integrity and have built a really strong team.
‘For 16 years, we have been creating accessible luxury jewellery that women can buy for themselves, treating themselves to good quality and design in a way that feels modern and relevant.
‘And importantly, my sister and I are as close or even closer than when we started, which makes me hugely proud.’
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