High Jewelry Boutiques in Metro Manila for Unrivaled Artisanship

There's trendy fashion jewelry and fine jewelry, then there's high jewelry — a cut above the rest. Jewelry boutiques run aplenty in the market, but only a few can claim to be the best of the best, with creations worn by royalty themselves throughout history and lionized for their unrivaled artisanship and provenance.

There's a reason these luxury jewelers are household names for those privy to timelessness, rarity, and craftsmanship. Make sure you're in the know and check them out.

Harry Winston

Son of immigrants, Harry Winston was born in New York City in 1896 where he grew up learning about the trade from his father's humble jewelry shop. It was in 1932 when Winston established his eponymous business, Harry Winston, Inc., after much clamor for him to manufacture jewelry on his own. Known around the globe as "Jeweler to the Stars" and the "King of Diamonds," Winston used to own "more than one-third of the world's most famous gems," including the 726-carat Jonker diamond from South Africa (1934) and "The Winston," a 155-carat diamond also discovered in South Africa in 1953 and which he named after himself because he loved it so much.

Harry Winston separates its fine jewelry from its high jewelry collection known for its "exceptional techniques in craftsmanship and design.”

Location: Harry Winston, G/F Adora Department Store, Greenbelt 5, Legazpi Street, Makati City

Cartier

Luxury jeweler Cartier is the eponymous brand of the audacious Louis-François Cartier, who founded it in Paris in 1847. It is known for its jewelry and watches, although Cartier has also branched out into fragrances, eyewear, accessories, and bags. Cartier may be popular for its Love bracelets, which come in yellow, white, and rose gold, but we'll go off on a limb here and say that although these iconic bracelets are fine, they aren't really high jewelry.

Like Harry Winston, Cartier separates its jewelry from its high jewelry collections, which includes, among others, the emerald and diamond Alaxoa Necklace under the Sixième Sens par Cartier High Jewelry collection, and a panther and tiger watch from the Indomptables de Cartier Collection, which features shagreen-set diamonds.

Location: Cartier, Greenbelt 4, Makati Avenue, cor Dela Rosa Street, Ayala Center, Makati City

Tiffany & Co

Who hasn't heard of Tiffany? Tiffany & Co., famous for its iconic Tiffany blue packaging, started out as a "fancy goods" store in New York when it was founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and J. B Young as Tiffany & Young in 1838. The jeweler has made its name known for its "Japonesque-style silverware and diamond jewelry,” thus earning Charles the title of "King of Diamonds," according to Sotheby's.

Tiffany is famous for its acquisition of the "Tiffany diamond," a yellow stone that was found in South Africa in 1878. This precious diamond weighed 128.54 carats after it was cut. The company has separated its Jewelry, Fragrances, and Fine Watches, from its High Jewelry collection, which is known for its "time-honored techniques and modern innovations..."

Location: Tiffany & Co, G/F Greenbelt 4, Makati Avenue, cor Dela Rosa Street, Ayala Center, Makati City

Piaget

Piaget was established in the Swiss Jura mountains in 1874 by Georges-Édouard Piaget, a luxury watchmaker and jeweler. Piaget has always been passionate about watchmaking ever since he was young and put up his first workshop at the age of 19 on their family farm. His son, Timothée, was instrumental in the transformation of the Piaget brand and the registration of its trademark in 1943. Piaget's first salon, where he could display his jewelry and watch creations, was set up in Geneva in 1959. Jackie Kennedy, the late socialite and wife of former President John F. Kennedy, as well as actress Elizabeth Taylor, are just two of the many iconic figures who've sported Piaget pieces in the past.

Location: Piaget, 206-207, The Shops at the Boulevard, UGF City of Dreams, Manila City