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Jewellers and Watchmakers

The great jewellery houses born on these shores, and where to find the international maisons.

Last checked October 2026.

An emerald and diamond necklacePhotograph: Pexels

Houses born on the Mediterranean

Portugal

  • Leitão & IrmãoLargo do Chiado, Lisbon

    Founded in Porto in 1822 by José Pinto Leitão and jeweller to the Portuguese royal family from 1887, when it became the Crown Jewellers and moved to the court in Lisbon; its house on Largo do Chiado makes jewellery, silver and tableware, including pieces to order, with a second boutique in Cascais. Visit website ↗

Spain

Italy

  • BulgariVia dei Condotti 10, Rome

    Founded in Rome in 1884 by Sotirios Voulgaris; its Via dei Condotti flagship opened in 1905 and was refurbished by Peter Marino for the house's 130th anniversary. Visit website ↗

  • BuccellatiVia Montenapoleone 23, Milan

    A Milanese goldsmith house founded in 1919 by Mario Buccellati, known for engraved, textured gold; now part of Richemont, with its flagship on Via Montenapoleone. Visit website ↗

  • DamianiValenza

    Founded in Valenza in 1924 by Enrico Grassi Damiani and run by the family's third generation, with its pieces still made at the Valenza headquarters. It has won 18 Diamonds International Awards. Visit website ↗

  • PomellatoMilan

    Founded in Milan in 1967 by Pino Rabolini, the house that introduced "prêt-à-porter" fine jewellery; part of Kering since 2013. Visit website ↗

  • PaneraiPiazza San Giovanni, Florence

    Founded in Florence in 1860 as a watch shop, workshop and school; its boutique facing the Baptistery has stood on Piazza San Giovanni since 1926 and keeps a working watchmaker's bench. Visit website ↗

  • ChanteclerCapri

    Founded on Capri in 1947 by Pietro Capuano, known to his friends as "Chantecler", and Salvatore Aprea, with its first shop on Via Camerelle; known for colourful jewellery in coral, turquoise and yellow gold drawn from the island's sea and the Faraglioni, and worn by Greta Garbo and Audrey Hepburn.

Greece

  • LALAoUNISPanepistimiou and Voukourestiou, Athens

    The house of Ilias Lalaounis, known for gold jewellery drawn from ancient Greek and Byzantine art, with its Athens flagship, boutiques in Mykonos and Santorini, and its own jewellery museum below the Acropolis. Visit website ↗

  • ZolotasAthens

    An Athenian house making gold and silver jewellery since 1895, with collections drawn from Greek and Byzantine forms. Visit website ↗

Where to find the great international houses

Portugal

  • Van Cleef & ArpelsAvenida da Liberdade 204, Lisbon

    The maison's first Lisbon boutique, in a historic building on the avenue, with Art Deco azulejo tiles drawn from its archive drawings. Visit website ↗

Spain

France

Monaco

Italy

Türkiye

That makes 24 entries in all.

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