Royal Jewels from Berry's Jewellers, UK

[Jambalaya]

While shopping at Neiman Marcus, I discovered this jewelry brand named Kiki McDonough. I liked the pieces but decided to find out more about the brand. I Googled it when I got home and found that it's a UK brand, and that the ladies of the British Royal Family wear the items going back a generation or two. So that was reassuring in terms of quality.

Then I realized that I'd heard of the brand before, on the style blogs I follow (which feature many of Europe's royal women) and also on the Royal Jewels thread here on Pricescope.

I figured out that if you ordered the pieces from the UK, it's much cheaper than buying them at Neiman's because the tax is taken off when you input your US delivery address. However, the Kiki shipping was GBP40, which is about 65 dollars. For shipping? I thought that was a lot, so I searched for other UK suppliers and found the wonderful Berry's Jewellers, who only charge GBP25 shipping.

Berry's have been very kind and efficient, answering all my emails regarding ordering these pieces from Kiki McDonough in London, receiving the pieces at their location in the north of England and then sending them to me in the USA. It sounds like a hassle but it was cheaper than getting them at Neiman's in the US. Also, some of the pieces I wanted were not available at Neiman's.

www.berrysjewellers.co.uk

I bought the large citrine bee, the purple amethyst pear drop earrings and the green amethyst pear drop earrings. The items are all beautiful and very finely made. They are all 18k, the earrings hoops are nice and thick, and the diamond wings on the bee are really sparkly. I couldn't be more pleased with these pieces.

The citrine bee is 16 inches long with a loop at 15 inches.

http://www.berrysjewellers.co.uk/jewellery-c1/necklaces-c4/kiki-mcdonough-eve-18ct-yellow-gold-citrine-bee-necklace-p3927
http://www.berrysjewellers.co.uk/jewellery-c1/earrings-c2/kiki-mcdonough-eternal-18ct-yellow-gold-green-amethyst-earrings-p3926
http://www.berrysjewellers.co.uk/jewellery-c1/earrings-c2/kiki-mcdonough-eternal-18ct-yellow-gold-amethyst-drop-earrings-p2881

 

[Jambalaya]

More:

 

[Jambalaya]

More:

 

[Jambalaya]

I seem to have temporarily misplaced the third Kiki McDonough box - anyway, you can see what the packaging is like.

 

[Jambalaya]

Ear and neck shots. Not the best, but the best I could do. If you want to see better shots of the earrings with perspective, Google "Duchess of Cambridge Kiki McDonough citrine earrings" as she has these in that stone.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I love these! I have noticed that Kate wears a lot of KMcD earrings, particularly. It is nice to know a source to get them for less! How did you pay them?

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks, Diamondseeker!

Paid easily - with my US visa debit card! They take international cards. Once you put your US address in, the tax is taken off. UK sales tax is twenty percent.

With the exchange rate, I think I paid about $660 for the earrings as against $740 plus tax at Neiman Marcus (so almost $800). Now, the rate is even better and they'd be about $635.

I have an account at a bank which doesn't charge a percentage of the transaction due to the foreign currency. Many banks charge say 2 or 3 per cent of the total. So just to be aware of that!

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Ahhh, I would have never known that about the bank charges, thank you! Do you think they'd order any KM pieces even if they are not shown on their site?

 

[Jambalaya]

Diamondseeker - I know they would! The citrine bee and the green amethyst drops were not on the Berry's website, but they got them for me from the Kiki store in London. You just have to email Berry's and ask, and they can get any Kiki item. It all happened really fast, too.

I think that forty pounds (buying direct from Kiki) is extortionate for shipping.

 

[motownmama]

LOVE the neck shot of the pendant - so cool

 

[iLander]

How sweet is that bee?

I love it!

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks Motownmama and Ilander! As much as I like the earrings - and I really do - the bee is just stunning. The workmanship is very fine and delicate, and I just love its diamond wings.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

Thanks for all the info! I had looked at KM's site before but had never gotten as far as looking at the shipping!

 

[CRYSTAL24K]

What beautiful jewels!

The necklace looks like it was custom made for you! Gorgeous!

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks for all the info! I had looked at KM's site before but had never gotten as far as looking at the shipping!

Diamondseeker - just to be clear, the Berry's Jewellers website also takes the UK tax off, and the shipping is 15 pounds cheaper, so saving 23 dollars. Berry's also ships really fast.

 

[Jambalaya]

Crystal - thanks for the kind remarks! I really fell in love with the bee.

Kiki custom-makes the bee in green amethyst, purple amethyst, blue topaz....but no, I really can't get another one!

They also have a smaller bee for GBP695 (but it's less after the tax is taken off.)

And Berry's can get any of the Kiki items.

 

[arkieb1]

Wow, that is so cool, I really LOVE the bee!!!!

 

[Acinom]

That's so lovely!!! I love love love that bee.

 

[Siameseroo]

Beautiful jewellery! That citrine bee is to die for!!

 

[Jambalaya]

Wow, that is so cool, I really LOVE the bee!!!!

Thanks Arkie! I love the bee too - you don't find many really good quality jewelled bees around, I find. The only really good ones I know of are the Bee My Love collection from Chaumet.....and they're super-expensive.

P.S. Rushing out the door. Will reply to everyone's kind comments later!

 

[Jambalaya]

Acinom - thanks! The bee is really well made. I should post a photo of the back. And they can customize it in a variety of stones.... By the way, I recently bought a pendant which is like your sapphire ring - it's a sapphire flanked by tapered diamond baguettes - and I keep meaning to post it so you can see!

Ricezo - thanks for the nice comments!

 

[apacherose]

How sweet is that bee?

I love it!

plus1

Gorgeous pieces- thank you so much for sharing this!!!

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks, Apacherose! And I love your ring that you posted. 16 years and 5 kids? It was well-earned!

 

[Victoria10]

Thank you for your post and your new jewels are amazing. I love the dangling earrings and so versatile ... good idea for mothers day gifts too

 

[Jambalaya]

Thanks, Victoria! Yes, they're an excellent idea for Mothers' Day. If you live in the States, you can order them cheaper with the tax taken off and the exchange rate is very favorable. FYI, I didn't have to pay any duty when they came in at Customs, even though the value was clearly marked.

 

[Jambalaya]

Perspective shot of the drops on Kate Middleton.

 

[apacherose]

Lol, thank you, Jambalaya!

I really do think these are nice pieces and it is great you gave us all the scoop now I just have my eye on the exchange rate

 

[Jambalaya]

Kiki McDonough has a sale. I don't know for how long. Remember that almost 20% is taken off these sale prices when you put in your US address.

http://kiki.co.uk/index.php/spotlight-on.html/

I bought this petite butterfly (40% off) to wear with my bee:

So in this instance, I did pay the forty pounds shipping and although that's extortionate, the necklace arrived with the speed of light.

Real-life photos to come.

 

[Jambalaya]

Photos.

 

[Jambalaya]

Some further photos. Since the back is rounded and finished off properly, I could also wear it as a gold butterfly, but I probably won't. I like the citrine and diamonds. The pendant is small but it shows up due to the diamond wings. Hope you like the photos!

Edit: Just realized it was 48% off, not 40%. I like it even more now!