Garrard

London's storied jeweler's designs adorn everyone from the Queen to Angelina Jolie, and the elegant Beverly Hills shop is the perfect backdrop for imagining a regal past or plotting a sparkly future.

by Cadien Clark at Citysearch

In Short
What began in 1735 as a royal commission for the Prince of Wales and was annointed the first Crown Jeweller in 1843 by Queen Victoria has evolved into a powerhouse luxury brand while managing to maintain its historical identity. Hollywood celebrities and civilians alike flock to Garrard's exclusive perch inside high-end shopping playground Two Rodeo to gaze at trademark gems like painstakingly cut pave diamond bands and solitaires, studded crests, shields and popular daggers from the "Knight Rider" collection. Tidy glass counters beckon onlookers with bedazzled and pared down iterations of iconic single wing necklaces and reversible, black and white pieces from the "Regal" collection. 2008's vibrant "Hummingbird" collection is one of the brand's most exuberant--pink, yellow and blue stones decorate eight variations of flower- and bird-filled designs--from relatively simple charms to more intricate bangles and rings. Other standouts include platinum bands with full pave diamonds on the inside of the ring--where it really counts. Leave it to those clever Brits.