Cape Town's 5 Best Luxury Jewelry Shops

From humble beginnings, Yair Shimansky has established one of South Africa’s most recognized jewelry brands in just over two decades. As a young man, Yair spent two years in Japan where he studied diamond cutting and polishing. The Japanese culture of perfection had left an impression on Yair and inspired him to launch his own line of jewelry. After a year of selling self-designed jewelry at a beachfront flea market in Durban, Yair opened his first store in the early 1990s, where the brand grew into the empire that it is today. With stores across South Africa, Shimansky offers a diverse range of rings, earrings and pendants made from the highest quality diamonds, platinum and tanzanite. Shimansky jewelry has been worn by a number of celebrities including Charlize Theron, Christina Aguilera, Vera Farmiga, Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela.

This luxury jewelry store in the heart of Constantia was established in 1984 by Peter Gilder, after he sought to build his own brand after working for a family friend’s jewelry business. The brand’s reputation for excellent quality and service have spread, increasing demand; today, Peter has a team of goldsmiths who work on-site in the store workshop to produce exquisite ready-to-wear or bespoke jewelry designs. The brand offers elegant pieces crafted from diamonds, gold, tanzanite, freshwater pearls and gemstones. Peter’s daughter, Mandy, also produces her own range of fashion-forward pieces that are available in store.

The Kamaldien family has been in the jewelry industry for over 40 years and has built a name synonymous with quality and excellent service. From humble beginnings and many challenges posed by apartheid South Africa, Cape Town-born Yusuf Kamaldien went from being a manual laborer to establishing his own successful jewelry business. Now run by his son, Abdul Kariem, Kamaldien Jewellers offer a timeless collection of jewelry made from diamonds, 18ct gold and platinum. The brand has two stores in Cape Town with its flagship store and workshop located in the V&A Waterfront.

Alon Shina African Designs specializes in the design and manufacturing of unique, handcrafted jewelry, utilizing top quality gemstones. Established in 2002, the brand combines African aesthetics with contemporary jewelry trends, resulting in an opulent collection of dazzling pieces. The designs feature colorful gemstones set in 18 or 22 carat gold in an array of styles. Situated at the V&A Waterfront, visitors have the opportunity to be a part of the design process at the on-site workshop or choose from the ready-to-wear collection in store. Alon Shina’s eclectic jewelry has been featured in a number of fashion magazines, including Marie Claire, Oprah Magazine and Glamour.