It’s that time of the year again! The nights are dark and cosy, the shops are filled with decorations and Christmas music; and you are wondering what is the perfect gift for your loved ones (or for yourself!). When it comes to gifting the perfect present, jewellery is second to none. No matter how big or small your budget is, you can find a piece of jewellery that is personal and has meaning to the wearer; something they will cherish for many years to come.
If jewellery is what catches your eye, look no further than renowned Irish Designer Martina Hamilton. Martina has recently celebrated 35 years in business, creating unique contemporary jewellery in both Hallmarked Silver and Gold. The Martina Hamilton Collection can be found in The Cat and the Moon, Sligo, as well as Ireland’s leading retail establishments and fine jewellers. To mark the anniversary, Martina has released two new collections which take inspiration from our Irish Heritage, whilst showcasing modern, elegant designs in Martina’s signature style!
The Ériu Collection is based on the mythological goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann who gave her name as both Éire and Erin, to the island of Ireland. Martina was drawn to the legend of how Ériu, as a Goddess of Sovereignty, became the embodiment of the land on which the Tuatha Dé Danann dwelt. For this collection Martina has created striking diadem-like formations, available in studs, drop earrings, and pendants. Whereas ancient Celtic crowns were thin bands of semioval gold plate called a ”mind”, Martina’s formations are splayed open, their surfaces etched, striated, carved to reflect the rugged coastline of our island nation.
“Through the form of each piece in The Ériu Collection I am creating an outline, a coastline if you like, which then embodies the wearer. I like to think of it as a meditation on how we should always be fully ourselves, occupying and embodying the lives we have. I hope The Ériu Collection will be a symbol of strength, beauty, and embodiment for our customers.” – Martina Hamilton
The Ériu Collection is perfect for anyone who wants to express their inner Goddess!
(Price range €65 – €150 in Sterling Silver, and €260 – €998 in 9ct Gold). Link to Jewellery: Martina Hamilton Irish Jewellery Design
If you are looking for something that is more of a statement, The Carrowmore Collection is the perfect choice. Featuring drop earrings, pendants and rings, these designs pay tribute to Carrowmore’s Listoghil Dolmen in Sligo. The detail on each design beautifully mirrors the 6,000 thousand year old stone carvings of our ancestors. Drawing upon that truly ancient heritage of wisdom and earliest craftsmanship, The Carrowmore Collection celebrates these astral symbols, how they have marked the seasons since the dawn of culture on the island or Ireland.
“Thousands of years ago, barely 4 kilometres from our Sligo workshop, unknown ancestors hallmarked this beautiful landscape with dolmen structures; stone on stone they etched the symbols of their culture into those rocks. With this collection I wanted to celebrate the work of those forebears, of those first settlers in Ireland, who have written to us, reaching out to us across time with the motifs and symbols they have carved into the stone of Sligo.” – Martina Hamilton
(Price range €75 – €105 in Sterling Silver, and €350 – €650 in 9ct Gold). Link to Jewellery: Martina Hamilton Irish Jewellery Design
In addition to Martina Hamilton’s latest pieces, there are multiple collections that have stood the test of time. The Oyster Pearl Collection, which is Martina’s most admired design, is a range of earrings and pendants set with beautiful freshwater cultured pearls. The multiple sizes differ from delicate and dainty, to statement and eye-catching! This collection is based on the W. B. Yeats quote “A moon, worn as if it had been a shell. Washed by time’s waters as they rose and fell”.
When asked about this most endured, best loved collection, Martina expressed “What I have always loved about this collection is the simplicity of the contrasting curves and texture. Then set with a pearl, it gives a wonderful feeling of the transitional, like that of a moon shadowing across the atmosphere of a planet. The collection seems to have that ability to represent small and insignificant things and at the same time, to encapsulate silent timeless movement of the planets”.
(Price range €66 – €330 in Sterling Silver, and €230 – €670 in 9ct Gold) Link to Jewellery: Martina Hamilton Irish Jewellery Design
Last year, Martina saw an increase in International recognition after being featured in the PBS documentary “Ireland, Made With Love”. The success of this documentary, which showcased the creation of The Oyster Pearl Collection, was nominated for an Emmy in 2024. This was a very exciting time for Martina, and truly recognised the care, consideration and quality that goes into each and every creation. When you purchase Martina Hamilton, you are not only buying a piece of jewellery. You are buying decades of love, craftsmanship, and experience, in which each piece is designed and handmade in Sligo, Ireland. With prices starting from €42 in Silver, and €150 in hallmarked Gold, there truly is something for everyone. Martina’s collections are heavily inspired by nature, with their Leaf, Star Flower and Wild Rose Collections, as well as the Wild Atlantic Way with their Shell, Seashore and Croí Sliogán Collections. Furthermore, Martina Hamilton offers commission and bespoke pieces in 18ct Gold, Platinum and Diamonds; specialising in handmade Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands. Visit www.martinahamilton.ie to browse their collections, or to contact Martina Hamilton directly to book an appointment for your next bespoke design.
Magnumlady Blog 
Also art. Loved the Tobar Ard 2022 exhibition.