Timeline

Kiki McDonough the brand was founded. The beginning of Kiki’s eponymous brand came as quite a surprise to her. Her friend, Nigel Milne, asked her to design some modern jewellery to sell in his shop on Grafton Street, Mayfair, which led to Kiki's first concession. ​

Kiki's debut collection focused on heart, bow, and circle motifs, crafted in both 9 and 18 carat yellow gold. Her designs featured rock crystal, agate, haematite, lapis lazuli, and black onyx, contrasting the vibrant gemstones now synonymous with the brand. ​

This was a landmark year for Kiki McDonough: the brand was firmly put on the map when a necklace appeared on the second page of Vogue, marking its first media feature.

It was also the year British royalty began wearing Kiki jewellery- Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, debuted Onyx heart and bow earrings with a matching pearl and onyx crystal heart necklace. Soon after, the late Diana, Princess of Wales was photographed wearing Kiki earrings during a 1990 state visit with First Lady Barbara Bush.  ​

The first Kiki McDonough shop was opened on Elizabeth Street. Kiki wanted her store to be open and welcoming, somewhere people felt comfortable entering for a browse.
"The business has always been the thing that has pulled me to a bigger store, and every time it has been nerve-wracking”, Kiki explains, and she tentatively followed the brand that had somehow become bigger than anything she had ever expected.

Kiki spent this year designing and launching her first pair of pearl earrings. This was the first of many pearl pieces to follow for the brand.

This was the decade that Kiki became quite the name in society. There is something to be said for dressing for the life you want to live, and Kiki’s life has been as colourful as her jewellery.​

Whilst working on growing her business, Kiki frequented the London social scene and became something of a socialite, often appearing in the glossy pages of Tatler magazine in her finest dress and Manolo heels with her second husband, Randle Siddeley.

One of Kiki's earliest and most iconic designs was a large, heart-shaped crystal motif with a gold bow and a single diamond, featured in both earrings and pendants. These earrings captured immediate attention and in this year, they were acquired by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London as a pioneering example of modern jewellery. 

Due to the wonderful and thrilling growth of the brand, the Kiki McDonough shop moved location to a larger premise on Walton Street.

The brand introduced its bespoke offering in this year. The bespoke service offers valued clients the chance to mark memorable moments with creations which are uniquely their own. ​

A bespoke design from Kiki McDonough is a combination of the client’s vision and the design team’s skill, creating something truly remarkable.

This was the year one of Kiki’s most iconic designs came to life: the Double Ovals. Inspired by a blue and green tutu in a performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House, the striking colour combination caught Kiki’s eye from the audience, prompting her to sketch it on the back of her ballet programme. The result - blue topaz and peridot double ovals - remains just as beloved today.​

At the time, the jewellery world abided by the old adage, “blue and green should never be seen without a colour in between,” but Kiki set out to challenge this. The Double Ovals marked the beginning of her bold approach to colour - pairing unexpected gemstones like amethyst and citrine, rubellite and green amethyst, fire opal and peridot - ushering in a new era of vibrant, rule-breaking elegance.

Kiki released her first detachable drop earring collection. The idea of simple diamond hoop earrings with several attachments in different shapes and sizes meant customers could add to their collection, encouraging them to keep coming back. ​

Kiki considered the sociable working woman who would go straight from the office to dinner and drinks, elevated by adding a fun pair of drops to her work-appropriate diamond hoops, creating the perfect day-to-night transition.

This year marked the biggest step in Kiki McDonough history, with the move to the brand’s new flagship location nestled just off Sloane Square, at 12 Symons Street. ​

The location was a larger space than those that came before and was steeped in meaning for Kiki herself as it was once a butcher's shop which was frequented by her mother. This remains the Kiki McDonough flagship store today.  

In a moment when adaptability was essential, the Grace collection was born - designed to be timeless, wearable, and effortlessly elegant for everyday. Named after the newborn daughter of a girl who worked at the store, Grace was imbued with a sense of hope and new beginnings.​

​Kiki’s favourite-coloured gemstones (blue topaz, green amethyst, and citrine) took centre stage in these refined, understated designs, each encircled by a delicate halo of diamonds. Starting with earrings and necklaces, the collection’s quiet charm and versatile appeal have made it a beloved bestseller ever since.

HRH Catherine, The Princess of Wales, has played a meaningful role in the evolution of the brand. While she wasn’t the first royal to wear Kiki jewellery, her affinity for the designs coincided with the rise of online media, and she quickly became a modern style icon.​

The so-called “Kate effect” is well documented - whenever the Princess appears in a piece, interest naturally follows. Over the years, she has chosen multiple-coloured gemstones in both white and yellow gold - each appearance a quiet honour for Kiki and a reflection of the pieces’ timeless appeal.

Kiki McDonough launched the Florence Collection. The designs drew inspiration from Kiki's love for travelling and the time she spent exploring the beautiful and mesmerising city of Florence.​

The collection remains to this day one of our most-loved collections, proving the timelessness of Kiki's designs.

Kiki McDonough started working with the King’s Trust previously known as the Prince’s Trust.​

The brand also introduced the Signatures collection this year – a curated edit of Kiki’s most iconic creations. Spanning pieces that have stood the test of time, each design reflects the distinctive aesthetic and enduring craftsmanship that her clients have cherished over the years.

After two decades of success, the time came to experiment with more exotic and lesser-known gemstones. In 2015, Kiki began a yearly ‘Special Editions’ collection - exquisite designs created with rare gemstones of exceptional quality and cut.​

​Fire opals have remained a firm favourite in the Special Editions collections alongside morganite, tourmaline, mandarin garnet and other remarkable stones, each hand picked. ​

Kiki McDonough also launched the mouthwatering Candy Collection this year which features eye-catching designs in Kiki's favourite delectable hues.

This was a milestone year for the brand, marked by the launch of Kiki McDonough at the iconic British department store Fortnum & Mason - a partnership that proudly continues to this day. ​

​It was also the brand’s debut in Chelsea in Bloom, the annual floral art celebration in SW3. Embracing the ‘Rio’ festival theme, Kiki created a vibrant window installation featuring oversized floral versions of her signature Double Oval earrings, setting the tone for many show-stopping displays to follow.​

​Kiki’s enduring love of ballet - sparked by a childhood visit to Sleeping Beauty - came full circle with the launch of the Lauren Collection. Inspired by Royal Ballet principal Lauren Cuthbertson’s performance in Alice in Wonderland, the collection featured delicate leaf motifs and sparkling gemstones, bringing together grace, elegance, and Kiki’s signature flair.

The Apollo Collection was launched, named after the mythological god of sun and light. Its central motif features a glimmering circular gemstone encased in diamond-set rings, designed to brighten an outfit much like the sun lifts a person’s mood. Apollo remains one of Kiki’s all-time favourite collections. ​

For the Big Day and for generations to come. The brand launched the much-loved bridal Pearls this year. Kiki designed a carefully curated collection, with the hopes every stylish bride could find her perfect piece, ensuring she can mark one of life's most memorable moments wearing Kiki McDonough.

This was the year the Kiki McDonough brand campaign with Principal Ballerina with the Royal Ballet, Lauren Cuthbertson was shot and promoted worldwide. Lauren remains a long-term friend of the brand.​

The brand continued its global e-commerce offering, launching with British e-commerce company Farfetch.

Inspired by a dazzling 1905 Fabergé design worn to a State Opening of Parliament, Kiki created her own tiara in 2022 to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Combining classic style with modern craftsmanship, the one-of-a-kind piece was featured in Sotheby’s Power & Image: Royal & Aristocratic Tiaras exhibition, alongside iconic pieces like the Spencer Tiara and others from as early as the 1800s. ​​

The brand continued to expand this year by partnering with the Watches of Switzerland Group after its soft launch in 2021.​

The founder, Kiki McDonough became a trustee for the NEBT.

Kiki designed The Kiki Suite to commemorate a new era, and the coronation of King Charles III. Kiki designed two dazzling pieces: a diamond sautoir necklace and a pair of diamond earrings.​

Alongside designing the Kiki Suite, Kiki was commissioned to create a cypher brooch for Queen Camilla and her ladies-in-waiting - one of which was worn by the Queen’s sister, Annabel Elliot, at King Charles III’s coronation on May 6th, 2023. In recognition of her contribution, Kiki was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, a treasured honour from His Majesty. 

The brand celebrated 20 years since Kiki pioneered the Detachable Drop earring style in the summer of this year, marked by twenty Special Edition drops created with hand-selected gemstone combinations. 

This year marked the 40th anniversary of Kiki McDonough — a milestone celebrated with a vibrant series of events at the Saatchi Gallery, just moments from the brand’s flagship in Sloane Square. ​

​To honour the occasion, the Big Four Anniversary Collection was unveiled, inspired by Balanchine’s ballet Jewels and featuring Kiki’s four favourite gemstones. The collection was brought to life in a campaign starring long-time muse and principal ballerina Lauren Cuthbertson.​

​Kiki also released her debut book: a richly personal tribute to a remarkable legacy and an inspiring chronicle of four decades of design, determination, and a healthy dose of good humour.​