In a city as cosmopolitan as Montreal, there’s no shortage of places to shop for fine jewelry. The big names can be found at Birks, where you’ll find sublime sparklers and ooh-la-la necklaces that cost more than most people’s cars—plus the in-house brands of local designers like Roland Dubuc, who kicks origami up a notch by folding single sheets of gold or silver into architectural art works of wonder.
But there’s also a whole host of locally-focussed jewelers that shine the spotlight on Quebec talent. Ruby Mardi is for the romantics at heart, stocking elegant engagement rings and a plethora of darling gems, while the boutique Espace Urbain is brimming with beauty from a wide selection of Haitian and other Quebec artisans.
The brothers behind the upscale Atelier LAF are masters at metal and mineral magic, producing pieces that range from sweet pearl cuffs to standout signet rings. They’re in high demand at their swish downtown boutique, and rightly so; their expert eyes and flair for finesse produce baubles that are utterly I-need-that kind of fabulous. bijouteriehidous.com