Clarksons Edinburgh

Unilocal’s caption for one star sums it up pretty well: ‘Eek! Methinks not.’
I went to Clarkson’s looking to have a custom engagement ring and wedding band made (for myself — already engaged). I started talking with a very friendly and helpful salesperson — I think his name was Patrick — when we were interrupted by an older gentleman, who I later learned was one of the proprietors of the store.
This store owner treated me to a delightful 45-​minute lecture basically about how stupid and awful ‘ladies’ are. ‘Ladies come in here’, he complained, ‘and if you don’t immediately give them exactly what they want, they just go somewhere else for it, so…’ Thus began a long diatribe about how all of my ideas and preferences were wrong, and it’s SUCH a burden that he doesn’t charge customers seeking bespoke designs for the design work and only charges for the final product, because who do you think pays for that design work? Why HE does! And these confounded LADIES are always coming in here with their preferences and their clueless little heads and making his designers do design work of all things!
For the record, he’s not wrong that sometimes a customer wants something that’s actually not the best idea. When I first came in, I mentioned that I wanted aquamarine accent stones in my rings, and Patrick helpfully explained to me that aquamarines are much more fragile than diamonds, and so are not an ideal choice for a ring that you’ll wear every day forever. The owner then added that they also don’t have nearly as nice a colour when they’re very small as when they’re larger centre stones. Very good advice, and I’m going with diamonds instead as a result. Here’s what’s not good advice: ‘You want a ring that’s not too bulky? Well what you have to remember is that your fingers aren’t squeezed tightly together all the time, and anyway you should just get a larger ring and get used to it.’ Really, Great And Wise All-​Knowing Male? Thank you for explaining to my vacuous female mind how FINGERS WORK. ‘You want round accent stones? Well, your centre stone is square, so you really should only have square stones in the ring.’ ‘You want a quote for white gold? Well, white gold isn’t a good metal, so I’m going to quote you palladium instead, though you should really get platinum because it’s more pleasant for my jewelers to work with.’ Sure, because it’s well known in the jewelry industry that you never make jewelry out of GOLD, and it’s definitely my job to worry about what metals are pleasant to work with.
To crown the whole, he insisted that I bring my ‘gentleman’ with me when I returned to show them the centre stone I wanted to use for the engagement ring. Two problems with that: (1) I’m a lesbian. (2) Even if I wasn’t a lesbian, I don’t need my partner’s permission or approval for my rings. Believe it or not, my little lady head can manage this process without a male chaperone.
In short, I wouldn’t advise anyone without a penis to give this place their money.

It’s such a shame the name Clarkson has become eponymous with one of the most detestable figures in modern British history. Every time I see the name it makes my blood boil, filling me with contempt and hatred and misanthropy. When I think of former Blackpool and Crewe midfielder Phil Clarkson, I just have to stop everything and count to ten… (that’s classic comedy misdirection).
However, enough of that. This place was here long before whichever Clarkson I’m talking about. I, like Stephanie T., expected this place to be old fashioned. I’m not a jewellery expert, but I was definitely wrong with my preconceptions. The stuff seems thoroughly modern, and there was some eye-​catching pieces.
It’s also nice, as I’ve said before, to support an independent business. The people who run this place have been here long enough to know what’s what, and you know you’ll be getting a more personal service than if you went to one of the high street chains. Just try not to think of Jeremy (or Phil).

A long established jewellers since the 1950’s, Clarksons of Edinburgh is renowned for their beautiful British Celtic jewellery which is largely made on the premises.
I actually fully expected this jewellers to be really old fashioned with loads of dusty gold and rubies but I was very pleasantly surprised when I found loads of gorgeous white gold and modern silver jewellery, simply stunning.
My absolute favourite was a white gold band with a pink square stone set amongst two diamonds, absolutely beautiful but absolutely expensive!
Clarkson’s also do commissions regularly at competitive prices.

My fiancé and I visited Clarksons to purchase my engagement and then our wedding rings after a recommendation from a friend. A family-​run business, Clarkson’s specialises in beautiful and unusual jewellery with a Scottish twist. I chose a lovely, unusual design for my engagement ring but wished for a more celtic feel — this was no problem as after discussion with the engraver they agreed to engrave a beautiful celtic knotwork pattern on the sides of the ring. The ring itself was ready within a couple of weeks! I returned to Clarkson’s for my wedding ring, which they lovingly sculpted to fit into the engagement ring. We both really appreciated the advice given and the care shown by the owners in what was an important but mystifying process to us novices! I hope to go back and purchase some of the other beautiful pieces of jewellery they had on display some day.