The 30-year-old Edinburgh market stall that's moved into historic Old Town shop
This is their first traditional location
It’s going to be a very jolly Christmas for a certain jewellery shop.
That’s because this will be Royal Mile Silver’s first festive season in their new spot at Edinburgh’s 11 Jeffrey Street.
After decades of operating alfresco, they’re welcoming customers to explore their ranges in a more traditional setting. We asked owner Chandra Mather to share her story.
Tell us about the shop.
I’ve been running market stalls in central Edinburgh for more than 30 years, and an ecommerce business since 2020. Many customers who buy from us during the Fringe or the Christmas Market ask if we have a permanent shop. The timing for these things has to be right, and last year I started to feel that the demand was there, so I started to look for a suitable property.
And the new location?
I knew that I wanted to be near the Royal Mile as my brand is Royal Mile Silver. I loved the property on Jeffrey Street and was delighted that we could open there. We’ve had a lovely warm welcome from neighbouring businesses and fantastic feedback about the atmosphere in the shop, the friendliness of the team and the choice of jewellery, so it all seems to have fallen into place.
The area around Jeffrey Street and St Mary’s Street is great, because it is a target shopping destination for ‘locals in the know’ as well as tourists. It’s also unique because the retail round here is all independent, there are no chains. You have long-standing brands such as Corniche and Mackenzie Leather and fabulous independent cafes and eateries with amazing views of Calton Hill such as Rock Salt, Calton View and Tempting Tattie.
The store before us did beauty treatments, so we had to do a fair bit of remodelling, but it was already a lovely retail space. We’re very proud of it, and our 300-year-old hand-carved teak pillars.
Tell us about your travels and job as a musician.
I love playing music – voice, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, cello, and a harp from Mali called a kamele ngoni. I used to play a lot of local sessions, and, for six years, I ran a community choir in central Edinburgh called The Forest Choir. I have an MSc in Music in the Community from Alison House, University of Edinburgh. I enjoy learning music from different cultures and so travelling is a big part of that. I like to create meaningful connections, so I go and meet local musicians and artisans, participate in projects and collectives and enjoy the experience. That is how I started trading silver jewellery. Some of the places I travel to, such as Mali, Niger, Myanmar Hill Tribes or India, have a strong tradition of silver tribal crafts and jewellery, and I can source beautiful pieces directly with makers which I have done for more than 30 years. I also design pieces in Edinburgh with a Scottish theme.
How does it compare to running a market stall?
The stalls and popups have minimal space, so the focus is on how to manage and display stock and to have the best possible temporary teams in place. With a shop there are a multitude of other aspects you have to take into consideration. The focus in any of our locations or for our online customers is always the same – helping them to find beautiful jewellery, and to have a lovely shopping experience.
Do you have a lot of regulars? Anyone who’s been shopping with you from the start?
Because we have been doing this for a long time, we have a great following, and, yes, those include a lot of regulars who enjoy buying jewellery as gifts as well as to treat themselves. I have quite a few amazing customers who will check in to see what new pieces I have found on my annual travels and sourcing trips. Our location on Jeffrey Street gives us great footfall from locals who know that this area is one of the best destinations in Edinburgh for independent design. Many tourists come to us specifically based on doing their research before arriving in Edinburgh. They are often looking for quality Celtic pieces or rings with interesting materials, such as whisky barrel wood, stag antler or moss agate, so they can bring the romance of Scotland back from their travels.
Are the pieces popular with men?
Yes absolutely. Especially because we have great collections of Celtic, Viking and tribal accessories, all of which look amazing on men as well as women. I’ve also seen a big increase in men looking for alternative metal wedding/engagement rings, and our new titanium and tungsten carbide ring range is very popular for this. If they’re a bit unsure about their first ever ring, we help by offering a free, personal ring fitting service, exploring all the options to find one that feels comfortable.
Silver seems to be having a fashion moment. Is it surpassing gold as a trend?
Some of the current jewellery trends are larger, chunky, sculptural pieces, mixing metals and stacking multiple rings or bracelets. Silver has traditionally been used for tribal, ancient and ethnic jewellery, so it fits this vibe perfectly. I also feel that the younger customers are much more flexible to wear combinations of different metals, such as gold, silver, tungsten or titanium. Another aspect is sustainability and customers being increasingly aware of prioritising ethical choices.
Sterling silver offers an eco-conscious alternative to more resource-intensive metals. Newly mined gold requires extensive extraction processes, whereas most silver artisans use recycled sterling silver. This keeps its quality and brilliance without the environmental footprint associated with mining.
Which pieces are your bestsellers?
In the traditional category the Claddagh rings are really popular, and we offer them in silver, gold, various sizes and with or without gemstones. In our alternative rings category the tungsten with wood, opal, whisky barrel and such, are increasingly sought after. Celtic and Viking styles in silver are always popular, particularly the Celtic knot and triquetra designs.
What’s the average spend? Do people ever go wild?
We have groups in for permanent bracelets who then see the rest of our collections and end up buying other beautiful pieces, rings, pendants and earrings. Or couples who are coming in for wedding bands and then realise they can get all of their wedding party and attendants gifts in one place, so yes, they can be pretty wild purchases.
Any celebrity customers?
Yes, plenty of famous faces grace our market stands during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees is someone I remember as being particularly lovely and charming.
Read more: “The loud, cheery and comfy fashion shop that’s landing on Edinburgh cobbled street for Christmas”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.