Origins
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
ætla (pronounced 'atla') is a Faroese word meaning 'intention'.
When Keira Wraae-Stewart founded ætla in Edinburgh in 2020, the name reflected more than her Faroese heritage. It described the kind of business she wanted to create.
After a decade working in jewellery design and product development, including roles with Maria Francesca Pepe and Vivienne Westwood in London and Thailand, Keira founded ætla with the intention of creating a gallery centred around jewellery with lasting value. Having spent years developing seasonal collections, she was drawn to pieces made from precious materials that could be cared for, repaired, remodelled and, ultimately, passed from one generation to the next.
ætla first opened as a pop-up at Space at Seventeen in November 2020 before moving to its permanent home at 46 St Stephen Street in Edinburgh's Stockbridge in August 2021. Since then, the gallery has continued to evolve, introducing antique and vintage jewellery alongside contemporary collections, expanding its bespoke and remodelling services, and launching exhibitions and residencies that celebrate both established and emerging jewellers.
Today, ætla brings together contemporary and antique fine jewellery from Scotland and around the world. The collection continues to evolve, but the intention remains the same: to create a place where exceptional jewellery is discovered, appreciated and given the opportunity to become part of someone's story.
46 St Stephen Street
Our Ethos
We believe the best jewellery is made to last.
That's why we champion independent jewellers, celebrate antique and vintage pieces, and encourage clients to care for the jewellery they already own. Sometimes that means restoring a family heirloom. Sometimes it means remodelling an existing piece. Often, it simply means choosing something you'll still love many years from now.
The jewellers we represent each have their own approach, but all share a commitment to thoughtful craftsmanship and responsible sourcing. Many work with recycled precious metals, including certified Fairtrade and Fairmined gold, Nordic Urban Mining silver, and AgAIN Silver, a fully traceable silver recovered from redundant medical X-ray film in the UK. Others use responsibly sourced diamonds and coloured gemstones, or repurpose antique stones and materials that already have a history. Rather than expecting every jeweller to work in exactly the same way, we look for makers who are thoughtful about the choices they make and the impact those choices have.
Just as important as how a piece is made is why we choose it. We don't buy collections to follow trends or fill gaps. Every piece is selected because we believe it has something to offer, whether that's an exceptional level of craftsmanship, an unusual perspective or a story worth preserving.
We hope every visit to ætla introduces you to something unexpected, whether it's the work of an independent jeweller, an overlooked antique or a piece that feels as though it has been waiting for you all along.
Diamond Consultation