Meet the best friend duo redefining the fine jewellery shopping experience in Ireland
Ten years into their friendship, Laura Gallagher and Slaney Ronan were shopping for engagement rings and found that what should have been an exciting, magical experience felt a lot more like navigating a confusing maze of dated designs. An idea was sparked and the pair set about creating a better way to buy fine jewellery in Ireland.
We are Laura Gallagher and Slaney Ronan, and we met ten years ago while studying in Trinity and have been inseparable ever since. After graduating, we each took different career paths. Laura spent several years working in fashion and luxury consulting before moving into investing in emerging technology businesses. Slaney focused on strategy and data analysis within the pharmacy industry.
When we both went shopping for engagement rings, we expected the experience to feel special and exciting. Instead, it felt confusing and overwhelming. We were faced with complicated specs, outdated designs, and jewellers who just didn’t really understand what we were looking for. Prices were all over the place, advice was minimal, and nothing felt quite right. In the end, we both found ourselves shopping abroad. But the experience stayed with us and sparked a bigger idea. We kept asking ourselves why buying fine jewellery in Ireland had to feel so difficult.
In late 2025, we launched Sunday Finest Jewellery, a modern jewellery brand built around craftsmanship, clarity, and a fresh, female-led perspective in a traditionally male-dominated space. We set out to create the brand we wished had existed when we were buying our own engagement rings. A place with real people who take the time to get to know you, help you figure out what you actually want, and guide you through the process without pressure or jargon.
We wouldn’t say we always knew we wanted to be designers, but we’ve both always had a natural eye for fashion, trends, and jewellery. Even while we were focused on building our careers, that interest was always there in the background. There was always a bit of a pull to combine the creative side with the more commercial, strategic side of what we do. Starting a fine jewellery business has been the perfect way to bring those two parts together. It lets us be creative, while also building something meaningful and well thought-out from a business point of view.
Reimagining the customer experience
Being in business together is one of the best parts of what we do. It makes everything so much more fun and way more fulfilling. We are able to be really honest with each other in a way that only best friends can be. We can call things out, admit when something didn’t work, laugh about our mistakes, and move on quickly without taking things personally. That openness helps us grow faster and keeps things feeling positive and real. When one of us is feeling unmotivated or burned out, the other usually has the energy to step in and pull us forward. We pick each other up, remind each other why we started, and keep going together. Having worked in challenging corporate environments in the past, that support and balance is something we never take for granted.
What makes Sunday Finest different is the way we’ve reimagined the customer experience. Fine jewellery can often feel intimidating or overly traditional, but we offer something more modern, transparent, and genuinely aligned with how women shop today. Instead of pressure or jargon, clients get clarity, honest guidance, and a team that truly listens. We bring a fresh, female-led perspective to a space that hasn’t always reflected its customer- and the result is jewellery that feels personal. The designs are modern, clean, and made to be worn, not saved for special occasions.
We offer everything from timeless engagement rings to everyday jewellery staples, including tennis necklaces, bracelets, earrings and fun pinkie rings. We also offer a fully bespoke service where we work hand-in-hand with our clients to create the piece they have been dreaming of. Every Sunday Finest piece is handcrafted and fully customisable. This one of a kind experience ensures your jewellery collection is curated for you and tailored to your personal style and story.
The logistics
Of course money was a consideration when we were starting out. We launched the business using our own savings, so we were very conscious from the beginning about building something sustainable and considered rather than rushing or overextending ourselves. Because of that, we made a really deliberate decision to start with slow production. Everything we make is produced to order for our clients, which allows us to manage costs carefully while also keeping quality and craftsmanship at the centre of what we do. It felt like the right way to grow the business, stay in control, and create pieces that are genuinely thoughtful and made with intention.
One of the best pieces of business advice we’ve ever received is to put yourself out there and take the risk, even if everything isn’t perfectly figured out. Waiting until you feel completely ready usually means you’ll never start. That mindset gave us the push to back ourselves, take the leap, and learn as we go. Starting something new is always uncomfortable, but the biggest progress has come from saying yes, trusting our instincts, and being willing to figure things out along the way.
It’s very cliché, but there’s no perfect time to start a business and you have to just go for it. We were both juggling different priorities when the idea for Sunday Finest came to us, but we really wanted to make it work and were so excited to bring a concept we had admired for years to Ireland. We set a target for SFJ to be up and running ahead of Christmas to hopefully catch some December orders. Everything seemed to be going against us in the lead up to our target launch (from packaging delays to banking rejections) but we managed to get to a point where ‘done was better than perfect’ and we had a viable business to launch with.
Due to the bespoke nature of every piece and the time needed for production, we launched with less than a two week window to receive orders. We thought we might not receive a single order, but we were so delighted when the opposite happened! The demand was crazy, and we were making bespoke creations for clients not just in Ireland, but also in the UK, Australia, US. We’re so glad we pushed ourselves to launch despite not having every piece of the puzzle figured out, and now we’re starting 2026 with a really strong base.
The brands and designers to know
On the clothing side, the new era of Dries Van Noten since Julian Klausner took the reins feels fresh and energised, and we’re also loving Kallmeyer and Liberowe for elevated basics. Nour Hammour and Charlotte Simone are firmly on our radar for winter coats. For accessories, we’re drawn to statement pieces like Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses and Kutjen cashmere bandana scarves. In beauty, we’re loving brands that feel clean and modern, especially Fara Homidi, Westman Atelier, and Poco Beauty.
We love influencers who mix really beautiful, high-quality basics with fun, eclectic statement pieces. That balance feels very aligned with how we think about jewellery. Some of our favourite inspiration right now comes from Courtney Grow, Elizabeth Bennett, Anna Porte, and Saint Browning. Their style feels considered but playful, which we really gravitate towards.
We’ve also recently fallen down a bit of a Substack rabbit hole and found some amazing style inspiration there. It’s been such a refreshing place to discover thoughtful dressing, great writing, and really special pieces worn in a very personal way.
Laura’s best fashion purchase has been the Khaite Dallas boots in black leather. They feel on trend with their cowboy influence but are genuinely wearable, with my pair now well into their fourth winter season. The low heel is comfortable enough for 10,000 steps, and the elegant square toe elevates even the simplest outfit.
Slaney’s best fashion purchase has to be her bespoke Phillipa Lepley wedding dress, which she wore for her wedding in July. Slaney chose Phillipa Lepley to design her wedding dress as she was drawn to the personalised experience and unrivalled craftsmanship of Phillipa’s designs. When I went shopping for wedding dresses, I didn’t have a clear image in my mind of what I wanted and I wasn’t finding anything in the shops that felt truly me.
There’s so much weight put on the wedding dress decision and I was so grateful for the guidance from Phillipa Lepley and her team. Going through the bespoke experience for my wedding dress has given me so many learnings to take to Sunday Finest. That same belief in beautiful design and creating something truly personal underpins every Sunday Finest piece – from engagement rings to everyday earrings, each as unique as the client it’s made for.
Colin Burke’s knitwear is a huge favourite of ours. He has an incredible way of blending traditional Irish materials and techniques with designs that feel modern and almost sculptural. Slaney wore one of his pieces during her wedding celebrations last year and it felt so special and unique. We have also recently discovered Maria McManus and really admire what her brand stands for. Her focus on sustainability, quality materials, and timeless design really resonates with us. From an interiors perspective, we are obsessed with Orior – every piece tells a story and could form the centrepiece of any room.
The legacy
One of our favourite love stories to be part of was creating Slaney’s sister’s engagement ring. It felt incredibly special – not just because she’s family, but because we were trusted with such an intimate milestone. We worked closely with her fiancé to design a piece that felt true to her style and relationship. We were absolutely thrilled when the proposal finally happened in Paris before Christmas.
We want our brand to be remembered for creating jewellery that feels personal and meaningful. Jewellery often marks really important life moments, whether that’s an engagement, a milestone, or something you buy for yourself to celebrate an achievement. Our hope is that our pieces become part of people’s lives. Something you wear often, attach memories to, and eventually pass on. Pieces that quietly remind you of a special moment or chapter, and carry those stories with them over time.
If we could have anyone wear our designs, it would be Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. She has such a distinctive personal style and wears jewellery in a really effortless, lived-in way. It always feels intentional but never overdone, which is exactly how we like our pieces to be worn.
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