Best of Boston

2009 Best Fine Jewelry

Dorfman Jewelers

Sitting on a block somewhere between Juicy Couture and Newbury MedSpa, Dorfman’s looks a tad out of place among its campier neighbors. Chalk it up to the stately facade and, no doubt, to the fact that this store practically oozes staying power. For two generations the Dorfman family has dealt exclusively in European-cut diamonds and other gems; these days they also sell such illustrious names as Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Breguet. Perhaps most representative is the in-house Barbara Collection, open-link gold pieces inspired by the clan matriarch that are at once unpretentious and enduring—much like the venerable Dorfman itself.

24 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-2022,