Darren Whelan on his dazzling career with Fields

Our store staff are the face of our business for our consumers. As part of a series profiling our store managers, meet Darren Whelan our Kilkenny Manager. Here we find out what he loves about his job



How long have you been working with Fields Darren? 

I have been lucky enough to have a 12-year career with Fields, I began my career on a temporary Christmas contract in 2009 and I’ve never left!

I have been able to progress and develop skills as a manager through the opportunities and training provided here.

What do you love about retail?

No two days are the same, you never know who will walk through the door. I love a challenge and retail can certainly be challenging.

Luckily, my team are amazing. The camaraderie we have is visible and creates the perfect in-store experience.

What do you love most about showcasing our product range? 

Our product is luxurious, we have fantastic pieces that everyone loves. It’s extra special when we get to showcase our range for a special occasion and be a part of the journey with our clients.

I love selling diamonds and watches, our exclusive Northern Star is my favourite range. The story behind these diamonds is fantastic and our clients love to hear about it.

Do you specialise in any product ranges? 

I specialise in diamonds and was lucky enough to receive training provided by our company in this area. I now hold training sessions with our newer team members throughout Ireland and the UK to develop their skills and showcase our diamond ranges confidently.

What piqued your interest in the jewellery industry? 

Whenever I walked by jewellery stores, I loved to stop and admire the displays. The staff in the jewellery industry look extremely smart and I felt one day I’d love a job like that in a nice clean environment.

What are your favourite trends in jewellery currently? 

I love that more gents are starting to purchase jewellery, especially rings and bracelets. 

What are the first and last pieces you bought at Fields?

When I started working here 12 years ago I purchased myself a Guess watch. I always admired the Tag Heuer watches but when I looked at the price I felt they were a little out of my range, but the last thing I bought myself was a Tag Heuer watch! 

What’s on your Fields wish list?

I have my eye on a Rado watch and our new gents’ platinum ring with a rose gold centre, I just can’t decide which I need more!

They are perfect when worn on their own or can be accessorised with other hoops or even stud earrings. It can also of course be worn with a number of different earrings to create the seriously on-trend stacked look.

We have a great selection of earrings that you can shop to create your own unique stack.



As it's made from 9 carat yellow gold, it is also durable and long lasting. Its design means it can be worn in casual day to day looks or really stand out in a more elegant outfit at an important event like a wedding.

No jewellery collection would be complete without a statement bracelet. To complete her edit, Rebecca opted for one of our most popular bracelets - the sterling silver gold plated Herringbone Bracelet. We have a wide selection of bracelets and this particular piece exudes elegance.

You can see perfectly it sits alongside Rebecca's smartwatch when worn as part of a casual ensemble, but again this would be perfect when worn with more formal attire on its own or in a stacked wrist look.