Watches. Jewellery. Gold. Silver coins. Medals. Cameras. Clocks. Fountain pens. Antiques. Inherited collections. If it has collector, material or historical value — we assess it. Every single item individually, in writing, with the reasoning explained.
Not a bundled offer. Not a phone call. Not 7–14 working days. A written valuation per item. Paid in 72 hours. Guaranteed.
Cards marked Specialist page have a dedicated guide with deeper information.
Watches
Pocket, wristwatch, vintage, pre-owned — Omega, Cartier, Tag Heuer, Rolex, IWC, Longines, Seiko, Christopher Ward, micro brands
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Watches
Pre-quartz, military, dress, field and tool watches. Movements, dials, cases and bracelets all assessed. Unrestored originals especially welcome.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageJewellery
Fine, antique, vintage, inherited — diamond rings, gold, silver, gemstone, Art Deco, Victorian, Edwardian, designer, costume with collector interest
See specialist guide →Gold
9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct jewellery — chains, rings, bangles, brooches. Gold sovereigns, half-sovereigns and gold coins. Gold bars and ingots.
Silver Coins & Bullion
Pre-decimal British, Britannias, world silver, proof sets, bars, ingots. Numismatic and melt value both assessed — never melt-only pricing.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageSilver & Silver Plate
Flatware, cutlery sets, candlesticks, tea and coffee services, salvers, entrée dishes, cruet sets, card cases, vinaigrettes, Mappin & Webb, Elkington.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageAntiques & Collectables
Decorative arts, small furniture accessories, bronzes, enamel, ivory alternatives, papier-mâché, treen, Tunbridge ware, Black Forest, Mauchline ware.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageMedals & Militaria
Campaign medals, gallantry awards (MC, MM, DCM, DSO), named medals with paperwork, cap badges, regimental items, military watches and ephemera.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Cameras
Leica, Rolleiflex, Hasselblad, Nikon F-series, Olympus, Contax, Pentax, Voigtländer — 35mm SLR, rangefinder, medium format, vintage cine.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageAntique Clocks
Carriage clocks, mantel clocks, English fusee bracket clocks, Vienna regulators, skeleton clocks — French and English movements. Working or not.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageFountain Pens & Writing
Montblanc, Parker, Waterman, Conway Stewart, Mabie Todd, Dunhill-Namiki — fountain pens, propelling pencils, dip pens, inkwells, writing sets.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageDiamonds & Precious Stones
Loose diamonds, sapphires, rubies, emeralds and other gemstones. Old cut, rose cut, brilliant — stones mounted or unmounted, certificated or not.
See specialist guide →Binoculars & Optics
Zeiss, Leitz, Ross, military binoculars, telescopes, opera glasses, theodolites. Brass and leather cased. Optical quality assessed.
Masonic Regalia
Breast jewels, past master jewels, lodge collars, aprons, sashes — hallmarked gold and silver, named lodge pieces, side-degree and chivalric regalia.
See specialist guide →Brass & Metalware
Scientific instruments, navigational tools, scales and weights, candlesticks, inkstands, letter racks, door furniture with collector interest.
Vintage Handbags
Designer and collectible handbags — Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior. Vintage evening bags, beaded bags, mesh bags, minaudiéres.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageInherited Collections
Clearing a home, handling a probate estate, or sorting through a lifetime's collection — send it all. Every item assessed by the right specialist.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Toys & Games
Dinky, Corgi, Matchbox, Meccano, Britains lead soldiers, tin toys, Hornby trains — diecast, tinplate, pre-war and post-war, boxed examples especially sought.
See specialist guide →Amber & Natural Curiosities
Baltic amber jewellery, amber with inclusions, coral, jet, ivory (pre-1947), tortoiseshell, natural history objects with collector provenance.
Antique Pewter
English pewter — chargers, tankards, capacity measures, flagons with touchmarks. Arts & Crafts Tudric Liberty pewter by Archibald Knox especially sought.
See specialist guide →Smoking Items
Vintage lighters (Dunhill, Zippo, Ronson), meerschaum pipes, silver cigarette cases, cigar cutters, vesta cases, table lighters with collector interest.
Vintage Electronics & Audio
Bakelite radios, valve amplifiers, early hi-fi, Braun, Dieter Rams designs, vintage turntables, reel-to-reel — design and collector value assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVinyl Records
First pressings, original labels, rare and deleted titles, jazz, blues, prog, punk, classical — collections and individual rarities assessed individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Record Players
Garrard, Thorens, Linn Sondek, Rega, SME, Dual — turntables, radiograms, portable record players, working or not.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageOld Currency & Banknotes
Pre-decimal British notes, early Bank of England issues, world banknotes, withdrawn foreign currency — individual notes and collections valued.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Typewriters
Hermes, Olivetti, Underwood, Royal, Remington, Olympia — portable and upright models, working or not. Design classics particularly sought.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageSilver Cutlery & Canteens
Sterling and EPNS canteens, flatware sets, fiddle pattern, King's pattern — complete or incomplete, boxed or loose. Hallmarks explained.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageChristopher Ward Watches
C60 Trident, C65 Aquitaine, C1 Bel Canto, Sealander — in-house SH21 movement premium assessed. Limited editions and discontinued references valued individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageCartier Watches
Tank, Santos, Ballon Bleu, Panthère, Pasha — gold vs steel premium assessed. Vintage and modern Cartier valued individually by reference, metal, and generation.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageTAG Heuer Watches
Carrera, Monaco, Autavia, Aquaracer — and vintage Heuer pieces from the 1960s–70s. Dial authenticity assessed. Every reference valued correctly, not generically.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageBreitling Watches
Navitimer, Superocean, Chronomat, Cosmonaute — in-house B01 movement premium assessed. Vintage Breitling and military-issue pieces assessed individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageSeiko Watches
Grand Seiko, Prospex, SKX, Presage, vintage Seiko divers — Spring Drive and in-house movements assessed. Grand Seiko not priced as standard Seiko.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageLongines Watches
HydroConquest, Master Collection, Heritage, vintage dress pieces — pre-quartz Longines with manufacture calibres assessed individually, not undervalued.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageIWC Schaffhausen
Portugieser, Pilot's Watch, Portofino, Aquatimer, Ingenieur — in-house Calibre 52000 and 89000 series premium assessed. Vintage IWC valued individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageTudor Watches
Black Bay, Pelagos, Ranger, vintage Prince Oysterdate and Submariner — in-house MT5602 premium assessed. Snowflake-hand vintage references priced correctly.
See specialist guide → Specialist pagePatek Philippe
Nautilus, Calatrava, Aquanaut, complications — every reference assessed against live secondary market data. The 5711 and beyond, valued correctly.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageAudemars Piguet
Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore, Millenary, Code 11.59 — reference and generation assessed. 15202 Jumbo to Offshore limited editions, all valued individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageCommemorative Coins
Crown coins, silver proof sets, Royal Mint commemoratives, limited edition issues — individual coins and complete year sets valued honestly, not at face.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Radios
Bakelite, valve and early transistor sets — Ekco, Murphy, Bush, Braun, Pye, McMichael, Roberts. Design classics and working sets especially sought.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageRetro Games & Consoles
Nintendo, Sega, Atari, Commodore, ZX Spectrum, PlayStation — consoles, games, handhelds. Complete-in-box and rare titles assessed individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageHouse Clearance Valuables
Clearing a home or probate estate? Send the whole mixed box. Every item assessed by the right specialist — watches, jewellery, silver, coins, medals and more.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageAntique Maps & Prints
County maps, botanical engravings, sporting prints, lithographs — Speed, Saxton, Blaeu, Redouté and similar. Publisher, period, and colouring assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageSell Gold UK
Scrap gold, bullion bars, gold coins (sovereigns, Krugerrands, Britannias), 9ct–24ct jewellery at melt value. Weighed, hallmarked, and fairly assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageJet Jewellery
Whitby jet brooches, necklaces, mourning lockets and cameos. Victorian mourning jewellery — genuine Whitby jet distinguished from French jet and vulcanite.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageSell Antiques UK
Furniture, ceramics, silver, clocks, jewellery, collectables — honest valuations from specialists who know the antiques market. Single items or full collections.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageRare 50p Coins
Kew Gardens 50p, Beatrix Potter series, 2012 Olympics, error coins, silver proof and gold proof commemoratives — mintage figures and condition both assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageCostume Jewellery
Signed designer pieces — Miriam Haskell, Trifari, Chanel, Dior, Schiaparelli — and quality unsigned sets. Rhinestones, Bakelite, Art Deco paste assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageDiamond Rings
Solitaires, trilogy rings, vintage engagement rings in platinum or 18ct gold. Old-cut diamonds, GIA and HRD certificates assessed. Each stone valued individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageBrass & Metalware
Antique brass candlesticks, copper kettles, bronze figures, scientific instruments, decorative brassware — age, patina, and maker's marks all assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Collectables
Sporting memorabilia, enamel advertising signs, entertainment ephemera, scientific instruments, political items, and unusual curios — valued on collector demand.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageSell Lego UK
Complete boxed sets with instructions, rare minifigures, vintage pre-1990 themes, Star Wars UCS sets, and loose bricks by weight. All assessed and valued.
See specialist guide → Specialist pagePearl Jewellery
Natural and cultured pearl necklaces, Mikimoto and named makers, vintage parures, brooches and drop earrings, baroque and South Sea pearls. Lustre assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageReel-to-Reel Tape Decks
Akai GX-series, Revox A77 and B77, Teac, Sony, Technics, Otari — working and non-working assessed. Model, head condition, and accessories all considered.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageGold Rings
9ct, 18ct, and 22ct gold rings — signet rings, wedding bands, gem-set rings. Hallmarks read, purity confirmed, stones assessed separately. Scrap and collector value both considered.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageCameo Jewellery
Shell cameos, hardstone (onyx, sardonyx), lava cameos and coral — carving quality and material both assessed. Victorian gold-mounted cameos valued individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageAntique Porcelain & China
Royal Doulton figurines, Wedgwood, Meissen, Minton, Spode, Crown Derby — maker and pattern identified, condition assessed, restoration noted under UV.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageBroken & Unwanted Watches
Non-working, damaged, or simply unwanted watches — any brand, any condition. Movement assessed first; brand matters more than working status.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Binoculars & Optics
Victorian brass binoculars, military field glasses, opera glasses, brass telescopes, microscopes, theodolites — maker signed examples by Ross, Barr & Stroud valued.
See specialist guide → Specialist pagePocket Watches
Gold full hunters, silver open face, English fusee movements, Swiss lever — movement and case assessed individually. Named makers and military issues identified.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageOld Banknotes
White £5 notes, pre-decimal Series A–C, Scottish and Northern Irish issues, error and misprint notes — series, Chief Cashier signature, and grade all assessed.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Chess Sets
Jaques of London Staunton sets, bone and ivory carved sets, Victorian travel sets — maker identified from king base label, completeness verified piece by piece.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageArt Deco Jewellery
1920s and 1930s rings, brooches, bracelets — platinum settings, old-cut diamonds, calibré sapphires, signed makers (Cartier, Van Cleef). Period confirmed from hallmarks.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageMilitaria & War Memorabilia
WW1 and WW2 helmets, uniforms, badges, trench art, bayonets, and military equipment. Written valuations with historical research. Cross-linked with medals.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Vinyl Records
Rare first pressings, original labels, mono editions, coloured vinyl — collector-grade records assessed by label, matrix number, and Goldmine grading.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Musical Instruments
Guitars, violins, brass, woodwind, effects pedals, amplifiers — maker identified, condition assessed, collector and player value both considered.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageDesigner Handbags
Hermès Birkin & Kelly, Chanel Classic Flap, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior — authenticated, condition graded, hardware and leather assessed individually.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Typewriters — Valuation
Underwood, Remington, Olympia, Hermes, Olivetti portables — model identified, colour noted, working state assessed. Colour is a significant value driver.
See specialist guide → Specialist pageVintage Barometers
Pocket barometers, marine barometers, banjo and stick barometers — Negretti & Zambra, Short & Mason, Dollond. Maker identified, mechanism assessed.
See specialist guide →We'd rather tell you now than have you pack and post something we can't help with. If you're unsure, email us a photo first — we'll tell you within one working day.
Email a photo first →The differences are not cosmetic. They directly affect how much you receive, how quickly, and how much protection you have if anything goes wrong.
| What matters to sellers | Fair Vintage | Vintage Cash Cow |
|---|---|---|
| How your offer is delivered | Written valuation per item, with reasoning explained | Verbal offer by phone call — no written record |
| Payment timeline | 72 hours guaranteed — +3% if we miss it, written in contract | 7–14 working days (up to 3 calendar weeks) |
| Insurance — standard, automatic | £5,000 both ways, included automatically | £300 standard — £10,000 requires a separate request |
| How your parcel is opened | Live on YouTube — publicly recorded, timestamped, undisputable | In private — internal CCTV only |
| Item pricing | Every item valued individually — nothing averaged or bundled | Lot valued together — individual pieces not separately explained |
| Decline individual items | Yes — sell one, keep nine, no pressure | Offer given on the lot — partial declines vary by advisor |
| Late payment protection | +3% added automatically — written into the contract | No contractual late penalty |
| Pre-shipment advice | Email us a photo — response within one working day | Free phone advice available, no pre-quote given |
Based on publicly available terms from both services as of 2026. Individual experiences vary.
Tell us roughly what you have — a sentence is enough. We email you a free prepaid, tracked and insured shipping label the same working day. No specialist knowledge needed before you send.
Pack everything into any sturdy box, attach the label, and drop it at any Royal Mail or DPD point. Your parcel is insured to £5,000 from the moment the courier scans it.
We email you a unique parcel code and your broadcast time. Your parcel is opened on camera, publicly, in real time — every item recorded before a specialist touches it.
Every item is valued individually in writing, with the reasoning explained. Accept what you want to sell. Have the rest returned free. Payment within 72 hours — guaranteed in writing. If we miss it, we add 3%.
Brand, reference number, serial number, movement type and condition, dial originality, case material and condition, bracelet presence and condition, box and papers — every factor recorded individually. A signed dial with original hands and an unpolished case is worth considerably more than the same watch with a refinished dial. We know the difference, and we explain it in writing.
Watch specialist guide →Material value (gold, silver, platinum) is only one factor. Maker's marks, hallmarks, period, gem quality, design desirability, and collector demand are all assessed for every piece. A Victorian brooch by a named maker, an Art Deco diamond ring, or a signed Georg Jensen piece has value far above its material weight. Invasive testing — filing, acid — is never used.
Jewellery specialist guide →Two values are assessed for every coin: silver content (weight × purity × current market rate) and numismatic or collector value. Most buyers pay melt only. We do not. Rare dates, low-mintage pieces, proof sets and named proof coins are assessed by coin specialists who explain the full reasoning — metal price and collector premium — in writing for every piece.
Silver coin specialist guide →Named medals — those engraved with a soldier's name, number and regiment — carry significant collector value above face or metal value. We cross-reference medal rolls and service records where available. Gallantry medals (Military Cross, Military Medal, DCM) are always valued by specialists with access to current auction comparables, not by weight.
Selling inherited collections →Working condition, shutter speeds, rangefinder coupling, lens glass clarity, body condition and original accessories all affect value significantly. A Leica M3 with original viewfinder, correct lens and case in excellent condition is in a completely different category to an untested example with damage. We assess and explain the difference — not average across the lot.
Email us a camera photo →Gold nib size and condition, filling mechanism type and working status, barrel condition (no cracks, no shrinkage), original clip and trim — and for named makers, limited edition status and rarity of model. A Montblanc 149 in near-mint condition or a Conway Stewart 58 in a rare colour are collectables with their own secondary market, assessed as such.
Ask us about your pens →We buy gold jewellery at all caratages — 9ct, 14ct, 18ct, 22ct and platinum. The metal value is calculated transparently: weight × purity × current market rate, shown to you in writing. But maker's marks, hallmarks, period design and collectable status are also assessed — a Victorian gold locket or an Art Deco ring is worth considerably more than its melt value alone.
Gold jewellery guide →Many of our customers are sorting through a home after a bereavement — with no specialist knowledge, no time, and no desire to visit a dozen different dealers. Send us the box. Our specialists triage everything: watches to the watch desk, coins to the coin desk, jewellery to the jewellery desk. One postage label. One itemised written report. One payment.
Inherited items guide →If your question isn't here, call us on 01234 815116 or email support@fairvintage.co.uk. We reply within one working day.
Get your free pack →No. Many customers are clearing an inherited home or sorting through a decades-old collection with no specialist knowledge. Tell us roughly what you have — a sentence is enough. Our specialists identify, categorise and value everything. You don't need to know hallmarks, references, makers or periods before you send.
Yes — and this is something we handle particularly well. Mixed collections go to multiple desks: watches to watch specialists, coins to coin specialists, jewellery to jewellery specialists. Every item gets the right expert. You receive one itemised report covering everything in the parcel — not one averaged offer.
Your parcel is insured to £5,000 as standard — included automatically, at no cost, on the outward and return journey. Cover begins from the moment the courier scans your parcel. For collections where individual items or total estimated value exceeds £5,000, contact us before sending and we will arrange enhanced cover.
You are under no obligation. Decline any or all offers and everything is returned to you, free, fully insured, within 5 working days. You can also sell some items and keep others — there is no all-or-nothing requirement. Partial acceptances are common and completely normal.
The main differences: Fair Vintage pays within 72 hours guaranteed (Vintage Cash Cow takes 7–14 working days). We provide a written valuation per item (they make a verbal offer by phone). Our standard insurance is £5,000 (theirs is £300). We open parcels live on YouTube (they open in private). We price every item individually (they value the lot together). See our full comparison above.
Yes. Broken watches, incomplete jewellery sets, damaged clocks and tarnished silverware are all considered. Condition affects value — but it does not disqualify an item. A broken Omega may still have movement, case and dial value. A cracked silver flatware piece still has silver content. Describe what you have honestly and let specialists assess it properly.
Your parcel is opened live on our public YouTube channel — time-stamped, on camera, in front of a live audience. Every item is visible before a specialist touches it. This creates an independent, undisputable record of what arrived and in what condition. It is the single most important reason sellers trust us with high-value collections — this level of transparency is central to how we work.
No strict minimum. For single high-value items — a watch, a medal group, a signed piece — we consider individual submissions. For smaller or lower-value items, a selection works better than a single piece. If you're unsure whether your item justifies postage, email us a photo first and we'll advise before you send anything.
Request your free pack today. We'll open your items live on YouTube, give you a written valuation for every piece, and pay within 72 hours — or add 3%.