Antique jewellery has collector value that cash-for-gold shops and generalist buyers completely ignore. A Victorian gold mourning brooch, an Edwardian diamond cluster ring, or a signed Art Deco platinum necklace is worth far more than its weight in metal. Our jewellery specialists assess every piece for period, maker, condition, and collector interest — not just the spot price of gold.
Foil-backed paste, mourning hair jewellery, pinchbeck, and early gold work. Georgian pieces are rare and command collector premiums.
Mourning jewellery, Scottish pebble ware, Whitby jet, seed pearl pieces, enamel brooches, and gold lockets. Wide range of styles and values assessed per piece.
Delicate platinum and gold lacework, natural pearls, old-cut diamonds. Edwardian pieces are highly collectable for their fine craftsmanship.
Liberty & Co., Artificers' Guild, and Continental Art Nouveau pieces. Signed pieces command very significant collector premiums.
Platinum, geometric designs, calibré-cut gemstones, and enamel. Cartier, Van Cleef, and unsigned Art Deco pieces all assessed for period value.
Retro gold, Scandinavian silver, and post-war costume jewellery by named makers (Miriam Haskell, Trifari). Assessed for maker and collector interest.
Cash-for-gold operations assess jewellery by one metric only: the weight of the metal times the spot price, minus a margin. A 9ct gold Victorian mourning brooch with an enamel portrait miniature and fine goldwork receives the same assessment as a plain 9ct gold ring of the same weight — which may be £15–£30 at melt. To the right collector, the brooch is worth £200–£600.
This is not an edge case. It is the standard experience for anyone who takes antique jewellery to a generalist buyer. Our jewellery specialists assess every piece for period, maker signatures (particularly on brooches, clasps, and backplates), gemstone type and quality, and collector demand — and price accordingly.
Do not remove gemstones from their settings. Do not attempt to clean enamel or paste pieces. Do not remove patina from silver antique jewellery. Original condition — including honest age and wear — is preferable to a cleaned or "improved" piece for most antique collectors.
Antique jewellery (pre-1920 by convention) has collector value above and beyond its intrinsic metal content. A Victorian mourning brooch, an Edwardian pearl and diamond necklace, or an Art Deco platinum piece may be worth several times their melt value to the right collector. Our specialists assess each piece for both collector value and metal content — not just the spot price.
All periods: Georgian (pre-1837), Victorian (1837–1901), Edwardian (1901–1910), Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco (1920–1940). We also assess later mid-century pieces where period or maker interest is present. Scottish pebble jewellery, Whitby jet, pinchbeck, and mourning jewellery are all within our scope.
Yes. Our specialists assess old-cut diamonds (rose cut, old European, table cut), natural pearls, coloured gemstones, and paste. For significant gemstone pieces, we identify the stone type and condition and factor this into the valuation. We do not separate gemstones from the piece for assessment purposes.
Upload photographs of your pieces — including any maker's marks, hallmarks, and clasps — for a free specialist assessment. No obligation to sell anything.
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