Frequently Asked Questions

We believe that antique jewellery has an enduring charm and distinction that modern equivalents simply cannot match. Antique jewellery is also an investment rather than an expense, with immediate advantages over other ways of investing for the future. It is cheaper to buy and sell through a dealer than an auction house with their spiralling commissions. A dealer's knowledge, experience and passion add value to a purchase which will give life long pleasure.

We use our vast knowledge to date each piece based on the item's materials, construction techniques, hallmarks, signatures, and cultural context. After decades of experience within the trade and by using our knowledge, experience and network of resources, we can usually identify the age of each item. While we cannot guarantee the exact age of each piece, we can determine to the best of our ability when it was likely manufactured and during which era it was designed.

Yes! Conflict diamonds or “blood diamonds” are illegally traded stones that were mined sometime in the last 50 years. These diamonds originated in countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) or The Republic of Congo, and were used to finance civil wars and deadly insurgencies. Because we only use antique and vintage diamonds that predate this period, our jewellery is completely conflict free. Initiatives such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme have been created in order to curb the dangerous blood diamond trade, however even this initiative is fraught with shortcomings. The only way to guarantee that a diamond is conflict free is to reuse vintage and antique diamonds that were mined prior to 1970...which is exactly what we do!

We are constantly looking for fine quality pieces to add to our collection. You can always rely on us to settle instantly and provide maximum discretion when doing so. If you have jewellery that you are considering selling, whether it’s an entire estate collection or just one piece, please feel free to conatct us with details and any imagery. Please note we only buy items that are antique, ie. at least 50 years old.

We've tried to make purchasing on our website as easy as possible. Navigate to an item you want quickly and easily and click the 'Add to Bag' button. When you are happy to proceed to payment, click on 'Shopping Bag' in the top right of the screen and follow the simple steps, using our secure payment gateway (powered by PayPal). We accept all major credit cards - Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express - as well as PayPal. We also accept bank/wire transfers and cashiers or bank cheques and personal cheques (which will have to clear before the item is sent out). And most recently we accept Bitcoin!

Yes! We are happy to take card payments over the phone. Please call +44 (0)78 6633 2834 to do so.

Yes, we do. We accept instalments on a case by case basis, usually weekly, fortnightly or monthly, with a maximum timeframe of 3 months. To discuss what works for you please contact us before purchase to discuss payment options.

All items bought through our website are delivered worldwide, for FREE of charge. In the UK, we deliver using Royal Mail Special Delivery, arriving next day before 1pm (excluding Sundays). For international orders, we use Royal Mail International Business Tracking and Signature Services (2 days to Western Europe, 4 days to Eastern Europe, 6 days to the USA & ROW). All items are fully insured and sent at the risk of the Antique Jewellery Company. Items will be sent out as soon as your money has been cleared. Please note an adult signature is required to receive all packages. Please click here for more information.

We offer a 'no quibble', 14 day full money back guarantee on all online purchases. Items must be returned in the same condition we sent them in. All you pay for is the return cost of shipping and insurance. Please click here for more information.

Yes, we do offer sizing (within reason) within ths cost of the ring itself. A select few rings may not be resized, we'll state this in the description.