Frequently Asked Questions

How are vintage item aged?
We aim to accurately assess each piece of vintage jewellery and to age it based on where it was bought and any markings on the piece. However, we cannot guarantee the age or maker of any piece and buyers should always ask questions if unsure.

Will vintage jewellery be in perfect condition?
The simple answer to this is no. Vintage jewellery should be expected to show wear appropriate to its age. If there are obvious signs like blackened or missing stones, these will be mentioned in the description. However, some slight discolouring of the base metal of the jewellery or of stones is common with vintage pieces and a part of their charm.

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How are vintage items assessed?

Our vintage items are assessed based on the markings on them. If we are at all unsure we will carry out extra tests to ensure that our descriptions are as accurate as possible. We widely reference the hallmarks and makers marks that we find, to provide buyers with the most accurate descriptions possible.

How do I know gold and silver pieces are genuine?

We use hallmarks on modern pieces to establish what they are made of, plus information from our suppliers. A few of our pieces have certificates.
For vintage items we rely on the hallmarks and makers marks on the pieces and on the location pieces where purchased from to make an assessment.
Other pieces are acid tested by us, which allows us to assess if they are silver or gold and the approximate gold content (9CT, 14CT or 18CT).

Can I visit your shop?

Where do vintage items come from?

They come from a range of sources. Many are from house clearances and many are from America or Europe.

We are a website based shop, not a physical shop. However if you are local to Leighton Buzzard or wish to travel to see a particular piece please contact us and request an appointment. We do not keep any stock on site and so need advance notice to acquire pieces from our stock.

What is the condition of a vintage piece?

As new: means the piece is in as new condition.
Excellent: means that if you look closely you may see signs of wear but otherwise the piece is flawless. It looks better than expected for it's age.
Very Good: means there are some small signs of age or wear, slight discolouration of stones or base metal. It looks as it should considering its age.
Good: These pieces have the a little more than the expected amount of wear considering the age of the piece - this might include some discolouration, tarnishing or grime, darkened stones or tiny missing stones.
Fair - means that although the piece is in wearable condition, there are definite signs of age, there may be larger missing stones.
We occasionally sell pieces marked REPAIR - these have multiple stones or clasps that need fixing but are otherwise lovely pieces.

See Some Examples

Trifari - good condition - small missing stones

Givenchy - excellent condition

Butler and Wilson - excellent condition