Blog: buying jewellery online – insider guide

Have you ever wondered how we authenticate our Tiffany & Co rings? The honest truth is that it's a bit complicated. Experience is a key factor but we also use technology. Here is a photo of a laser inscription on the facet of a Tiffany & Co diamond, taken with our powerful microscope.

You can see the inscription clearly enough to make out the number, which corresponds with the diamond certificate.

You can ask us for one of these photographs by request on any of our Tiffany & Co engagement rings. Please note that rings which were manufactured before 2004/5 will not be engraved. We will let you know if this is the case.

We know that piece of mind is important when buying jewellery. That's why we have decided to join the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ).

When you buy from an NAJ member you are backed by their code of conduct "Honesty, Integrity & Professionalism". We can't think of a better set of rules to live by!

We are very pleased to be able to add yet another layer of reassurance to our offering.

Cartier as investment? Can we expect that our Cartier jewellery purchases will increase in value?

Since its founding in 1847 the Cartier name has been synonymous with luxury. "Cartier is the King of Jewellers and the Jewellers of Kings" said Edward VII, more than 100 years ago. A brand with such fine pedigree, standing the test of time for more than 150 years should be looked at with more seriousness than just a purveyor of fine jewellery.

We have found that since Bloomsbury Manor began in 2011 the price of pre owned Cartier jewellery has markedly increased. We are looking at rises of 20-30% particularly across collectors pieces such as Panthere, C de Cartier, Bamboo and Trinity. There are more modest increases from the more well known Love collection. The slightly rarer collector's pieces are more rare and demand is strong from people wanting to invest in a piece which is both wearable and likely to increase in value. The Panthere range has been fashionable since the 1930s, King Edward VIII's consort The Duchess of Windsor was a keen fan. The collection has never been out of fashion as far as we are aware! C de Cartier, Trinity and Bamboo have all evolved over time and customers are both interested in vintage and current designs.

With Global financial uncertainty becoming constant background noise we would counsel that a solid investment in a tried and tested asset class would be wise. With dwindling supply and demand increasing we foresee that any Cartier collector's piece bought now might be worth 20% more in 5 years.

How can anyone resist?

Here are some investment pieces.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are no guarantee of future growth.

 

 

So, you're thinking of popping the question or maybe you just have? The thing is, you have an idea but you're not sure about the pitch. You know why you think it's a good idea to go down the pre-owned route but you're not sure how to approach the subject. You need help. You need some good points. Here are a few:

1. You Get a Bigger Diamond.

"You know the money we would have spent buying a brand new ring? Well we can put that into buying a bigger and better stone. Now isn't that a good thing"?

2. It's Sustainable!

Recycling applies to engagement rings too. It's environmentally friendly and wastes no new resources. Mining is a very resource heavy industry so you can feel better about your engagement ring being more green.

3. Diamonds are already around 2.5 billion years old.

Did you know this? Diamonds were created billions of years ago. The majority between 1.5 and 3.5 billion years ago. What's another few years added on to that?

4. When you polish and service you get "Proposal Ready".

If you buy from a company like Bloomsbury Manor Ltd you can rest assured that you will be receiving a ring that deserves the name "Proposal Ready". Once we polish and service a ring, to all intents and purposes it looks brand new.

5. You get the same returns policy.

Both us and Tiffany & Co offer 30 day returns.

 

For a conversation about your engagement ring needs please call us on 0207 692 5103 today.

 

Could this Valentine's be the one that dreams are made of? If you are thinking of proposing or you are looking for the perfect ring for yourself why not imagine the absolute best. A Fancy Vivid Yellow Diamond weighing 2.54 carats, offset by a dazzling bright white diamond band. The discount to RRP on this phenomenal piece is the stuff only dreams are made of. This ring would cost in the region of £180,000 today at Tiffany & Co. It is being offered by us for £75,000.

The most valuable jewellery in the world is also the rarest. This is not a coincidence. Since the beginning of time human beings have cherished the rarest commodities. Would gold be so valuable if our rivers ran full of it?

Every year Tiffany & Co puts together an exclusive collection of gemstone jewellery. This collection "Colours" travels the world and comprises of one off pieces. Tiffany's renowned gemstone department curates a collection of large, unparalleled stones to be set in the finest settings, in which to display unique fire, scintillation and presence.

You might imagine that one off jewellery pieces are expensive. They absolutely are! Our unique Tiffany & Co Spessartite Garnet Earrings made for the 2009 Colours Collection were originally sold for £40,800!

They are available from us for just £11,700 and are sure to be a future investment. If you are more generally interested in the Colours collection it is touring right now and pieces are available in Harrods, London to view. There is a similar pair of rubellite earrings available for £41,000.

For enquiries about these earrings please contact us on +44(0207) 692  5103.

 

Making sure your Pre-owned ring is in "Proposal Ready"TM condition.

Having listened to your feedback we have introduced a new Concierge service so that you can sell your Tiffany, Cartier, Bulgari and other luxury jewellery through us but not to us. This service gives you the potential to earn more from your second hand jewellery and engagement rings.

Our Concierge service is a little like traditional consignment/commission selling but with the added bonus of access to our specialist services like professional cleaning, polishing, photography and resizing services. Our engagement rings are sold as "proposal ready" rather than just being "second hand". How many other sites offer this?

There is no other consignment seller in the UK to offer this range of services. In our experience 90% of engagement rings sold need resizing so our resizing service is vital to the sale of your unwanted engagement ring. If you compare our photographs to the photographs of regular consignment sites without concierge services then you will see the Bloomsbury Manor difference.

Please have a look at this table to see how our concierge service compares to other consignment services.

If you would like to use our concierge service please upload you details to the form in the link below. If you would like to learn more about our concierges please click here.

 

It's that time again! If you're thinking of buying pre-owned Cartier, Tiffany & Co or Bulgari jewellery for a significant other this Christmas then of course you have come to the right place. 

We were wondering about how to make our gift offering a little better. Obviously we cannot send your item ready gift wrapped otherwise you wouldn't be able to inspect it!

We decided the best thing to do would be to send out a stylish gift bag with tag and smart stickers to seal it. That way you can inspect the item, pop it in the bag, seal it up. 

Please let us know if the item you are purchasing is to be a gift and we'll make sure you receive a gift bag.

There will never be another jewellery house like Cartier. Since its creation in 1847 by founder Louis-Francois Cartier, the eponymous jeweller has been regarded as the jeweller to the Kings and Queens of Europe. King Edward VII was the first to grant his royal seal of approval "by appointment" to Cartier in 1904. His consort, Queen Alexandra purchased an Indian influenced necklace. 

Cartier's interest in the Orient and Africa provided much scope for creativity and out of this interest unique and primarily naturalistic depictions of animals became a signature of Cartier Jewellery. Perhaps it was the Duchess of Windsor who became the first to wear a Cartier Panthere.

With more than a hint of royal approval, Cartier has become the jewellery brand of cultivated luxury. Perhaps more than any other brand - Cartier says "Because I'm worth it"!

At Bloomsbury Manor we cherish our pre-owned Cartier jewellery. Only the finest jewellers are trusted to polish and clean it. It is then photographed to bring out its outstanding beauty and elegance, not to mention superior craftsmanship.

Whether you are looking for Cartier diamond earrings or a Cartier necklace. Or simply anything Cartier Panthere, our range of pre-owned Cartier provides choice and value for money. Please remember that if you are not based in the EU we will cover ANY import duty or sales tax. You will only pay the purchase price of the item. In addition, we actively manage post sales, tracking every single item until it reaches your doorstep.

We hope you enjoy your shopping experience with us.

 

 

Jean Schlumberger was arguably Tiffany & Co's most important designer. His talent with colour and enamel proved to be an instant hit with wealthy, well-heeled women. Many of his designs from the 1950s onwards are still in production today, with his 'Jackie' paillonne enamel bracelet being the most famous example. 

Perhaps more than any other of Tiffany & Co.'s designers, Jean Schlumberger pieces not only hold their value, but tend to increase in value over time. His jewellery is highly collectable amongst the well-healed connoisseur.

With a firey orange spessartite garnet weighing 6.71ct at its centre and an additional 2ct of scintillating white diamonds, in a classic Schlumberger setting, this piece is sure to delight the wearer or collector. Please see the ring here or call 0207 692 5103 for more details.  Please note that this ring is re-sizable by Tiffany & Co. Currently size 5 (J 1/2 to K).