Blog: buying jewellery online – insider guide

I had the privilege of being asked to talk about the future of Luxury at Forge, Creative Jeweller Hub in Leather Lane. I was humbled by the craftsmanship I was surrounded by. It really is an amazing place, with jewellers workbenches on site and a plethora of courses and workshops to take part in. I was asked along by the wonderful Dr NO or Dr Nadya Ostroff, senior lecturer in Luxury Management at the University of the Creative Arts.

Apart from me forgetting my deportment and slouching in my chair! I had a great time musing about what is and what isn’t luxury. To the audience, many of whom were makers themselves I emphasised that communication was key, especially if they were making pieces from non-precious materials. I held up a hand crotched table covering, painstakingly made by my Great-Grandmother, luxurious in its craft and uniqueness but due to lack of commercialisation and concomitant communication it is of no material worth.

I talked about the possibility of a post diamond age, brought about by synthetic diamonds. Diamonds will come roaring back but we might enter an age of craft, a little like at the turn of the 20^th century with the Arts and Crafts movement and Art Nouveau. I was certainly encouraged by the craft on display at Forge.

I was reminded that one of the reasons I became interested in jewellery was the reverence I have for the makers. Whilst our business only deals in second hand pieces I fully support small independent jewellers. It is so important to get behind traditional crafts. I was encouraged to hear from trend forecaster Kathryn Bishop that younger people are very keen on learning traditional crafts and that there are several initiatives by the Goldsmiths Centre amongst others to encourage and nurture UK talent. I for one will be following more closely what is happening in the world of new jewellery.

 

Without proper communication a luxury item has no market

 

 

Greetings from Bloomsbury Manor. Today we are addressing a subject everyone is talking about. Well...everyone in the jewellery sphere that is. The future price of natural diamonds.

Natural diamonds are finite; no new ones are being made. As their prices soften, the mines producing them risk becoming unprofitable and closing down. If that happens, supply will shrink, and basic economics points to a price increase. Our video below explains this in detail—why the decline in mining could soon push natural diamond values up.

Recently, we have noticed that customers are gravitating towards Tiffany & Co in search of a guarantee that they are buying natural diamonds, formed deep in the earth's crust, billions of years ago. Whilst lesser known brands and outlets have dabbled with synthetic diamonds in the bridal space, Tiffany & Co, true to its foundations in luxury has stuck to natural diamonds with an enormous investment in sustainability and traceability.

Tiffany & Co is a founding member of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance and in 2019 launched the Diamond source initiative which provides provenance for every diamond over 0.18ct they sell. In addition, Tiffany & Co operates a vertical supply chain with its own workshops across Belgium, Botswana, Mauritius, Cambodia and Vietnam. These workshops operate within Tiffany & Co's own very high working conditions and standards.

Tiffany & Co is working towards a net zero target in 2040, a whole 10 years before the UN target. Tiffany & Co is a rare company that manages to sync economic development and sustainability ideals. Perhaps, Tiffany & Co is itself a diamond of a company?

 

Values of antique & vintage jewellery will soar in the future as AI & Blockchain apply metrics to its qualities.

We don't often shout out loud about it but pre-owned or second hand jewellery really is a perfect example of the circular economy. In a world increasingly focused on sustainability and conscious consumption, second-hand jewellery emerges as a shining example of the circular economy in action. With its ability to promote sustainability, reduce waste, and extend the lifespan of precious materials, pre-owned jewellery has become an enticing option for those seeking both style and environmental responsibility.

It's almost a no brainer - would you want to pay up to 50% less for Tiffany Engagement Ring? The answer must be a resounding 'Yes'. The tide is with you too. Pre-owned jewellery is not only more acceptable than it once was, but because it's sustainable, it's actually become more desirable.

The pre-owned jewellery world is constantly evolving. You might think this a strange idea given that we're not actually manufacturing anything new! But if you think about it, our collections consist of pieces that could literally come from the beginning of time!

Something lustrous for the New Year? We've been bringing together a new collection of Vintage Cultured Pearls - called Vintage Pearl. Each necklace is individually chosen for characteristics such as Pearl lustre, uniqueness and charm.

Over half the year has passed already and we're feeling like it has only just started. The pandemic has thrown lives and businesses into chaos. It has been difficult to write about jewellery at such a time but now, as everything starts to open up it seems like a good time to reflect on what we have observed thus far.

We did not know what to expect when Italy went into lockdown in early March. It seemed like jewellery would be furthest from people's minds but it was interesting to note that as soon as lockdown happened in Italy we saw significant sales from buyers who were right in the middle of it. This theme continued as we watched online only auctions at Sotheby's, whose fine jewellery sales during March raised a total of $6.1 million. In April a Cartier Tutti Frutti bracelet, raised a staggering $1.3 million, smashing its estimate of $600,000-$800,000. Also in April we saw a stunningly beautiful 1930s Cartier Aquamarine tiara sell for €582,800, smashing its €34-€70k estimate. Both these Cartier pieces were rare and extraordinary jewels. Funnily enough "The Cartiers" by Francesca Cartier Brickell was our lockdown read. It's a fabulous book and can only help make vintage Cartier more desirable. 

Courtesy of Sotheby's

 

Courtesy of Dorotheum

So, why did this all happen and what does it mean? Quite simply we think people turn to jewellery in times of crisis. The gold price which swung from a low of $1,452.05 to $2,067.16 per troy oz substantiates this but doesn't tell the whole story. We think that there is an emotional element to all this buying. Jewellery quite literally is forever. Pieces can be handed down for centuries. Jewellery has also existed forever, since men could make tools and beat metal into shapes. So jewellery must carry significant meaning to human beings. It's not superfluous. We think that some of the activity is due to this intrinsic "forever" quality of jewellery. Whatever jewellery you buy now will exist after the pandemic is over. And its value seems to go up as everything else seems to falter. Gold is usually seen as a hedge investment but probably the same could be said for fine pre-owned jewellery, it's just difficult to track as each piece is unique. 

So whether we're hedging against economic uncertainty or crystalizing a "forever sentiment" it seems as though fine jewellery provides us with the perfect vehicle. Brands that will always stand the test of time are Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Van Cleef and Bulgari but it is also worth noting that stand out Antique pieces; Art Deco diamond bracelets, Old Cut diamond rings and Retro tank bracelets are also very desirable. 

 

 

 

View jewellery in your own home.

2019 was a very busy year for us. We sought to incorporate more hand chosen Vintage and Antique jewellery to our collection. Looking forward we see this as a growing market as our customers search out handmade and unique pieces. We will of course, stay loyal to our amazing brands like Tiffany & Co, Cartier and Bulgari and are keen to see what LVMH's takeover of Tiffany & Co will bring. 

Our buyer has been diligently searching out artisan made pieces featuring stunning craftsmanship, elegance and uniqueness. We are concentrating on key pieces; Antique/Vintage Engagement rings, featuring magical Old Cut Diamonds, Art Deco Diamond Bracelets and Retro Gold Tank Bracelets. Here and there we'll add a little curio that we just love. We hope you find the additions as exciting as we do. 

 

 

 

We think it’s time to embrace the word recycled. Recycled used to mean toilet paper – rough toilet paper! These days recycled means ideal, sustainable and noble.

As a company, we have been recycling fine jewellery since 2011. We buy items made by distinguished jewellery houses like Cartier and Tiffany & Co. We then service and polish the items so that they look new or nearly new. Our engagement rings are always sold in “Proposal Ready” condition which means what is says!

As we do not support manufacturing at its source – our items are already made and do not require much in the way of additional resources. We are practically carbon neutral!

Pre-owned, second hand, recycled used to mean second best. We think that idea has been turned upside down. As we all seek to make the planet a better place to live we must embrace recycling in all its forms whether it’s paper or jewellery.

We are proud to sell recycled fine jewellery and we think you’ll be proud to wear it.