Blog: buying jewellery online – insider guide

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

The molecular structure of Aquamarine, a type of beryl of which Emerald is another variety, is perhaps not as beautiful as the gemstone itself, but is nonetheless interesting. It seems amazing that a basic combination of Beryllium, Silicon, Aluminium and Oxygen can create such sensational stones.

In the flesh beryl presents in hexagonal crystals. Colours include red, green (Emerald), blue and yellow. Normally free from inclusions, aquamarines are cut into largish stones to emphasise the clear blue green hue. 

The birthstone for March is said to keep sailors safe at sea. Aquamarines certainly can transport you to a vision of oceanic serenity.

If you have a March birthday coming up, why not pick a mesmerising 4.26ct Tiffany & Co Oval Aquamarine ring with baguette cut diamonds? And be transported to the Caribbean or Maldives in the glint of an eye.

When you are proposing on Valentine's Day, it's not a regular proposal. The location is usually somewhere you're very familiar with already, often somewhere fancy – or somewhere special to you both. There are other differences too – the biggest is often the element of surprise!

At Bloomsbury Manor, we think that there is a golden triangle of gifts that should make your Valentine's Day proposal go very smoothly indeed. Whether you've bought a Tiffany & Co. or Cartier Engagement ring from us – or anywhere else for that matter – we think there are two essential little extras...

1. Champagne

As you might expect, we're not in to generic; we know exactly which one is best, of course!  Rosé is just what is needed, and you cannot go wrong with Charles Heidsieck's 1999 Rosé Millésimé. Toasty, mellow, rich – just like you perhaps? Either way, it's a wonderful celebratory drink for you both to share.

 

2. Chocolates

Truffles no less, but not from your local supermarket! These truffles, made by distinguished chocolatier Michel Cluizel, are undoubtedly the finest we have found. Rich smooth ganache, with a dusting of cocoa powder.

3. The ring!

 

 

We can trace the origins of the now famous “Atlas” range of jewellery back to one watch. You know, the one with the Roman numerals, designed by the now Emeritus Design Director, John Loring. It first hit the display cabinets at Tiffany & Co back in 1983 and was deemed so revolutionary it was granted a patent!

Slick and modern, a distillation of the best of American design, the Atlas watch spawned an entire collection of wearable, distinctive and refined jewellery. Recently tweaked and updated by the newly appointed design director, Francesca Amfitheatrof the Atlas range is once more thrust into the spotlight where we can see that it is a true design classic.

Our current Atlas pieces, please click on each one to find out more:-