London vs US for vintage/vintage style gemstone rings

[rainbowstarry]

Hi! I might have opportunity to visit London this summer and was wondering if London would be a good place to purchase a vintage/vintage style gemstone ring or other gemstone jewelry. Both from a supply and maybe even cost perspective - would London be better pickings? I live in US.

I’d be interested mostly in ruby, spinel and sapphire

 

[Ionysis]

U.K. tends to be way more expensive for jewellery than the US in general. 20 - 30% or so. The British expectation on quality and the European aesthetic tends to be different too. Think small, poorly cut, included stones at inflated prices. References to total carat weight. Uncertified stones. And a lot of 9ct gold.

I am British and I would never buy from the U.K. from choice. The selection and price from US vendors IMO tends to be much better. One of my favourite vintage jewellery shops here in the U.K. picks up much of their stock from the US in buying trips and sells it on at a profit back home because of the margin difference.

 

[rainbowstarry]

U.K. tends to be way more expensive for jewellery than the US in general. 20 - 30% or so. The British expectation on quality and the European aesthetic tends to be different too. Think small, poorly cut, included stones at inflated prices. References to total carat weight. Uncertified stones. And a lot of 9ct gold.

I am British and I would never buy from the U.K. from choice. The selection and price from US vendors IMO tends to be much better. One of my favourite vintage jewellery shops here in the U.K. picks up much of their stock from the US in buying trips and sells it on at a profit back home because of the margin difference.

How interesting! Well that definitely puts the kibosh on my harebrained idea!

Thanks @Ionysis - you saved me time and money

 

[Ionysis]

Sorry I didn’t mean to put you off completely. I’m just talking from my personal experience. I’m sure it’s possible to find some exciting bargains at auctions (I am not at all experienced in purchasing this way) and if your budget stretches to it Hatton Garden can be such a fun place to visit with the best of what the U.K. has to offer. Perhaps have a run through some of the U.K. websites (Gatsby, Butterlane, Cavendish etc) and compare to US ones (Wilsons, Langs).

 

[rainbowstarry]

Sorry I didn’t mean to put you off completely. I’m just talking from my personal experience. I’m sure it’s possible to find some exciting bargains at auctions (I am not at all experienced in purchasing this way) and if your budget stretches to it Hatton Garden can be such a fun place to visit with the best of what the U.K. has to offer. Perhaps have a run through some of the U.K. websites (Gatsby, Butterlane, Cavendish etc) and compare to US ones (Wilsons, Langs).

Will do! Thanks for the suggested websites!

 

[dk168]

I have not purchased any fine jewellery in UK since I discovered internet shopping in the mid 90s!

The choices are so much better abroad, and better value even after adding the necessary import and custom fees and charges.

By all means browse the likes of Hatton Garden and Burlington Arcade for inspirations and take lots of photos for later.

Talking of Burlington Arcade, it used to be my favourite window shopping location for blings, especially the ones that had lots of antique pieces, as it leads to New and Old Bond Streets where the top end jewellers can be found.

Sadly, a number of jewellers had closed their shops, probably due to lack of trade during the last 2 years when I visited there last week.

DK

 

[JewelledEscalators]

When you say 'vintage' what are you referring to? Are you particularly interested in any periods/eras/styles, and are you also interested in antiques? Is your budget a few hundred pounds or few thousand pounds?

Ionysis may be right about vintage jewellery, as the US seem to have a large Estate jewellery supply. Not sure about antiques. For Victorian and Georgian jewellery, I don't get the feeling that prices are necessarily much lower in the US, nor the supply/choice more plentiful. I could be wrong though.

Re: spinels - you don't see much of that in used/vintage/antique jewellery or any jewellery in the UK. Even a specialist vintage/antique jewellery shop may just have one item, if that. Many have none. Rubies and sapphires are obviously not a problem.

If you're also interested in antiques, my recommendations would be the following:

1) Grays Antique Market (open 10-6, Mon-Fri). https://www.graysantiques.com/

A large building near Bond Street underground station bthat hosts loads of antique shops, including those thhat sell antique /vintage jewellery. Prices can be negotiable depending on the dealer and the item. Also has a stall who specialises in unheated untreated gemstone jewellery too. Worth a look even for a browse as nowhere else are there so many antique jewellery shops together in one place. Friendly knowledegable dealers too.

2) Berganza (https://www.berganza.com/) - in Hatton Garden

Specialises in unteated gemstone jewellery ranging from Roman to 20th Century. Some beautiful ruby and sapphire pieces, though many of their items have price tags to match. If you plan on a visit, I suggest you look up pieces you are interested in seeing first on their website, as they have a system where they seat you at a desk then bring out rings individually from the safe section at the back, rather than have whole trays on display. Doesn't seem like somewhere that negotiates price though I haven't tried myself.

3) AR Ullmann (https://arullmann.com/) - in Hatton Garden

Stocks many items at the more affordable end. All of the their rings are on display in the shop window.

There are other UK jewellers for antiques that I like but not necessarily in London.

 

[JewelledEscalators]

Thinking about it, if you're after rubies and sapphires, I guess your budget won't be in the hundreds!