Frequently Asked Questions

We are dealers in antique and period jewellery — a family-run business built on over fifty years of experience and expertise in the London antique jewellery trade.

We are led by Olly Gerrish, one of London’s foremost antique jewellery dealers, and her son Matt, who has developed the AJC into the global brand it is today.

They are joined by Molly Gordon-Craig, one of the leading young lights in the industry, and Kate Westlake, a recent graduate of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain’s Diploma Course.

When you phone us, you will speak with Molly or Kate directly. If you visit, you will be met by Olly, Molly or Kate — all of whom will do everything they can to help you find what you’re looking for.

We are based over two floors of a beautiful 18th-century townhouse, a stone’s throw from New Bond Street in London’s Mayfair.

Our address is:
AJC Townhouse
49 Maddox Street
London
W1S 2PQ
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We do not have a conventional shop, but rather an office and showroom where you can arrange to view items in person.

You are very welcome to view any items you like, but please note that all meetings are strictly by appointment only. This is intentional — we prefer to offer our customers the privacy of a one-on-one experience when making their purchase decisions.

You can book an hour-long time slot by filling in our appointment booking form.

Appointments are available on weekdays between 11.00am and 7.00pm, unless otherwise stated.

We look forward to welcoming you to our antique jewellery time capsule in the heart of Mayfair.

Yes! Our founder, Olly Gerrish, is a veteran of over fifty years dealing in antique jewellery in London. A highly respected and reputable dealer, Olly has a near-encyclopaedic knowledge of antique jewellery and is at your disposal.

Olly is joined by Molly Gordon-Craig, who in her time with us has developed into one of the brightest young sparks in the trade, and Kate Westlake, who recently completed the Gemmology Diploma at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A).

Our small and knowledgeable team will do all they can to make your experience as worthwhile and enjoyable as possible.

We believe antique jewellery has an enduring charm and distinction that modern equivalents simply cannot match (don’t get us started!).

Antique jewellery can also hold its value well over time, which sets it apart from many modern alternatives. Buying through a specialist dealer is generally more cost-effective than buying at auction, where commissions can be high. A dealer’s knowledge, experience and passion add real value to a purchase that we hope will give a lifetime of pleasure.

Our jewellery ranges from the early 18th century to the 1960s and later. We have categorised pieces into different periods, each with its own designs and characteristics. These periods include Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro, Mid-Century and Modern.

Georgian Jewellery (1714–1830)
Georgian-era jewellery is handmade, which means quality varies from piece to piece. Genuine Georgian jewellery is now very rare. It often features nature-inspired designs such as leaves and birds, frequently set with precious stones.
View our Georgian Jewellery →

Early Victorian, Romantic Jewellery (1837–1860)
Like Georgian jewellery, early Victorian pieces tend to feature nature-inspired designs — often delicately and intricately etched into gold. Lockets and brooches were popular for daywear, while coloured gemstones and diamonds were saved for the evening.

Mid-Victorian, Grand Jewellery (1860–1880)
The Grand or Mid-Victorian era coincided with the death of Prince Albert in 1861, and many pieces from this period reflect Queen Victoria’s mourning. Known as mourning jewellery, these pieces feature heavy, dark stones such as jet, onyx, amethyst and garnet. The era also produced more creative and colourful designs incorporating shells, mosaics and bright gemstones.

Late Victorian, Aesthetic Jewellery (1885–1900)
During the Late Victorian or Aesthetic period, jewellers used diamonds alongside feminine, bright gemstones such as sapphire, peridot and spinel. Star and crescent designs, and elaborate hat pins, were also popular.
View our Victorian Jewellery →

Art Nouveau Jewellery (1890–1915)
Inspired by René Lalique in France and other jewellers in America, Art Nouveau jewellery features natural, flowing designs such as flowers, butterflies and dragonflies.
View our Art Nouveau Jewellery →

Edwardian Jewellery (1901–1914)
The Edwardian period began when Queen Victoria died and her son Edward VII became king. Expensive gemstones such as diamonds, emeralds and rubies, and elaborate, lacy designs in platinum, were the fashion.
View our Edwardian Jewellery →

Art Deco Jewellery (1920–1935)
Influenced by African, Egyptian and Japanese themes, Art Deco jewellery is famous for its geometric designs, sharp lines and bright colours. Materials such as Bakelite, celluloid, enamel and doublets were used frequently. Necklaces were long, bracelets were stacked, and amber and Murano-bead chokers were fashionable.
View our Art Deco Jewellery →

Retro Jewellery (1940s)
Inspired by Hollywood, Retro jewellery is colourful, bold and elaborate. Large cocktail rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and charm bracelets were all popular.

As we develop as a business, we hope to focus more on the educational side of antique jewellery, which we feel is great fun and well worth sharing. Watch this space!
View our Retro Jewellery →

We draw on decades of experience to date each piece based on its materials, construction techniques, hallmarks, signatures and cultural context. Some have called this our “diamond whispering”!

After many years working with antique pieces, they really do speak to us — and using our knowledge, experience and network of trusted experts, we can usually identify the age of an item with a high degree of confidence. While we cannot guarantee an exact date, we can determine, to the best of our ability, when a piece was likely made and the era it was designed in.

This is the most frequently asked question, and often considered a closely guarded trade secret.

As far as we’re concerned, the answer is simple. We work with the best jewellery buyers in the UK to source exquisite engagement rings and other pieces. These eagle-eyed experts are constantly on the hunt for the highest quality antique and vintage jewellery in the UK and beyond.

It has taken many years to build and nurture these working relationships, and we are now in the fortunate position of getting first dibs on what we believe is the best supply of antique and vintage engagement rings in the UK.

Our jewellery is in excellent condition, taking its age into account. We pride ourselves on selecting only the finest examples of antique jewellery. In the rare cases where an item is not in excellent condition, we make this clear in the item description.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to see additional high-resolution images, or to view an item in person at our Central London showroom.

We are always on the hunt for new treasures and update our website with our Latest Finds on a daily basis.

Yes. Conflict diamonds — sometimes known as “blood diamonds” — are stones illegally traded to fund civil wars and armed insurgencies, particularly in parts of Africa from the late 1980s onwards. Initiatives such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme have been introduced to curb this trade, but the scheme has well-documented limitations.

Because we deal exclusively in antique and vintage jewellery, the diamonds in our pieces were mined long before the conflict diamond era. Buying antique is one of the most reliable ways to ensure your diamond is genuinely conflict-free, and it is also one of the most environmentally responsible choices: every antique diamond is one fewer that needs to be newly mined.

More about our Ethical Policy →

We are constantly looking for fine-quality pieces to add to our collection. You can rely on us to settle promptly and to handle every transaction with discretion.

If you have jewellery you are considering selling — whether an entire estate collection or a single piece — please complete this form.

Please note that we only buy items that are antique (i.e. at least fifty years old). In general we do not buy costume jewellery, loose coloured gemstones, pocket watches or watches.

We’ve tried to make purchasing on our website as easy as possible. Navigate to the item you want and click the ‘Add to Bag’ button. When you’re ready to pay, click on ‘Shopping Bag’ in the top right of the screen and follow the simple steps, using our secure payment gateway (powered by Stripe).

We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and others) as well as PayPal.

We also accept bank/wire transfers, banker’s drafts and personal cheques (which will need to clear before the item can be dispatched).

Want to spread the cost? You’re in luck — we offer Interest Free Finance on UK purchases over up to 12 months (see below).

Yes — we’re happy to take card payments over the phone. Please call +44 (0)20 7206 2477.

We aim to dispatch items the same working day, provided payment has cleared before 2pm UK time. We can’t always guarantee this, but it’s our default.

Please note we are unable to dispatch orders on Saturday or Sunday or on UK public holidays.

Yes, we do. Our instalment plan requires a non-refundable deposit of 20%, with the balance to be paid in full over a three-month period.
More about payments →

We’re also pleased to offer customers in the UK the chance to spread the cost of their purchase with up to 12 months Interest Free Finance on loans of up to £5,000.

If the order value exceeds £5,000, the difference can be paid as an upfront deposit, with finance covering the remaining £5,000.

Please note that promotional discounts cannot be applied when using Interest Free Finance as a payment method.

More about Interest Free Finance →

Yes, we can hold items for up to 72 hours. Please contact us if you’d like to put something on hold.

Items can also be reserved for up to three months with a 20% non-refundable deposit.

Please note that longer reservations are offered on a case-by-case basis depending on the item.

No — we price our items fairly based on the current market. That said, if you can’t resist a haggle, we’ll always listen to a sensible offer.

Occasionally we offer promotional deals and voucher codes to coincide with special events. In August we hold our annual AJC Summer Sale, with discounts on many one-of-a-kind pieces.

All items bought through our website are delivered worldwide, free of charge.

In the UK, we deliver via DHL Express, typically arriving by the end of the next working day.

For international orders, we use DHL Express Worldwide, typically arriving by the end of the next available working day, depending on destination.

All items are fully insured and sent at the risk of the Antique Jewellery Company. Items will be dispatched once your payment has cleared. Please note that an adult signature is required on delivery.
More info about our delivery policy

Yes — we’ll email you tracking information as soon as your item has been dispatched.

Don’t worry — your secret is safe with us. Your item will arrive in plain, generic packaging with no AJC branding visible on the outside.

We offer a no-quibble, 30-day full money-back guarantee on all online purchases. Items must be returned in the same condition in which they were sent.

You also have up to 60 days to exchange or part-exchange an item.

Returns are free for UK customers. International customers are responsible for return postage and any customs duties or taxes incurred.

If your ring has been resized free of charge as part of your original purchase, the cost of the resizing (£114.00, comprising £95.00 + VAT) will be deducted from the refund. This is in line with our Terms and Conditions and does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer.

More about our Returns & Exchanges Policy →

Yes — we offer expert ring sizing.

Sizing typically takes 2–3 working days, depending on the workload of our jeweller.

You receive one free sizing per ring purchase — performed by one of the best jewellers in the trade — valid for up to one year. After that, ring sizings are charged at £114.00 (£95.00 + VAT) each.
More info about ring sizing

The vast majority of our rings can be resized up or down at no additional cost.

A small minority of rings — those with particularly intricate shanks, or with stones running the whole way around — cannot be resized, as any alterations would affect their design integrity. Where this is the case, we will state it clearly on the product page.

No — we only work on items purchased from us.

Generally not — but a few simple precautions go a long way. If you have a Victorian or Georgian ring that is closed-back or foil-backed, please don’t submerge it in water, as this can cause discolouration. Very few of our rings have this construction, but if you’re unsure, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

As a general rule, antique jewellery is not suitable for wear during gardening, sports, washing or showering.

Providing a formal insurance valuation for an item we have sold would present a conflict of interest. If you would like a piece appraised for insurance purposes, we can arrange a valuation through a third-party certified appraiser.

We provide all clients with a proof of purchase that documents what was paid, which insurers will usually accept as the basis for cover.

While we aim to provide accurate colour and clarity grades and carat weights for our diamond jewellery, this is not always possible. To be assessed precisely, diamonds need to be removed from their settings — which can damage an antique piece. For that reason, we generally provide approximate colour and clarity grades and estimated carat weights for stones still in their original settings.

The AJC offers a six-month warranty against damage to items purchased from us, where that damage is not the result of fair wear and tear or negligence after purchase.

We specialise in antique and vintage jewellery, which (for many reasons) may require special care. We always stress the importance of choosing jewellery that suits your lifestyle — certain materials and styles are simply not suitable for everyday wear.

If you have any issue with your purchase, please contact us. Depending on the nature of the problem, we will either repair the item free of charge or provide a quote from our trusted jeweller.

Within the first six months after purchase, we will replace side or accent stones that have gone missing if we believe the stones or settings were defective.

After six months, missing side or accent stones will be considered fair wear and tear and replaced at the customer’s expense. The customer is also responsible for any shipping costs related to a repair.

Any repairs or alterations carried out by anyone other than the AJC will void this warranty. This warranty is offered in addition to your statutory rights as a consumer.

It’s important to protect your antique jewellery against loss, damage and theft. We recommend speaking first to your existing household insurer — many will already cover up to a certain value of jewellery worn anywhere in the world (often around £3,000), and may be able to extend cover for higher-value items. Ask your insurer what they need in order to insure the piece, and how they assess the cost of replacing antique jewellery.

We recommend cover that funds the search for an ‘equivalent’ antique piece, rather than a modern reproduction — reproductions tend to lack the originality and character of antique pieces. We provide all clients with a proof of purchase, which insurers will normally accept as evidence of value.

The terms are used loosely in the trade, but as a general rule:

Antique jewellery is at least 100 years old. This is also the threshold at which most countries waive import duty.

Vintage jewellery is typically between 50 and 100 years old.

Anything newer than that is generally described as ‘pre-owned’ or ‘estate’ jewellery. Most of our collection is antique, with a smaller selection of fine vintage pieces — primarily Retro and Mid-Century.

Every piece arrives in our signature AJC presentation packaging, ready to give. If your purchase is a surprise, the outer shipping packaging will be plain and generic with no AJC branding.

If you’d like to include a handwritten note or have a specific presentation request — for example, for a proposal — please let us know in the order notes or contact us directly and we’ll do our best to accommodate.

It’s a common worry — and the good news is, we’ve got you covered. Every ring purchase includes one free resize within twelve months of purchase, so if the ring isn’t a perfect fit on the day, we’ll resize it to your fiancée’s exact size at no additional cost.

Sizing typically takes 2–3 working days. If a particular ring cannot be resized due to its construction, this will be clearly stated on the product page.

Possibly — this depends on the destination country. As the importer of record, the customer is responsible for any duties, taxes or tariffs charged by their local customs authority. We have no authority over these charges.

The good news is that, in most countries, no duty applies to antique items over 100 years old. We mark all eligible shipments as ‘antiques, over 100 years old’ to help avoid unnecessary charges.

If you’d like us to look into the likely charges for your country before you order, please get in touch.

AJC VIP is our complimentary membership programme. As a VIP, you get:

• Exclusive early access to our Latest Finds before they go on general sale
• Loyalty points for every £1 spent online, redeemable against future purchases
• Invitations to members’ events at the AJC Townhouse

Membership is free. Join the AJC VIP programme →