Last updated: October 2025 October is a month of colour shifts. Autumn leaves glow and the skies deepen. Jewellery wearers turn to stones that echo this change. Unlike September’s single focus on sapphire, October offers two birthstones: opal and tourmaline. Each with its own story, symbolism and style. From the flashes of opal to the full spectrum of tourmaline, these gemstones bring individuality to antique and vintage jewellery. This guide...

Last updated: September 2025 Sapphire has been loved for centuries. The gemstone of deep skies, steadfast love and quiet strength. As September’s birthstone, it is a beautiful reason to celebrate this month with jewellery that carries meaning, history and elegance. Whether you are marking a birthday, an anniversary, or simply treating yourself, antique and vintage sapphire pieces offer something modern jewellery cannot. Stories set in gold and silver. This guide...

Last updated: August 2025 Finding the right ring size sounds simple. Until the ring arrives and doesn’t fit. Whether you’re shopping for secondhand jewellery or investing in an antique piece, knowing your correct size is key to avoiding disappointment. But here’s the thing. Ring sizing isn’t always exact. Your fingers can change throughout the day, and even the style of the ring can affect how it fits. This guide will...

  Hallmarks are small, stamped symbols that carry a lot of meaning. For anyone interested in vintage or secondhand jewellery, learning to read these marks can offer insight into a piece’s age, origin, and authenticity. Whether you’re exploring antique fairs, shopping online, or sorting through a family collection, hallmarking is one of the most reliable ways to understand the true value of a piece. In the UK and Ireland, hallmarking...

As sustainability becomes more than just a trend, many shoppers are rethinking how they buy jewellery. The rise of vintage, preloved, and secondhand jewellery offers a beautiful, ethical alternative to modern mass production. It doesn’t compromise on style or substance. Whether you’re browsing for a timeless gold ring or a one-of-a-kind silver pendant, choosing secondhand jewellery is one of the most powerful ways to support both the planet and traditional...

Last updated: August 2025 When shopping for secondhand or vintage jewellery online, you’ll often come across terms like “antique,” “vintage,” and “preloved” used interchangeably. But what do they actually mean, and why does it matter? Whether you're buying for sustainability, style, or as an investment, understanding the difference can help you shop with confidence. This guide breaks it down clearly so you know what to expect when buying antique, vintage...

Not sure if that ring you found is truly vintage? You’re not alone. With so many reproductions and vintage-style pieces on the market, it can be hard to tell what’s genuinely old and what just looks the part. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some simple ways to identify real vintage jewellery, whether you’re buying online or sorting through your own collection. Vintage jewellery carries charm, history and individuality,...

For lovers of vintage and secondhand jewellery, hallmarks are more than just tiny symbols. They are stamps of history, authenticity and craftsmanship. When it comes to Irish jewellery, few marks are as distinctive or meaningful as those from the Dublin Assay Office. From the regal harp to the iconic Hibernia stamp, Dublin hallmarks carry centuries of significance in a space barely larger than a pinhead. If you have ever spotted...