Charters Gold
Antique & Vintage Specialists

Sell Antique & Vintage Jewellery

Georgian to mid-century, signed or unsigned, pristine or imperfect - antique jewellery deserves a specialist eye, not a scrap scale. We value period pieces on their craftsmanship, stones and provenance, and pay the same day you accept.

Get a ValuationSelling Modern Jewellery?
Why period pieces are different

Never sell an antique by weight

A gold counter sees a Victorian locket as grams of 15ct gold. A specialist sees a dated hallmark, a hand-engraved case, an intact glass compartment - and a collectors’ market that pays for all three. The difference between the two figures is often the entire value of the piece.

Our valuations start from what a piece is: its era, maker, materials, stones and condition, checked against current auction results for comparable pieces. Only when a piece genuinely carries no premium beyond its metal do we price it that way - and we explain the basis of every figure before anything is agreed. If we believe a piece would achieve more at auction, we tell you that too.

Wondering what the metal alone is worth as a floor price? Our gold calculator shows today’s price per gram - a period piece should always be worth at least that, and usually more.

From Georgian to Retro

The eras we buy, and what to look for

  • Georgian (1714-1837)

    Closed-back settings, foiled stones, cannetille work. Genuinely scarce - almost always worth more than its metal, and frequently mispriced by weight-only buyers.

  • Victorian (1837-1901)

    Mourning jewellery, lockets, snake motifs, garnet and turquoise pieces. Condition and completeness drive value; original cases help.

  • Edwardian & Belle Époque (1901-1915)

    Platinum lacework, old-cut diamonds, bows and garlands. Old European and mine-cut stones are valued as period cuts - never priced as if awaiting a re-cut.

  • Art Deco (1920s-1930s)

    Geometric platinum and white gold, calibré-cut sapphires, emeralds and onyx. The most sought-after period in today’s market - signed pieces especially.

  • Mid-century & Retro (1940s-1960s)

    Bold rose and yellow gold, cocktail rings, tank bracelets. Rising fast at auction as collectors move beyond Deco.

  • Signed pieces - any era

    Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Asprey, Garrard, Boodles. A signature can multiply value several times over; we verify marks and price against current auction results.

Also: mourning and sentimental jewellery, micro-mosaics, cameos, old-cut diamond rings, vintage watches, and inherited pieces of unknown age - identification is part of the valuation.

A Considered, Step-by-Step Process

  1. 1Step 1

    Upload Details or Visit Us

    Tell us what you have, use the calculator, upload photos, or arrange a private valuation.

  2. 2Step 2

    Receive Your Valuation

    Our specialists assess your items professionally and explain your offer clearly.

  3. 3Step 3

    Get Paid

    Accept your offer and receive fast payment by bank transfer or cash where available.

Antique Jewellery - Frequently Asked

Selling period pieces, answered

  • How is antique jewellery valued differently from scrap gold?

    Scrap pricing pays for metal weight alone. Antique pieces carry additional value in their period, craftsmanship, stones, signatures and provenance - an Art Deco diamond ring can be worth several times its melt value. We assess every piece as jewellery first and only ever price as metal when the honest market supports nothing more, and we tell you which basis we are using and why.

  • Should I clean or repair a piece before selling it?

    No - please don’t. Polishing removes original surfaces, amateur repairs are visible to any specialist, and both usually reduce value, sometimes substantially. Bring or send the piece exactly as it is, dust and all. Honest wear is expected in period pieces; erased history is not.

  • I’ve inherited jewellery and have no idea what any of it is - can you help?

    This is the most common way we meet antique pieces. Bring the whole box, or have us visit: we identify each piece, explain what it is and what it is worth, and put it in writing - piece by piece, no charge, no obligation. Where something would genuinely do better at auction, we say so.

  • Do old or damaged pieces still have value?

    Often, yes. A Georgian ring missing a stone or a Victorian locket with a dented case can still carry meaningful collector value, and even honest wear rarely erases a signed piece’s worth. Never discard or break up old jewellery before a specialist has seen it.

  • What paperwork or provenance helps the price?

    Original cases and boxes, receipts, old insurance valuations, photographs of the piece being worn, family letters mentioning it - anything that anchors age and ownership. Provenance can add materially to value, particularly for signed and Victorian-or-earlier pieces, but its absence never prevents a fair valuation.

Selling Fine Jewellery

Tell us about your jewellery

Diamond rings, designer pieces, antique jewellery - give us a quick picture and a specialist will reach out.

What type of piece?*
Main gemstone?

Optional - leave blank if none or unsure.

Brand or designer?

Optional - Cartier, Tiffany, Boodles, etc.

Description & photos

Optional - also fine to share via WhatsApp once we're in touch.

Drag photos here or click to browse

Upload clear photos from multiple angles, including hallmarks, stones, clasps, boxes and certificates where available. JPG · PNG · WEBP · HEIC.

Up to 12 photos · 12MB each

Your contact details*

Final offers depend on inspection, market price, purity verification and item condition. We never pressure you to sell - the decision is always yours.