A Guide to Pre-owned Jewellery

The S&R Pre-owned Jewellery Buying Guide

Suttons and Robertsons are one of London's leading traders in pre-owned designer, luxury, vintage and antique jewellery. Family founded and operated since 1770, S&R Jewellers has a rich history, and years of expertise. Get in touch with S&R Jewellers today, or feel free to visit us in our London store to browse your pre-owned jewellery options for both gents and ladies.

Why Buy Pre-owned Jewellery?

Pre-loved jewellery is excellent value for money

One of the many well-known benefits of buying second hand and pre-owned jewellery is that you will save a lot of money compared to buying new. As with all luxury goods, jewellery brands that we stock pre-owned jewellery for such as Vera Wang, Cartier and Tiffany & Co, add a significant price increase to new jewellery. So a benefit of choosing to buy a piece pre-owned is that you can avoid these markups, which means that you will be saving money.

Due to the cost difference between new and second hand pieces, when buying pre-loved jewellery, it is more likely that you will be able to buy a style, collection or special edition piece that you would never have been able to before. For example, you could buy an engagement ring with a larger diamond carat, or a higher quality metal at a much lower price than buying new. 

When buying pre-owned jewellery at S&R London Jewellers, you will automatically save more money than you would when buying new. Typically, all of our pre-owned assets are offered at up to 75% of original purchase prices. Therefore, a great advantage to buying pre-owned designer, luxury, vintage or antique jewellery is that, in most cases, you will get much better value for money than buying first hand.

Buying pre-owned jewellery promotes sustainability

Buying pre-loved and second hand jewellery is a very sustainable and environmentally friendly way to shop. Not only are you going to buy a unique, beautiful piece of antique, vintage or designer jewellery, but you will also be doing your part to protect the environment. This is because buying and selling pre-owned jewellery means that you are re-using precious resources, which causes no new harm to the environment during production, and also gives new life and longevity to these existing pieces. Therefore, when shopping for second hand jewellery, you are helping to preserve important natural resources, reducing the need for extensive diamond and metal mining, which aids in reducing carbon footprint. This, in turn, promotes a circular economy, which is very important in today's luxury jewellery market.

Pre-owned jewellery has meaning, history and a backstory

By purchasing a piece of pre-owned jewellery, you are buying an item full of history and meaning, which is something that you can only get when you choose to buy pre-loved. Each and every designer, vintage or antique asset in our pre-loved jewellery collection has its own past and backstory, with some pieces having been around for decades, or even centuries. This is something that makes pre-owned jewellery truly special, as who knows who could have worn your piece in the past! In addition, older vintage and antique pieces were often created by master craftsmen who used knowledge and techniques that are no longer used today, and that can’t be replicated. Therefore, you will be able to preserve this precious piece of jewellery into the future, adding to its remarkable history. 

S&R pre-loved jewellery is high quality

Many people sometimes think that buying their jewellery second hand means that they have to make sacrifices on the quality of their pieces. However, this is not the case! S&R Jewellers have been selling pre-owned jewellery for over 250 years, so you can be sure that all of the pieces on our pre-loved jewellery collection for gents and ladies are of the best quality and the highest standard. 

We only offer items that can be restored to a near new condition, which means that when buying pre-loved instead of brand new, you will not be compromising on quality. All of our pre-owned designer, antique, vintage and luxury jewellery at Suttons and Robertsons are thoroughly scrutinised for defaults or wear, and are repaired where necessary. Furthermore, every item in our online or in-store selection is cleaned and polished to the optimum shine before being displayed for sale. 

Also, if you’re buying a piece of pre-owned jewellery, then it is guaranteed to have stood the test of time, which shows that its materials are of a high standard. Therefore, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that you are purchasing durable, high quality jewellery, because of its great previous record, which is something you don’t always get when shopping first hand.

Some jewellery pieces can only be found pre-owned

Many manufacturers and world-leading designer jewellery brands often discontinue some pieces or collections. Therefore, buying these specific items of jewellery second hand is the only option for many buyers, collectors and enthusiasts. For example, when Cartier and Tiffany & Co produce a newer version of a necklace, it is no longer possible to purchase the original style from the brand directly. Therefore, the only possibility of owning one of these original, vintage necklaces would be to purchase second hand from a reputable, pre-owned jeweller like S&R. 

Additionally, for those looking for authentic, antique or vintage style jewellery, shopping at pre-owned jewellers like Suttons and Robertsons is the best way to find these sought after pieces. By limiting yourself to only buying new jewellery, you only have the choice of today’s most modern styles, and you miss out on the opportunity to own a pre-loved piece from a different era; something that isn’t available to purchase new! Therefore, you will be proud to own a unique, exclusive and stunning jewellery item that is different from anything you will find in the high street stores. If you are unable to find what you are looking for on our website, our jewellery sourcing service can help secure your preferred piece for you.

Are there any considerations when buying pre-owned jewellery?

Although there are many advantages to buying pre-loved vintage, antique, luxury, and designer jewellery, there are a couple of considerations to keep in mind whilst shopping. One consideration is that pre-owned pieces are not available to order in a particular size, so there is no guarantee that you will find what you are looking for in your own size. Pre-owned jewellery items, like rings, can often only be resized 1-2 sizes, which is also a consideration. However, this is what makes pre-owned jewellery so unique, as the allure of these pieces is that they are one-of-a-kind.

Another factor to take into consideration when buying pre-owned jewellery is that many vintage and designer jewellery pieces are unique, rare, distinctive, or have been discontinued by a brand in the past. So if you hesitate to purchase these jewellery items as you see them, you may miss out as they will sell pretty quickly! You can discover our collection of pre-loved jewellery online at S&R here, or alternatively, feel free to browse your choices in our London showroom.

Pre-owned Jewellery Gifts For Him

Discover our selection of luxury, pre-owned jewellery for men at S&R London Jewellers. Since 1770, Suttons and Robertsons have been renowned for their collection of pre-owned designer jewellery. We offer you the very best quality choices in our mens second hand jewellery collection.

GIFTS FOR HIM

Signet Rings

Pre-owned signet rings are a great gift idea for men, as they come in a variety of metal colours, styles and shapes, meaning that there is something for everyone! Traditionally, signet rings are worn on the pinky finger of the left hand, and become family heirlooms, passed down through generations. Buying a signet ring that is pre-loved allows for a wider selection of choices, from vintage and antique styles, to modern, designer brands, and can be gifted on any occasion.

GIFTS FOR HIM

Cufflinks

Pre-owned cufflinks are a practical, yet stylish and meaningful gift for gents. Cufflinks are available in a different range of prices, and come in a massive variety of designs, making them very popular mens wedding, anniversary and birthday gifts. By shopping second-hand for cufflinks, you are guaranteed to find something rare, unique and special, that hardly anyone else will have!

Pre-owned Jewellery Gifts For Her

Browse the pre-owned designer, vintage and antique jewellery collection for ladies at S&R London Jewellers. We have a wide range of second hand jewellery from luxury and world leading brands such as Tiffany & Co, Boodles, DeBeers, Cartier and more.

gifts for her

Vintage Jewellery

Vintage jewellery pieces are a fantastic gift on any occasion for your loved ones. The high quality design and unique styles found in antique jewellery remains beautiful to this day, making these pieces a truly individual and unique gift idea. An advantage to buying pre-owned, vintage pieces is that you are more likely to get your hands on popular, branded pieces that you otherwise might not have! This includes pre-loved jewellery from world-leading, luxury brands such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co, DeBeers, Boodles, Gucci and others

gifts for her

Birthstone Rings

Pre-owned birthstone, or gemstone rings, are a personal, meaningful and sentimental gift for women. Birthstones are gemstones that each correspond to a different month of the year, and are often incorporated within many jewellery pieces, such as rings. Pre-loved gemstones rings are the perfect gift for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and other celebrations, as they can be worn all year round. 

Pre-owned Jewellery FAQs

What should I look for when buying pre-owned jewellery?

Buy from a reptuable jeweller

When shopping with a reputable pre-owned jeweller like Suttons and Robertsons, you can have the utmost confidence that we meticulously check all of our jewellery's authenticity, and that you are buying genuine, high quality items. It is understandable though that some buyers, especially new ones, would like the peace of mind of knowing that there are a few steps that they can take to ensure authenticity. Discover these steps below below…

Check for a hallmark

One of the most important aspects of buying pre-owned jewellery is knowing that the piece you are purchasing is hallmarked, and that it is exactly what the seller says. Therefore, one of the first steps to take when checking pre-owned jewellery yourself is to examine the hallmark. This is because hallmarks tell you the composition and metal purity of an item of jewellery. Your pre-owned piece should have a stamp that denotes the metal carat, for example, a gold ring may have the number 375, which confirms that it is 9ct gold.

Brand marks

One of the simplest ways to make sure of a piece’s authenticity is to look out for a brand mark. Pre-owned, branded jewellery products such as those from Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Boodles and Gucci, all bear a stamp of the company’s hallmark. So before purchasing a second hand item, you can examine it for a brand mark.

Magnet test

A magnet test is something that you can easily do to check a pre-owned gold jewellery piece. As a magnet will have no effect on genuine gold, this test will examine whether or not the piece will be attracted to the force. If the magnet attracts, the gold jewellery is not real, but if nothing happens, then you know that the item is real. Of course, you have no need to worry about this when it comes to shopping pre-owned at Suttons and Robertsons, as all of our gold jewellery undergoes thorough checks and processes of guarantee before they are added to our collection.

Buying Pre-owned Jewellery at Suttons and Robertsons

How do you know S&R pre-owned jewellery is authentic?

Here at S&R London Jewellers, our in-house experts meticulously check all branded items for authenticity, and we will never offer any item for sale that we are not completely confident with. If required, our branded jewellery pieces can be sent back to their original manufacturer for a polishing or repair to ensure that they are of the best quality. Some of our jewellery assets also have their original documents and packaging, so you can have the utmost trust in our guarantee that the piece you are getting is the real deal. 

How is pre-owned jewellery boxed and presented at S&R?

All pieces offered for sale within our pre-owned jewellery collection for men and women are presented in our high quality, modern in design, S&R branded boxes. Where possible, we can also provide the original manufacturer’s packaging for our branded jewellery items and goods. 

What guarantee does S&R give to pre-owned jewellery buyers?

Jewellery items that are seen to be in a heavily worn condition will never be offered for sale by Suttons and Robertsons; we only present the very best! Here at S&R, we have a 14 day refund policy, where you can be confident that you will receive smooth, no-fuss customer service. Any items purchased that develop problems, not by fault of the purchaser, are covered by our 1 year warranty, and we will be happy to repair your piece free of charge! 

Any branded jewellery piece that we buy at S&R that has a serial number is also checked against a lost and stolen register, which gives the utmost guarantee to pre-owned jewellery buyers that their desired item has not been a part of any loss or crime.

Why should I buy pre-owned jewellery at S&R?

With over 250 years of industry experience, Suttons and Robertsons are one of the leading London Jewellers for pre-loved and second hand jewellery and watches. We are always working with the original, world leading manufacturers of our branded jewellery collection, as well as the UK’s leading auction houses. This ensures that S&R is providing the very best and highest quality product, that all of our jewellery is authentic and original, and that our pieces are unique. We guarantee you the best customer service, with our friendly, expert team happily welcoming you into our store. S&R is also proud to offer 0% finance, free UK delivery, and a 14-day return policy. Start your pre-owned jewellery journey with S&R London Jewellers today! Get in touch with a member of our team here, or feel free to visit us in one of our London showrooms.

About Us

We are one of London's leading traders in pre-owned jewellery and watches. Family founded since 1770, S&R Jewellers has a rich history, and years of expertise.

A Guide to Pre-owned Watches

Suttons and Robertsons are one of London's leading traders in pre-owned luxury watches for ladies and gents. Discover our guide to buying pre-owned watches.

Visit Us

For more information about pre-owned luxury jewellery and watches at S&R, please get in touch with a member of our team. Alternatively, you can visit us in one of our stores.