If you collect antique or vintage jewellery in China or Hong Kong, sooner or later you look to England. London has been the centre of the antique jewellery trade for more than a century, and an enormous quantity of the finest Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco jewellery still circulates through English markets, fairs and dealers. Most of what is sold on live streams and by buying agents at home started out here. This guide explains where to buy in person, how to buy online without paying a middleman's markup, what customs and import tax to expect, and the English words that will help you find exactly what you are looking for.
First, a word on terms, because buyers use them interchangeably. Antique jewellery is at least 100 years old. Vintage usually means something between roughly 20 and 100 years old. A 1930s ring may be vintage today and antique in a few years. Neither word is a guarantee of quality on its own; what matters is that the age and materials are described honestly.
Buying in person: the best way, if you can travel
Nothing replaces holding a piece in your hand, turning it under a loupe and talking to the dealer who found it. If you are visiting England, these are the places we would send a friend.
Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Park
Our own favourite. Held at Kempton Park Racecourse in Sunbury-on-Thames, just south-west of London, it is known in the trade simply as "Kempton". It runs on the second and last Tuesday of every month, with more than 700 indoor and outdoor stalls. Early entry from 6:30am costs £5 (cash or contactless); entry is free from 8am until 2pm. Go early: the trade arrives at dawn and the best pieces change hands before breakfast.
Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Saturday is the antiques day on Portobello Road. Our tip: skip the stalls on the street and go deep inside the indoor arcades. The arcade dealers are the specialists, and that is where the serious jewellery is.
Grays Antiques, Mayfair
At 58 Davies Street, opposite Bond Street station, Grays brings many jewellery dealers together under one roof. It is open Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00, and closed at weekends, so it is a good choice if your trip falls midweek.
Fairs and markets across the country
England has a busy calendar of antiques fairs and markets, from small town markets to very large regional fairs held at showgrounds. Check the organisers' own websites for dates before you travel. You are also welcome to visit us: our showroom in Shoreditch, London, is open by appointment. Email us to arrange a time.
Buying online: why the dealer matters
Most people cannot fly to London every month, so most antique jewellery now sells online. Here is the difficulty. The great majority of European dealers do not know how to ship to China or Hong Kong, or how to prepare customs paperwork for your country. Many simply will not do it.
That gap is why buying agents, daigou and live-stream hosts travel to England, buy from markets and dealers, and resell at home. They provide a real service, but the buyer pays their markup on top of the dealer's price, and often more again for the handling at each step.
Buying directly from a specialist dealer who ships to your country cuts out that layer. You get a better price, proper insured shipping, correct paperwork and a direct line to the person who actually knows the piece. Few dealers do this properly; it is something we have set out to do well.
What Ravensbury does for buyers in China and Hong Kong
- Free insured delivery from London. Orders over £400 travel by DHL Express; smaller orders by Royal Mail International Tracked. Every parcel is fully insured.
- Correct customs paperwork. We describe every piece accurately with the right classification. Pieces over 100 years old can be declared as antiques. Declared values are always full and honest, never under-declared; that protects you as well as us.
- Help with duties and import taxes. We can offer discounts to help cover import taxes, especially on higher-value pieces and on multi-piece or trade orders. Just email us.
- Certificate and information sheet. Every piece comes with a signed certificate of authenticity and an information sheet describing it.
- Complimentary resizing on rings where it is feasible.
- 30-day returns (resized rings are final sale).
- Local prices and payment. Prices are shown in your local currency. Pay by card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay or UnionPay; Alipay is being added.
Mainland China: what to expect at customs
Personal parcels sent by post or courier are assessed under China's postal articles tax (行邮税). For jewellery the rates are broadly 13% for gold, silver and other precious-metal items, 20% for diamonds and 50% for other gem-set jewellery. Which category a piece falls into is decided by customs, not by the seller. On cross-border e-commerce platforms, purchases are limited to RMB 5,000 per order.
Some materials cannot go to China at all. We do not ship ivory or tortoiseshell pieces to China, and coral requires CITES permits, so we do not send such pieces there either. If a piece you like contains any of these, ask us and we will tell you honestly.
Our website may load slowly in mainland China. If it does, simply email us: we are happy to send photographs and videos of any piece directly.
Hong Kong: a real advantage
Hong Kong charges no import duty and no VAT or GST on jewellery. Prices are shown in Hong Kong dollars, and DHL Express to Hong Kong is typically fast. For collectors in Hong Kong, buying directly from London is about as straightforward as it gets.
The English dealer's vocabulary
English dealers describe jewellery by period. Knowing these names and dates makes searching far easier, both on our site and anywhere else.
| Period | Dates | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Georgian | 1714–1837 | Handmade; foiled, closed-back settings; rose and old mine cut diamonds; high-carat gold, often unmarked |
| Victorian | 1837–1901 | Early or Romantic (c.1837–1860); Mid or Grand (c.1860–1885: mourning jewellery, archaeological revival); Late (c.1885–1901: gypsy settings, stars, crescents) |
| Edwardian | 1901–1910 | Platinum, garland style, millegrain edges, Belle Époque; often used loosely to about 1915 |
| Art Nouveau | c.1890–1910 | Flowing natural forms, women, flowers, enamel |
| Art Deco | c.1920–1935 | Geometry, calibré-cut stones, platinum |
| Retro | c.1935–1950 | Bold, sculptural gold |
| Vintage | c.1950–2000 | Later 20th-century jewellery |
| Ancient Roman, Medieval & Renaissance | Antiquity to c.1600 | Rare and specialist |
Other useful English terms: hallmark (the official British assay marks); 9ct, 15ct, 18ct, 22ct (the gold standard); old mine cut, old European cut and rose cut (antique diamond cuts); foiled back; gypsy setting; signet; intaglio; cameo; posy ring; mourning ring; and estate jewellery, the American term for second-hand fine jewellery.
Five tips for buying from abroad
- Ask for a video in natural daylight. Studio photographs flatter; daylight shows the true colour of gold and stones.
- Ask about condition. Old jewellery has been worn. A good dealer will point out wear, repairs and later alterations without being asked.
- Check the ring size before you buy. We give the UK size on every listing and can advise on the equivalent in your local sizing.
- Know the customs position for your address before you order, so there are no surprises on delivery.
- Tell us what you are hunting for. Much of what we find is sold before it reaches the website. If we know you want a Georgian cluster ring or a Victorian signet, we can tell you first.
Get in touch
We are more than happy to help. Email us at info@ravensburyantiques.com with any question: ask for videos in natural light, close-ups of the hallmarks, advice on sizing or customs, or tell us about a piece you have been looking for. You can start with our latest finds.
Explore the collection
- Latest finds
- Antique and vintage engagement rings
- Signet rings and intaglio rings
- Antique men's rings
- Chains and necklaces
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between antique and vintage jewellery?
Antique jewellery is at least 100 years old. Vintage jewellery is usually between about 20 and 100 years old.
Where is the best antique market in London for jewellery?
For volume and variety, the Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Park, held on the second and last Tuesday of each month. In central London, the indoor arcades on Portobello Road on Saturdays, and Grays Antiques in Mayfair on weekdays.
Do you ship antique jewellery to China and Hong Kong?
Yes. Delivery from London is free and fully insured, by DHL Express on orders over £400. We prepare accurate customs paperwork for every parcel.
Will I pay import tax?
In mainland China, personal parcels are usually assessed under the postal articles tax, at rates that depend on the type of jewellery. Hong Kong charges no import duty or VAT on jewellery.
Can I pay with UnionPay?
Yes. We accept UnionPay, cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and Alipay is being added.