All of our jewellery will come presented in our classic Ravensbury Antiques boxes, and you will receive a branded polishing cloth in each package.

Yes of course! If you are looking for something quite specific or unusual then let us know exactly what you are after and we will do our very best to source it for you. Please get in touch via the contact form or email info@ravensburyantiques.com

Over the years, we have handled large amounts of antique jewellery and we can pretty accurately identify the age of a piece by studying its hallmarks, construction techniques, stone cuts, historical design and materials used. We are obsessed with researching and sharing the history of each jewel with you. These important factors allow us to determine to the best of our ability when and where it was likely manufactured, as well as during which era it was designed. Each piece is rigorously studied, and for the older and rarer pieces, whenever possible, we try to match the relevant item with similar examples in museum collections or jewellery reference books.

Despite much of our jewellery being well over a century old, we pride ourselves on selecting only the finest examples in the best condition possible. In the unlikely occasion the item presents condition flaws, they will be specified in the product listing. The description of this item is aided by high-quality photos from all angles in order to show a highly accurate representation of the item. Please examine these photos and the video (when provided) carefully, as they are part of the condition report. Bear in mind that antique jewels show signs of age. These pieces are neither ‘mint’ nor brand new. Each is a handmade object and a survivor of history (generations of ownership, wars and diaspora). As a result, nearly all pieces bear forms of imperfection: age-related wear, production flaws or quirks, damage, and/or restoration. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact us before placing an order. In the rare event that we have missed a flaw in the condition report, we will make it right with the buyer through partial refund or return for full refund. Following delivery and receipt, Ravensbury Antiques is not liable for damage, loss, or theft as a result of careless ownership or oversight. However where applicable, we will make every effort to aid clients and give advice in rectifying issues from wear and tear, including stone replacements and various repairs.

The rules of hallmarking differ from one country of manufacture to another, as well as the period in which the item was made. We will always mention in the listing if the item is stamped with hallmarks and explain the origin and significance of these marks.

It is common for antique jewellery to be entirely unmarked, especially in older pieces of jewellery made before 1800. Even countries with standardised hallmarking systems (eg. Great Britain and France) will yield a large number of jewellery lacking any discernible marks. Sometimes marks will have been lost when the jewel was modified during conversions, repairs, or ring resizing. Ravensbury Antiques test all unmarked gold thoroughly: first, a karat purity reading is obtained with an electronic gold tester and then results are verified with a nitric-muriatic acid test.

This is a frequently asked question but also, understandably, a highly guarded secret in the trade - each dealer has their own way! In our case, it involves tirelessly searching auction houses all over Europe, creating a network of trusted dealers and looking in places where others don’t think to look! Essentially, we are constantly on the hunt for the most coveted and exquisite pieces so you don’t have to!

We are so thankful for the Rijksmuseum leading the way with its Open Data Policy to allow the general public to connect the treasures in its collection. Not only do they provide high-resolution digital images of objects from the collection, but they also allow the general public unrestricted use of the images, even for commercial purposes. 

For a list of the artists and artwork titles that we have used, please check out our Rijksstudio gallery here.

Our carefully selected antique jewellery has stood the test of time, and this is in part because it has been looked after properly. If you choose to clean your antique jewellery further down the line, then you should clean it carefully. Avoid using any strong chemicals, cleaning solutions or abrasive sponges.

We recommend using warm soapy water and a soft toothbrush for harder gemstones. Gently clean your antique jewellery to remove any dirt, rinse it well with water and pat dry with a cloth. If you have a ring with stones that are foil-backed or in closed settings, then you should not submerge it in water at all, instead we recommend just gently using a dry cloth.

Yes, conflict diamonds are illegally traded stones that have been mined in the last 50 years. These diamonds originated in various African countries and were used to finance civil wars and deadly insurgencies.

Since we only use antique and vintage diamonds that predate this period, our jewellery is completely conflict free. Initiatives such as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme have been created in order to curb the dangerous blood diamond trade, however even this initiative is fraught with shortcomings. The only way to guarantee that a diamond is conflict free is to wear vintage and antique diamonds that were mined prior to 1970...which is exactly what is on offer at Ravensbury Antiques! 

Though we would love to provide accurate colour and clarity grades for all of our antique diamond jewellery, this is not always possible. In order to be properly assessed, diamonds have to be physically removed from their settings which risks causing damage to the pieces.

We will always do our best to provide you with a carat weight of your stones where possible, as well as describe the type of cut as this often helps frame your stone in a historical timeline of gemstone cutting. We will also provide detail on whether the diamond is tinted or not.

It's important to note that historical diamonds can't be judged by today's standards. Before the discovery of South African diamonds in 1867, they were rarer, sourced from Brazilian mines in the 18th and early 19th centuries, and earlier, the famous Indian Golconda mines. Technological limitations hampered mining, and early diamonds were hand-cut and visually assessed. Modern diamond perfection stems from advanced techniques like drilling, laser cutting, and computer-calculated symmetry. Historic diamonds reflect human intervention and the passage of time, often bearing surface blemishes, inclusions and asymmetry.

We are constantly on the hunt for new treasures and try to update our website with new finds on a near daily basis!

You can read about us here. Our founder Callum is one of the youngest specialist dealers in the trade and is a member of several reputable trade organisations and societies including the National Association of Jewellers and the Society of Jewellery Historians.

We are based in London however Ravensbury Antiques currently operates online only.

If you have spotted a ring you love but it is not your size, please get in touch so we can talk you through your options.

We are happy to give our expert opinion on whether a specific ring can be sized or not, and how many sizes it can be altered. In some instances a ring is not suitable for re-sizing due to its construction or age, or we may recommend against re-sizing to safeguard a ring's structural and stylistic integrity. We do not currently offer in-house resizing as we always recommend viewing the ring in person before committing to any work being done on it.

If you have bought a ring that does not fit you, we would recommend taking it to a reputable local jeweller. They will be able to advise you on whether the item can be sized to fit you correctly. Sizing is always best done when an experienced jeweller and the customer can have a face to face meeting, so that the jeweller may complete a professional ring fitting.

We strongly advise against going to jewellers without experience in handling antique jewellery. Whenever possible, resizing and repairs should be completed with laser welder rather than open-flame torches. A bloomed finish and antique patina will be lost if a piece is repolished. Ultrasonic cleaning will damage gemstone foiling. Uninformed jewellers may sometimes advise customers to modify antique settings which is detrimental to the value and historical character of a piece, and is to be categorically avoided. Ravensbury Antiques is not responsible for any damage or loss of value as a result of human intervention from third party jewellers.

If the item cannot be sized, or you wish to return it please do so within 14 working days for a full refund.

We do not offer our own layaway, however Shopify Payments allows a ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ option over 3 installments with Klarna at checkout.

We endeavor to dispatch items the next after we receive the order. However, we cannot guarantee that this will always be the case. Please note we are unable to dispatch orders on Saturday or Sunday.

No. We price our items fairly based on the current market.

In general, no, but very occasionally we will offer promotional deals and voucher codes to coincide with special events.

We accept payment directly by credit and debit card as well as Paypal and Stripe.

All card payments are processed through Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe) which keeps your details safe and secure. We don't ever have access to your Credit or Debit card details. If you choose to pay with PayPal then you can read about their security here.

To process your order we have access to some of your personal information such as your name, address, telephone number and email address. We will only use this information to ensure your item is delivered safely to your door, and will never share it with any third parties.

We are pleased to offer free worldwide shipping on all our orders and we aim to send out all orders within 1-2 business days. 

For UK delivery, we send with Royal Mail Special Delivery, arriving by the next working day. 

For International orders over £1000 we use DHL Express International, and for orders under £1000 we use Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed. All items are fully insured. For the full information about our delivery policy click here.

Yes, all of our items are sent with tracked shipping and we will email over your tracking information once your item has been dispatched.

Returns can be made within 14 days of delivery. Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. All items are to be returned in their original condition and packaging. Buyer damaged items are ineligible for returns. Items over £2500 can be returned for store credit only. For more info on our returns policy please click here.