William May Jewellers Blog

At William May, we love vintage and pre-owned jewellery. We’ve been in the jewellery industry for almost 200 years and we know a lot about which styles are timeless and why it’s a great idea to buy pre-owned jewellery. Many of our customers already know we are the online destination for pre-owned jewellery, but if you haven’t bought second-hand jewellery before then you might not know what to appreciate and to look out for. Follow our guidelines below which will help you to buy with confidence. Hallmarking  One of the... Read More

Men’s chain necklaces come in all styles and designs, with something for everyone. At William May we have one of the biggest online and in-store collections of heavy chains and necklaces for men. With regular new styles in, we have something that suits every fashion style, whether you want something discrete or whether you want to make a statement, perhaps you are looking for a few pieces to layer together or something to wear every day.  Choosing the perfect chain necklace is about picking the right chain style, width and length.... Read More

At William May, we love timeless and stylish jewellery, and what could be more enduring than the signet ring. The history of signet rings is filled with gravitas, secret meanings, and personal significance. Read our full guide to signet rings to find out why these rings remain an iconic piece of jewellery and why they are sometimes called “the gentleman’s ring”.   What is a signet ring? Signet rings are traditionally oval shaped flat rings with a raised or engraved design. These rings were used to sign documents by pressing the... Read More

Buying a vintage piece of jewellery for your loved one this Valentine’s Day is ethical, unique and utterly romantic. William May is the UK’s largest online pre-owned jewellery store, full of timeless jewellery styles that are guaranteed to be worn and loved forever. What can be more romantic this Valentine’s than to give a piece of heart shaped vintage jewellery, like this sparkling heart pendant necklace? Pre-Owned 9ct Gold Cubic Zirconia Heart Pendant & Chain Necklace – £165.00 The exact origin of the heart shape as a symbol of love... Read More

Celebrities like sports stars and movie icons influence the way we dress and accessorise. However, because many of their fashion choices cost thousands of pounds, it can feel impossible to replicate the look on a budget. However, here at William May, our appraisers have valued the jewellery choices of 15 of our favourite celebrities. In doing so, they’ve also outlined how you can ‘get the look’ for less thanks to our reasonably-priced alternatives. Sports Stars Lewis Hamilton           View this post on Instagram      ... Read More

At William May we’re committed to ensuring we do our best to help customers get the most for their money and want to share our near 200 years of experience in the industry.  Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are all about how to buy jewellery and where people are going wrong when investing in new items. So with that in mind, here are the top 3 mistakes customers make when buying jewellery and how to avoid them. 3) Not Matching Personal Style This applies more to gifts than... Read More

Here at William May, we surveyed 1000 people who had previously (or almost) lost a ring to discover the most common places people had misplaced them. What has our research revealed? According to the findings, gardening was found to be the common known place for Brits to lose their ring (14.4%), closely followed by seaside trips to the beach. A breakdown of the top locations can be found below:  Gardening (14.4%) At the beach / in the sea (13.1%) On holiday (12.4%) Cleaning (11.5%) At work (8.2%) Other – scenarios... Read More