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 most important things when buying pre-owned jewellery is knowing the piece you are purchasing is exactly what the seller says. Hallmarks are a type of stamping on jewellery, which are assured by the UK Goldsmith Assay Company. The hallmarks on jewellery can tell us the composition and metal purity. For example, all 9ct gold jewellery will have the purity mark ‘375’. Hallmarks can even tell us about the origin of a piece. There are makers or brand marks as well as the year of production marks to show when it was made.
We take a lot of the stress out of your search; we only select high-quality pieces, and we investigate the hallmarks for you. William May always ensures hallmarking is present, And, in line with the 1973 hallmarking act, all pieces above the legal threshold are hallmarked or sent for assessment & re-hallmarked accordingly. Every piece is thoroughly verified by our in-house experts.
Second-Hand Designer Jewellery
As we mentioned above, all fine jewellery will be stamped with hallmarks to indicate the origin. Designer jewellery brands such as Tiffany and Cartier have very distinct maker marks. For example, Cartier jewellery will have a “C” next to the purity mark. Second-hand jewellery can also come with other supporting materials such as authentication certificates and original packaging. William May will always list any original packaging and documentation in the product description.
The Four C’s
When it comes to the four C’s most of us know carat and cut. These are often the two most important to our customers, particularly when buying engagement rings. For all our second-hand diamond jewellery we confirm the carat, cut, colour and clarity. If you want to learn more about the four C’s we have an in-depth guide on diamond jewellery.
What Condition is Pre-Owned Jewellery?
All second-hand jewellery sold by William May has been restored to a “as new" condition. William May are specialists in refurbishing and restoring any jewellery that needs a little more attention. For example, with second-hand rings, we check all gemstones are tightly set with no blemishes, we thoroughly clean every piece and ensure each piece is polished to a high standard.
We want every customer to feel confident when purchasing second-hand jewellery. No one will ever know the jewellery was pre-owned, not unless you tell them.
Does Pre-owned Jewellery Offer More Value For Money??
It’s not just that pre-loved jewellery offers better value than new jewellery, but that two similar quality pieces, one second-hand and one new, will have vastly different prices. This is the biggest kept secret that jewellery retailers don’t want you to know.
A great way to quickly check this is to compare two similar pieces of jewellery with the same gram weight. By looking at this you can check the price per gram weight. We have used this test many times, and you’ll be able to see for yourself, very quickly, just how much more you can save when you buy second-hand jewellery.
Seller Reputation with Guarantees and Warranties
One of the best reasons for shopping with William May is that we are one of the UK’s top reputable sellers of second-hand jewellery. We have been a jewellery shopping destination since 1825 and we know it can be quite daunting buying pre-owned jewellery. Shopping with William May takes out the stress and verification you would need when buying from a private seller. If that is not enough, we offer a six-month warranty on all pre-owned jewellery, as well as a 30-day return policy for your peace of mind.
How is Second-hand Jewellery Boxed and Presented?
When we send you your jewellery it is carefully packaged to keep it safe and to avoid damaging the package in transit. Every William May piece comes presented in a branded, stylish black and white box, which is perfect for storing your jewellery at home.
Now you’re a pre-owned jewellery expert shop colourful vintage gemstone rings, vintage lockets, or sparkling tennis bracelets with confidence on William May.
Whether you’ve got your eye on a vintage gemstone ring or a tennis bracelet, shop second-hand jewellery with confidence now with William May.
If want to know more about a particular piece, please feel free to email us [email protected] or give us a ring on 0161 205 3575.
