The Gem

Guides

Buying guides and honest assessments of fine jewellery. Platinum vs white gold, Hatton Garden, Cartier Love pre-owned, and the diamond market in 2026.

A dealer's tray of antique and vintage rings at an open market, densely arranged on black velvet; gold settings with cabochon stones in onyx, coral, turquoise, and carnelian, alongside silver and mixed-metal pieces, photographed from above against a warm amber background.
Guides · Considered Buying

The Collector's Edit: Where to Buy Genuine Antique and Period Jewellery Online

The most trusted platforms for buying genuine antique and estate jewellery online; from 1stDibs to Sotheby's, Christie's, Vestiaire Collective, and beyond.

By Florence9 min read
Close-up macro photograph of three UK hallmarks on the inner shank of a yellow gold ring — a sponsor's mark in an octagonal shield, the number 18 in a shaped cartouche indicating 18-carat gold, and an assay office or date letter mark to the right.
Guides · Buying Guides

UK Jewellery Hallmarks Explained: The Complete Guide

UK jewellery hallmarks date to 1300 — the oldest consumer protection in the world. How to read them: what the marks mean and where to find them.

By Florence12 min read
A close-up of a two-stone diamond bypass ring on a dark stone surface — yellow gold shank with a white metal (platinum or white gold) crossover setting holding two round brilliant diamonds.
Guides · Buying Guides

Platinum vs White Gold: The Honest Answer

Most white gold rings aren't actually white. The thing to know before choosing between platinum and white gold — and what jewellers don't mention.

By Florence11 min read
The corner of Hatton Garden and Greville Street, EC1, showing a row of jewellery businesses including Flawless Fine Jewellery in the foreground, with street signs for both roads visible and pedestrians on the pavement.
Guides · London Shopping

Hatton Garden: The Complete Buyer's Guide to London's Jewellery Quarter

Hatton Garden is London's jewellery quarter, and more accessible than most people expect. A guide to buying there: what to look for, what to avoid.

By Florence11 min read
A stack of four Cartier Love bracelets on a wrist — three in yellow gold and one in white gold — showing the screw-motif exterior and the standard stacking configuration.
Guides · Buying Guides

The Cartier Love Bracelet: A Buyer's Guide to New, Pre-Owned, and Fake

The Cartier Love bracelet is one of the most traded — and most faked — luxury pieces. What it costs, how to authenticate, new vs pre-owned.

By Florence13 min read
A Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra bracelet in yellow gold with malachite four-petal motifs on one wrist, alongside a plain silver bangle on the other, worn with a black outfit.
Guides · Buying Guides

The Van Cleef Alhambra: Is It Worth Buying (and Does It Hold Its Value)?

The Van Cleef Alhambra has one of the most consistent resale records of any modern jewellery piece. What it costs, what it holds, and how to buy one.

By Florence13 min read
Two silver signet rings on a heavily tattooed hand — a cushion-shaped ring engraved with a face motif, and a square-topped ring with a black stone set in ornate silverwork — held alongside a folding knife.
Guides · Considered Buying

The Best Signet Rings for Men: A 2026 Buying Guide

The best signet rings for men in 2026, from Rebus and Castro Smith to vintage Hatton Garden finds. Shapes, engraving, makers, and how to wear one.

By Florence16 min read
A diamond halo engagement ring with a round brilliant centre stone set in a rose gold milgrain bezel, on a split white gold shank pavé-set with accent diamonds.
Guides · Market Analysis

The Diamond Market in 2026: What's Actually Happening

Natural diamond prices are down 30-40% from 2021. Lab-grown is down 75%+. What actually happened, who it affects, and what to do if you're buying or selling.

By Florence17 min read
Three coloured-stone rings on a dark reflective surface: an oval emerald three-stone ring in yellow gold, a pink sapphire cluster ring in rose gold, and a diamond and blue sapphire half-eternity band in white gold.
Guides · Considered Buying

The Engagement Ring Guide: Every Stone Beyond Diamond

An honest guide to engagement ring stones beyond diamond — sapphire, emerald, ruby, moissanite, morganite, paraiba, salt-and-pepper, and how to choose.

By Florence20 min read
Overhead view of hands polishing a crystal-set pendant with a lint-free cloth, surrounded by a spread of fashion jewellery, tweezers, a soapy water bowl, and a jewellery loupe on a dark stone surface.
Guides · Complete Guide

How to Care for Your Jewellery: A Complete Guide

How to clean and care for your jewellery: by metal type, by stone type, storage, the chlorine problem, and when to see a professional jeweller.

By Florence18 min read
A jewellery valuation session
Guides · Complete Guide

How to Sell Your Jewellery: A Guide to Every Route, Honestly

How to sell jewellery: get an independent appraisal first, choose the right route (auction, dealer, or platform), and what to expect for inherited pieces.

By Florence15 min read
A Cartier Love ring in yellow gold alongside a sapphire and diamond set ring, gold bangles, a pearl and sapphire pendant, and a heavy gold belcher chain, arranged on a white cloth surface.
Guides · Considered Buying

Jewellery That Holds Its Value: A Realistic Guide

Which jewellery actually holds or appreciates in value: signed pieces, fine vintage, certain stones. What doesn't: mass-market retail, lab-grown, trend pieces.

By Florence18 min read
Three loose white diamonds — heart-cut, cushion-cut, and round brilliant — displayed unset on a dark navy surface, showing characteristic brilliance and light dispersion across all three cuts.
Guides · Buying

Lab-Grown vs Natural Diamonds: Which Is Actually Worth It in 2026?

Lab-grown diamond prices fell roughly 75% in four years. A clear, honest guide to whether lab or natural diamonds are worth it in 2026.

By Florence16 min read
Four open-cuff bangles in yellow gold, rose gold, and silver, each set with bezel-set cabochon semi-precious stones — amethyst, kyanite, citrine, aquamarine, and sapphire — arranged on a pale pink geometric surface.
Guides · Gemstone Knowledge

Precious vs Semi-Precious Stones: What the Distinction Means, and Doesn't

Precious vs semi-precious stones, where the distinction came from, why most gemmologists now ignore it, and what actually drives gemstone value today.

By Florence16 min read
Four antique and vintage pendant necklaces arranged on dark velvet and linen — an Edwardian double-strand negligée, a yellow gold filigree pear-cut diamond pendant, an Edwardian sapphire and seed pearl drop, and an Art Deco platinum geometric bar pendant — with a jewellery display bust and wooden box in the background.
Guides · Considered Buying

Where to Buy Vintage Jewellery: The Best Shops in London and Online

Where to buy vintage jewellery in London and online, from Hatton Garden to 1stDibs, with budget tiers, hallmark tips, and what to walk away from.

By Florence17 min read