Landmark birthday jewellery (when you don’t quite have the landmark budget...)

[Salacia]

Thinking ahead massively (but what else is there to do on a locked down Saturday evening...) - I’m going to have a major birthday later this year and am hoping to celebrate with a weekend in London.

I’d love to buy myself some jewellery and would like to waste my weekend window shopping and day dreaming! I wouldn’t have a massive budget (max 300 if I did some saving) and have a pretty eclectic taste - most of my jewellery is inherited from grandparents so it’s a bit of a mix. I do love pearls though...

I’ve been looking at Tiffany but I’m sure I’ve read on here that you can get better value in Hatton Garden etc - only problem is I don’t know where to start! Everywhere I’ve looked at online seems to be £££££.

The price in Tiffany covers the experience (fancy shop in prestigious location) their advertising and after care service as well as the jewellery. You could probably get something similar from an indie jeweller in Hatton Garden for a third of the price (maybe less)

The rents in Hatton garden are very high so you are unlikely to find a bargain there to be honest.... try having a look at independent jewellers and pawnbrokers as they pick their own stock so don’t all stock the same stuff

Take a look on the-saleroom.com - it links up all the country auctions and pearls come up all the time...

This is interesting as I am about to do just that, I reach pension age next week (after nearly 51 years working) and am looking to get a 'pension ring' I had looked at the websites of high street jewellers, however on Friday my local shop had its shutters up and I have seen a lovely Tanzanite floral ring that I have fallen in love with, hopefully it will fit when the shop opens up again, I do have a budget and a fairly good one as I will using money from my private pension lump sum, this ring is actually below what I was thinking of paying.

The rents in Hatton garden are very high so you are unlikely to find a bargain there to be honest.... try having a look at independent jewellers and pawnbrokers as they pick their own stock so don’t all stock the same stuff

There are lots of workshops which dont have shop fronts that will be much cheaper than tiffany.

Glasgow Argyll Arcade has over 30 jewellers , it is a fascinating place to lose a few hours window shopping .
Some of the shop fronts really are stunning .

I have my grandmother's engagement ring in it's original box from here . IIRC 1922 .
Once I can travel I need to take a trip there .

Obvs the Argyll Arcade is no bloody use if you want London though

If you like eclectic & browsing also worth checking out Butler & Wilson, it's mostly crystal & semiprecious stones as far as I remember, but some fun stuff!

Hahahaha! Sorry! (Said with total insincerity 😆)

Try www.graysantiques.com/ for amazing second-hand jewellery. You will get A LOT more for your money if you don't buy new.

Anna K Baldwin. Eclectic but beautiful and really lovely person to boot. She's making me a couple of rings for my 35th using gemstones.

We make bespoke jewellery, although bespoke can make it sound expensive. I'm sure we're like a lot of designer-jewellers that we can make something for any budget. We've also been working through lockdown as we don't have a shop and all our equipment is at home, so if you have a look around at jewellers near you that are like us hopefully you will find an operation like ours

My husband and children bought me a few silver bangles of different textures and widths based on nature from this jeweller for the last couple of Christmas sets/birthdays, I love them!

www.camillawest.com/shop/0ozb6b05gy7xj4911m35zoyj7kp9nq

Just seen more messages on this! Thanks all. Lots of ideas. I like the look of Loveness Lee and Anissa Kermiche. Got a few months to save and ponder...