Authenticity & Hallmarking

The Real Deal

While we lean into the history and the stories, our process is deeply practical. The jewellery in our collection is evaluated using professional-grade equipment to help us confirm its geological and historical context. We spend our time interrogating hallmarks and examining construction to build as accurate a record as possible for every item we find.

Gemstone Identification

Authentication goes beyond the metal. We examine every gemstone to determine its identity — distinguishing between earth-mined stones, historic Paste (collectible leaded glass), and synthetic or lab-grown alternatives. Whether a piece features a natural gem or a beautiful antique simulant, we aim for absolute transparency, ensuring that what we describe is exactly what you receive.

Integrity & Transparency

We are advocates for material honesty. This means we don't try to polish away the life story of a piece. Wear consistent with age is part of that story. Where something meaningful affects the piece — a significant repair, a replaced stone, a structural intervention — we document it clearly. A substantial portion of our finds, particularly across the initial collection, are independently evaluated. Our goal is to provide an honest biography so that when you feel that pull toward a piece, you can make an informed decision.

Sympathetic Restoration & Conservation

Where a piece needs a little attention before it's ready for its next chapter — a missing element replaced, a setting secured, a clasp restored — we undertake sympathetic repairs with deep respect for the original construction and materials. These interventions are always noted in the Condition and Care section, not as a caveat, but as part of the honest biography we build for every piece.

About Hallmarks

We follow the UK Hallmarking Act 1973. As a specialist in antiques, many of our treasures are legally exempt from hallmarking requirements under various provisions of the Act, including exemptions for certain pre-1975 pieces, pre-1950 articles, and items below specified weights. For exempt pieces, we verify they meet the historical criteria for their period and metal type.

Pieces carrying hallmarks bear their independent guarantee of purity from a British Assay Office. Whether bearing a century-old mark or a modern assay, every piece is authenticated before joining the Archive.