The London guide to vintage jewellery and watch shopping

If you’re anything like us, you love to splurge on a keepsake to commemorate whichever city you visit. Of course, London is a shopaholic’s paradise with department stores galore—Selfridges, Harrods, Liberty and the list goes on—but the treasures aren’t found in these snazzy malls. In a country steeped with royal history, the vintage jewellery and watches stores are where it’s at, with thousands of dazzling creations from the 16th century to the early 2000s. Here’s our curated list of spots to hit up the next time you’re in the British capital.

1. Susannah Lovis Jewellery

Spoilt for choice doesn’t even cut it when describing the trove housed within this vintage jewellery and watch store in Burlington Arcade in central London. For over 20 years, Susannah Lovis and her team have curated thousands of rare pieces from the Victorian, Edwardian, and Georgian periods. Vintage jewels and discontinued models from beloved brands like Tiffany & Co., Boucheron, Bvlgari and more can also be found here along with a hefty array of watches hailing from Rolex and Cartier.

2. Alex Stevens Vintage

Founder Alex Stevens sold his first vintage timepiece at only 14 years old and after years of working in the auction and private sales industry, he has branched off to start his own business dealing in classic watches from the likes of Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Piaget. Check out his Instagram regularly, as he will put up some interesting pieces from his personal collection for sale, like the full gold secret watch bangle. You might also want to reach out to make an appointment as he travels often to hunt down specific watches for his clients.

3. Antique Jewellery Company

Launched in 2009, this vintage jewellery store specialises in ornate creations across the Victorian and Edwardian eras and comes in all forms set with precious stones. But don’t let the age of the items fool you, the smorgasbord is unique and offbeat such as a diamond pave terrier tie pin, a shell brooch with a diamond-encrusted snake guarding a pearl or padlock charms that make for perfect additions to a bracelet or necklace.

4. Somlo London

Nestled within Burlington Arcade, Somlo London is the first and only official OMEGA vintage store, with some of the rarest pieces ever created by the Swiss manufacture. But aside from OMEGA, Somlo London also offers breathtaking enamelled and stone-dial timepieces from Patek Philippe and Piaget. Prices are definitely steep but the rarity of these watches justifies them.

5. Olga Lagbesi

From Van Cleef & Arpels to Bvlgari, Olga Lagbesi’s booth at Gray’s Antique Market on Bond Street has some of the most scintillating vintage jewellery that will make any gem lover smile from ear to ear. There are even options for men such as interchangeable cufflinks by Cartier, where the wearer can choose the precious stones on the ends such as malachite, lapis lazuli, carnelian and onyx.

6. Lucky Time London

This vintage watch store is tucked away in a small building at Portobello Market. It carries a wide range of watches like a fun Gerald Genta Donald Duck timepiece and affordable options from Rolex, Cartier and even Hermès. The friendly guys at Lucky Time are all ears to what you’re looking for and are eager to share whatever they have in stock.

7. A. R. Ullmann

Although this vintage jewellery store is a bit of a commute from the city centre, its offerings are worth the trip. The options are aplenty with rings, bracelets, necklaces and brooches set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts, turquoise, coral and more. The price range is wide, depending on what you’re in the mood for, but you can find some pieces under £1,000.

8. Tortoise Watches

This store is truly for vintage watch purists. Located in Gray’s Antique Market, Tortoise Watches specialises in neo-vintage timepieces from Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Zenith, Jaeger-LeCoulture and even Daniel Roth. The icing on the cake is the cheerful founder Arwind Jhand, also known as the “Wristpirate”, who is more than happy to talk watches, sharing the provenance of the pieces under his care till they find their forever home.

9. Charlotte Sayers Antique Jewellery

If chunky gemstones are your thing, you have to check out Charlotte Sayers’ booth at Grays Antique Market. Rubies, sapphires, emeralds, pearls ... you name it and she’s got it, set in rings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches and more dating back to the 16th century. Another unique find here is mourning jewellery, which was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries to commemorate the death of a loved one.

10. Anthea Gesua

This vintage jewellery and watch dealer has some of the most avant-garde pieces at Gray’s Antique Market, from luxury maisons we’re well acquainted with to independent jewellers that few would have come across in this day and age. You will also find rare vintage pieces of amazing quality from Chopard and Mario Buccellati. Gesua will also have a booth at the upcoming Winter Art & Antiques Fair at Olympia London from 4 to 10 November 2024 for visitors to view and purchase pieces from her extensive collection.

This article was originally published in Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.