Queen Victoria's Jewelry
If you've made it here, you probably already know that Victorian-period jewelry is wildly interesting, loaded with rich history, and...
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Frequently Asked Questions
We've compiled some of our frequently asked questions here, but If we didn't cover your inquiry, please feel free to reach out to Accidentalantiquarian@gmail.com
Do you offer Layaway?
Yes! Part of our commitment to onboarding new collectors is offering flexible layaway plans.
Our Policy: we take a nonrefundable 25% deposit down on any piece of jewelry retailing for $150 or more. We will work with you to create a flexible payment plan before taking the deposit. Because we are a small business, all purchases made on layaway are FINAL SALE. We will keep the item safe for you while the balance is paid. By completing the checkout process, you agree to all the terms associated with the layaway plan.
You can read our full policy and process by clicking HERE.
Sometimes we have specific items that are not available for layaway. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Shipping and packing
We pack all our jewels here in house. All small jewelry items will come in a giftable matte black presentation box with a decorative wax seal. Larger items like boxes and statues will be packed in recycled material. Please allow three days to pack and process orders. (Weekends and Holidays excluded). Packages are shipped via USPS with tracking. Please get in touch with us BEFORE purchasing an item if you will need expediting shipping.
International Shipping
We do offer international shipping with tracking via USPS. This can take up to 4 weeks. Please send us a message at accidentalantiquarian@gmail.com
returns and exchanges
We want you to be delighted with your new acquisition. However, if you are not, please reach out via our contact page or email accidentalantiquarian@gmail.com. As part of our commitment to transparency, we take multiple high-resolution images of each side of the item and provide a condition report in the online description. We make great efforts to accurately and honestly describe our jewels, but, If your new treasure doesn't meet your expectations, please notify us within three days of your purchase receipt (we determine item receipt by USPS/UPS/FEDEX final 'delivered' tracking update). The item must be returned at the buyer's expense with insurance coverage, and a refund will be issued once it is received. A 12% Restocking fee will apply to all returned items. You are responsible for mailing your return within five days of contacting us about the return. Items purchased on layaway are final sale and cannot be returned. Returned items must be returned in the unworn, clean condition they were received.
Taxes, duties, and Vat fees on international orders are the responsibility of the buyer.
resizing
Some antique rings cannot be resized. Specific Georgian rings, like half hoops or Antique rings with intact hallmarks and sentimental inscriptions, are often difficult to size. Sometimes they can go up or down a size depending on the construction of the ring. We do not have an in-house bench jeweler, and our resizing happens at a trusted local jeweler. Sometimes we are unable to do resizing. This is entirely dependent on the project and the availability of our jeweler.
Do you buy jewelry?
Yes! We buy estate jewelry and occasionally other antiques, including display boxes, compacts, fashion items, and occasional vintage jewelry. Our assortment is carefully curated, so we primarily focus on antiques and Georgian - Art Deco. Head to our CONTACT page for details.
Where can I learn more about antique jewelry?
Here at Accidental Antiquarian, we are excited and passionate about history - that is how this whole thing started. Our mission is to serve both established and novice collectors alike. We are committed to providing educational jewelry content for new collectors and creating a safe space to explore the fascinating world of antique jewelry. We regularly share educational material on TikTok, youtube, Instagram, and in our SUPER COOL NEWSLETTER! We invite you to learn with us!
Are your diamonds conflict free?
Yes! We specialize in antique jewelry, meaning most of our pieces are at least 100 years old. Most of the diamonds in our jewelry are genuine antiques and feature rose cut, old mine cut, European cut or other older diamond styles. Our Vintage diamonds may be more contemporary. These items will be labeled as vintage instead of antique. Collecting antique diamonds gives you an ethical advantage because diamonds mined before 1970 are generally conflict-free.
Can you help me identify my jewelry?
We can try! Sometimes we are super slammed, but we try our best to answer every inquiry. Please note that we specialize in antique jewelry and do not regularly work with newer pieces. But, if you have an antique mystery - feel free to send HIGH RES images of the front, back, and any hallmarks or stamps present, along with any info you have about its origins, original owners, or country of manufacture. We will do our best to respond to everyone, but we cannot make any promises.
Can you help me find something specific?
It depends! Shoot us an email at accidentalantiquarian@gmail.com, and we will see what we can do. We see a LOT of jewelry, so we can help source a specific piece or point you in the right direction. Inquire HERE.
How do I know the jewelry is antique?
Each piece is carefully checked for specific indicators, including style, material, and hallmarks, for accuracy and consistency with what was produced within a particular date range. We handle antique jewelry daily and are familiar with the styles and materials of different periods. For example, a brilliant-cut diamond wouldn't be in a Georgian ring because brilliant-cut diamonds didn't exist yet in the Georgian period. OR, a platinum brooch wouldn't be Georgian- because platinum wasn't used in jewelry then. We combine our specialized knowledge of time periods and aesthetic movements to circa date and "decode" antique jewelry. We also reference historical texts and have a beefy jewelry nerd library at our disposal that contains contemporary and antiquarian jewelry texts, catalogs, and scholarly articles. Often, hallmarks on fine jewelry will tell us when something was made and by whom, but not all pieces have hallmarks, in these cases, we stand behind our experience. There were many revival periods, so if we have an item that is not a genuine antique, it will be loudly disclosed in the description. We contact our local jewelry partners if we ever find an item where we aren't sure about the gems or details.
Here at Accidental Antiquarian, we offer both fine and novelty-grade antique jewelry. This means some of the jewelry features precious metals (gold, silver, plat) and gems, while other pieces may be a pinchbeck, goldfilled, paste, or even textile. Please read the descriptions carefully.
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