The Vintage Ring Co.

The Vintage Ring Co. exists to introduce a little more ease, joy and storytelling into the way we buy pre-loved jewellery.

When ethical jewellery pioneer Arabel Lebrusan and jewellery journalist Claire Roberts first met over coffee in London, it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to the past. Both shared a deep-rooted respect for antique and vintage jewels: their stories, their craftsmanship, their resistance to the disposable. Arabel, an award-winning visual artist, creative campaigner and leading voice in ethical jewellery design under her eponymous studio Lebrusan Studio, has dedicated over two decades of her life to creating jewellery that tells stories. Her work is a celebration of traditional craftsmanship, meaningful materials and jewellery as a force for good - socially, politically and environmentally. Claire, meanwhile, has long lived and breathed jewellery. As former Managing Editor of The Jewellery Editor, she has a sharp eye for detail, a deep respect for design and a fascination with antique gems in all their colours, cuts and glory. Their chat quickly evolved into a bigger question: Why is buying vintage engagement rings still so confusing? Where do you go if you want something beautiful, affordable and authentic? Why are so many pieces of jewellery listed with little to no context, when what makes them special is their history? And so, in 2018 - with business partner Philippe - The Vintage Ring Co. was born. A curated collection of vintage engagement rings, wedding bands and commitment rings, hand-picked with care and clarity, for people who those who yearn for something meaningful. Every piece is thoroughly cleaned, independently assessed, lovingly restored where needed, and accompanied by a unique certificate of authenticity. Ready to begin wearing - with no extra steps and no uncertainty. Because we believe every wed-to-be deserves something original, our pricing is fair and transparent, with options for all kinds of budgets.

In a country where at least over 2 million adults openly identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual alone, to not consider LGBTQ+ people in love when designing and marketing our jewellery would be absurd. Our hometown of Brighton recently received the official title of the UK's queer capital, with one in 10 people over the age of 16 openly identifying as LGBTQ+. These people are us, our neighbours, our colleagues, friends, and family members. Of course our door is open. We are aware that the wedding industry remains largely an old-fashioned one, steeped in traditions and terminology that continue to perpetuate archaic ideals of sexuality and gender. Unfortunately, this can cause many to feel underrepresented or, in some cases, simply excluded. We believe that love belongs to everybody, so we take an active stance in welcoming any LGBTQ+ person with open arms.

Between Arabel Lebrusan's well-versed knowledge of sustainability and ethical practices and Claire Roberts' deep-rooted appreciation for jewellery design, craftsmanship and materials, we bring a wealth of expertise to the table. We are a tight-knit team of social individuals who thrive on getting to know people, priding ourselves on our ability to apply this knowledge when uniting our clients with the perfect jewel for them. This is about really listening; observing the people sat in front of us, acknowledging the nuances of their body language and visual style, and understanding deeply what their engagement ring, wedding band or commitment ring will mean to them. Jewellery tells stories, and being a good wedding jeweller means recognising the story that each client wants to tell - then helping them to do so.

When we founded The Vintage Ring Co., our aim was simple: to offer jewellery with history, heart and a smaller environmental footprint. Every pre-loved ring we offer is conflict-free by nature and gentler on the planet than a newly-made piece of jewellery because the gemstones, metal and craftsmanship are already here with us above-ground. We love that we can enjoy the gift of beautiful jewellery without driving demand for any further mining, exploitation or production. In doing so, we invite our clients to begin a new chapter where an old story once left off. These jewels carry the past, the present and the future in one symbolic piece - a small act of love for both the planet and the life you’re building together.

• Free consultations (either in person at the London Diamond Bourse or online)
• One free resize
• A keepsake branded jewellery box
• A unique certificate of valuation and authenticity, signed and stamped by the London Assay Office

• PayPal
• Apple Pay
• Card payment
• Klarna