Play Cupid at auction to capture your valentine’s heart

If you are looking for a piece of unique jewellery to demonstrate your love on Valentine’s Day, consider antique or vintage pieces, says Sworders Head of Jewellery Valerie di Cola.

Declaring your love on Valentine’s Day with a romantic piece of jewellery is an exciting moment – especially when you have found a one-off item at auction that can’t be bought in a standard jewellery shop.

Even better, you can usually get more for your money and afford a higher-quality stone or a more impressive design when jewellery goes on sale at auction.

Prices can be significantly lower than retail, sometimes around one-third of the original price, because they are based on the market value rather than a retail markup.

Whether you’re celebrating a lifetime’s commitment or declaring a new love and affection, vintage or antique jewellery treasures can speak from the heart with both history and charm. Look for symbols of interest or love knots which can add a deeper, more personal meaning.

Antique describes jewellery made at least 100 years ago such as Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and Art Nouveau while vintage describes jewellery between 50 and 100 years old, so items produced from the mid-1920s, such as Art Deco, to the mid-1970s.

Diamonds

For centuries, diamonds have symbolised love, commitment – and luxury. They continue to capture hearts and popular diamond jewellery choices for Valentine's Day include necklaces with heart-shaped or solitaire pendants, classic stud earrings, single-stone diamond engagement rings and eternity rings.

Diamond tennis bracelets, containing many small gems linked in a narrow chain, or those with sentimental charms, are also popular options.

As an example, in 2025, Sworders sold a pair of single-stone diamond stud earrings for £2,400 plus fees and an 18ct gold diamond charm bracelet by Cartier for £7,000 plus fees.

Buying a ring at auction

If you are thinking of popping the question or perhaps bidding for an eternity ring to show your love, you will need to estimate the ring size.

There are several ways to do this. I suggest borrowing a ring the person wears on the same finger (typically the ring finger, left hand) and take it to a jeweller to measure the size.If this proves tricky ask a friend or relative to help as they may be able to borrow a ring on your behalf or ask for information. If the above fails then shop together for ‘fun jewellery’ and note the size without giving away your intentions.

Ring sizes are included in auction catalogue descriptions but before placing a bid, I recommend contacting the auction house’s specialist for guidance on whether the ring can be resized and to what extent. Once you have this information, compare the catalogue’s listed ring size with the size you need and again consult the specialist if you need further advice.

Auction rings are sold as they are – that means no free resizing. Vintage or intricate rings may be difficult or costly to resize and some designs can’t be resized, such as a full diamond eternity rings.

After winning the bid take the ring to a reputable jeweller who specialises in antique or vintage jewellery. Check for any structural issues before resizing as older rings may need reinforcement.

In 2025, we also sold a diamond ring by Noam Carver for £7,000 plus fees while a platinum and heart-shaped diamond single stone ring sold for £2,200 plus fees. A very attractive aquamarine and diamond ring sold for £1,200 plus fees.

Excellent pieces can be secured for under £1,000 such as a platinum and diamond eternity ring which sold for £800 plus fees and a pair of cultured pearl and diamond stud earrings which went under the hammer for £700 plus fees. A Trilogy diamond ring, a three-stone design representing past, present and future, sold for £500 plus fees.

Contact Valeria di Cola at ValeriaDiCola@sworder.co.uk

About Sworders

The fine art auction house has an international reputation and a legacy dating to 1782.
Sworders has a central London gallery while the head office and auction rooms are in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. The valuations office is in Hertford.

Sworders’ calendar of events includes Jewellery, Fine Wine and Spirits, British and European paintings, Fine Furniture and Works of Art, Modern and Contemporary Art and Asian Art.
The auction house combines expertise and experience with a commitment to achieving the best auction results for clients by marketing collections to prospective purchasers around the globe.

Sworders is a member of the Society of Fine Art Auctioneers, the professional body exclusively representing fine art auctioneers and valuers in the UK.

Diary date

Sworders’ next Jewellery auction is on February 25, 2026.

Visit sworder.co.uk

Jewellery Insurance and valuations

Before you play Cupid with a special piece this Valentine’s Day, it’s worth making sure your jewellery is properly valued and protected.

When it comes to insuring high-value items like jewellery, being specific matters. Many people assume their valuables are covered, but without specifying key items you could be left out of pocket in the event of a claim.

Most insurers set a single article limit – the maximum they will pay for any single item, pair or set unless it is specified on the policy. The single article limit varies between insurers and policy sections. It can be anything from £1,000 to £50,000, so it’s important to know what applies to your own cover, particularly for high value jewellery or watches.

Insurers usually require a valuation for a specified item, which we would recommend. A good valuation not only prevents underinsurance but it’s evidence to support claim, and in our experience a claim is often settled much more quickly when there is an up-to-date valuation. A good valuation will include a description, weight, size and a photograph, the date and the valuer’s name and credentials. You can read more about valuations here: Ensuring your jewellery insurance shines when you need it most

Even if individual pieces fall within your insurer’s single article limit, it’s still important to make sure the overall cover for your unspecified valuables is set at the right level. If this total limit isn’t high enough, you could still be underinsured. You can read more about this in our article: Protecting your valuable - why it pays to be specific

How we can help

Money from an insurance payout can never replace the sentimental value of a treasured piece of jewellery. But having the right cover in place ensures that you’re protected from the financial impact of a loss - whether that’s purchasing a replacement, covering repair or restoration costs, or receiving compensation for any depreciation in value.

At Howden, our people are both experienced and professionally qualified. We take the time to understand your needs, review your policy and ensure your limits are clearly understood and correctly set. And if the worst happens and you need to make a claim, our specialist claims team will guide you through the process with care and expertise.

So whether you’ve found the perfect vintage treasure at auction or are planning to play Cupid with a meaningful gift this Valentine’s Day, we’re here to help make sure it’s protected for years to come.

To speak to us about your jewellery or home insurance, call 020 8256 4901 or email privateclients@howdeninsurance.co.uk

Julie Webb

Working in a key ambassadorial role, Julie focuses on business development within the Private Clients division, working with like-minded professional referrers and building connections.

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