A n unusual 15ct gold padlock that was made circa 1860. A snake wraps itself around the engraved ball. It hinges open so it can either be worn on a chain or as a bracelet with a chain attached. Snake motifs in jewellery were very popular in the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods as they represented “Eternal love and wisdom” There is a monogram on the reverse MEB.
Buying vintage jewelry is both ethical and eco-friendly as harmful and destructive mining processes are not needed to make an item yours. So give yourself a pat on the back!
"A wonderful vendor with kind, thoughtful and helpful staff. They respond quickly, honestly and clearly to any queries or requests. The items they sell are unique, top-quality, exactly as described, in excellent condition. This is the most trustworthy vendor of antique jewelry I have encountered."
Barbara, Connecticut
"Lovely jewelry exactly as described plus super efficient service."
Nicole, Boston
"The most gorgeous antique jewelery that I have found and amazing customer service! They are very responsive via email and even more generous in person, when I visited on a trip from the States."
Abigail, Washington
"My pendant totally exceeded my expectations in every way!! It is very lovely...prettier than the pictures which were very good. It was in a beautiful presentation box and packaged extremely well for shipping. I received it much faster than I imagined I would. Excellent little jewel and experience with the AJC!!!"
Ellen, Virginia
"LOVE the Antique Jewellery Company - their selections are impeccable. They were so professional and helpful in selecting my ring. They sent me several images and videos, and told me all about the history of their special Edwardian pieces. They took thoughtful care in shipping and communications overseas. I will definitely be a return customer!"
Jennifer, New York
"Quality, elegance, and one-of-a-kind jewellery all describe the pieces you will find at The Antique Jewellery Company. Olly and her team provide expert service and an excellent array of choices. My favorite place to shop in London. Really wonderful!"
Elizabeth, West Virginia
"Incredibly helpful and attentive service. Always quick to respond and they even sent additional photos at my request. I’m based in the US and it felt like the shop was just down the street. Definitely my go to Antique Jewelers."
Matthew, New Jersey
"The two rings I purchased are beautiful - I feel like I'm wearing history. They arrived in San Diego promptly, as promised. Thank you!"
Sue, San Diego
"Wonderful company! The ring was just as lovely as shown in pictures and exactly as described. Beautiful wrapping/box- so special! I would and will be purchasing from them again - amazing and unique jewelry."
Nancy, Texas
"Amazing service when I ordered two items while in China to be delivered to me in New Orleans for my birthday (I live in NYC.) The service was impeccable. Things arrived on time and they were even better than pictured. I will visit when in London and continue to browse and buy."
Jessica, New York
"This is my favorite antique store to visit in London. I've been there my last two trips to London and each time I've gotten amazing pieces. Olly has a great eye and a wonderful collection to select from. I definitely plan on going the next time I'm in London!
Claire, Los Angeles
"I live in the United States, and working with AJC was easier than going into a store here! They were easily accessible and we even did a video Skype session for additional looks. They had the ring sized and out and shipped to the USA by the next day. Simply an amazing customer experience!"
Benjamin, Atlanta
"Olly was so lovely and helpful, which is exactly what you need when you're buying an engagement ring."
Grant, New York
"Item clearly represented on site. Great communication with staff. Very fast shipping to me in Florida, USA. Great experience all around. Will shop again."
Bryan, Florida
"The service is impeccable, the selection exceptional, and the pieces have always arrived on time, as advertised, and well packaged. The best recommendation I can give is I will return next year to see what new and interesting pieces are available for another holiday gift."
Jeff, Texas
"I absolutely love the gorgeous ring I purchased! Client service is fantastic. Shipment to the US was fast and tracked in detail the entire journey. I’m a returning customer and will definitely purchase again! Excellent business!"
Jennifer, California
"I've purchased several pieces from the Antique Jewellery Company. Each item was even more beautiful upon arrival than shown in the online images. The service is exceptional - ever friendly and prompt. Highly recommend."
Felicity, Pennsylvania
"I live in the United States, and working with AJC was easier than going into a store here! They were easily accessible and we even did a video Skype session for additional looks. They had the ring sized and out and shipped to the USA by the next day. Simply an amazing customer experience!"
Benjamin, Atlanta
"Always wonderful to work with. Piece was even beyond expectation! I will be back for more wonderful items!!"
Lisa, California
"Veautiful pieces; skilled, informed and highly educated staff; always a delight to work with... wonderful!"
Prudence, New York
"I really appreciate their quick and genuine customer service, and I would recommend The Antique Jewellery Company any day! I'll for sure be a return customer. :)"
Maricris, Houston
"Found a beautiful, one-of-a-kind antique ring with the help of my now fianceé. They went above and beyond in providing extra pictures and any information that they could upon request. Couldn't be happier with the purchase."
Jake, Ohio
"The best of the best when it comes to high quality antique jewelry!"
Emily, Los Angeles
While every piece of vintage jewelry is unique, we are happy to notify you if we find something similar to this item.
We are constantly buying, so your dream piece may be just around the corner.
To get the ball rolling please fill in the form below, remembering to provide us with as much information as possible.
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Join our Loyalty Program
Earn points when placing an order
$1 spent = 1 point
Redeem your points for discounts off future purchases
Please note:
You must be logged in to your account when you order or you will not receive points
Points are only applied to online purchases
To redeem your points, just log in to your account, put your items in the basket and then at checkout, you will be offered the option to redeem your points
Any questions? As always, just call us and we’ll help you out
Sign up and we'll give you 200 points to get you started. So what are you waiting for?
Go the extra mile and house your special ring in one of our luxury, sustainably sourced boxes, handmade exclusively for the AJC in a small town in the English county of Suffolk.
$105
Exterior made of durable, 85% genuine leather fibres from waste retrieved from tanneries
Interior velvet pad and satin hood
Clip closure
Exposed brass hinge and 90 degree opening
54mm (w) x 44mm (h) x 58mm (d)
Handmade in small batches in Suffolk by a family firm who have been in production for over fifty years
Painstakingly designed by our very own co-founder, Matt
Big enough to feel substantial, small enough to hide in your pocket!
Please note that all our rings come with a Free Standard Box Find out more
AJC Signature Boxes
All our items will arrive in our complimentary blue AJC boxes, which we think are very smart.
They will be wrapped in tissue and accompanied by a handwritten note confirming the piece's authenticity. If you would like to include a personal note to the recipient, then you can add this during checkout.
Please note that we also offer luxury, handmade boxes for rings Find out more
Free Shipping
We are pleased to offer Free Shipping on all purchases to our customers in the USA.
All orders are fully insured and dispatched securely from London, England by our trusted partner, DHL Express Worldwide.
We calculate and add all customs, taxes and duties at checkout to ensure a smooth journey with no delays or unexpected fees along the way.
All orders will arrive at the destination in the USA in 3-5 working days*.
* these are estimates only and can vary
Items over 100 years old
In the USA, import tax/duty do not apply when purchasing antiques aged over 100 years old. We declare these items as 'Personal adornment, over 100 years old', providing a signed and dated Antique Declaration form. Georgian and Victorian jewelry (around 40% of our inventory) falls into this category.
Items under 100 years old
For items under 100 years old you will be liable to pay local tax/duty or handling fees on imported goods. Jewelry from periods other than Georgian and Victorian (around 60% of our inventory) falls into this category.
Prepayment of Duties & Taxes
To ensure as smooth and pain-free an experience as possible, we calculate all applicable customs, taxes and duties at checkout and add them to the total cost of the order. In doing so, we take on the responsibility of shipping logistics and customs clearances (using the DDP shipping arrangement) so you don't have to. Most importantly, it means your item/s will be with you as quickly as possible.
Customers in the USA might be charged additional, shipment-related fees, in the region of $40.00-$80.00, that can vary from state to state. The AJC cannot take responsbilitiy for these fees.
Please let us know if you are contacted by US Customs requesting supporting documents.
Please note:
Ring sizing adds approximately 2-3 days to the shipping estimate
We are unable to redirect orders once items have been dispatched
All items are fully insured and sent at the risk of The Antique Jewellery Company
Once dispatched, your full end-to-end tracking details will be provided via email
All orders require a signature upon receipt
Items will be sent out within 24 hours of receipt of payment
We do not ship on Saturdays or Sundays
We do not ship to a postal box address
We have no authority over the US Customs department
Our jewelry is Conflict Free and Eco-Friendly and when purchasing an item from us you can be sure you are not contributing to any unethical procedures.
When buying new jewelry you can never be 100% sure that they are not conflict free.
Choosing vintage means:
you are buying conflict-free
you are not contributing in any way to a locally destructive cycle of violence, warfare, economic inequality, exploitation and human suffering
you can have total confidence that your money is not supporting industrial practices that destroy the environment, poison the land or displace disadvantaged people
you are helping to eliminate the need for more mining and lessening the demand for new diamonds and precious stones
your item most likely predates any regional conflicts associated with the diamond trade and precious gemstone mining
you will be reducing your carbon footprint
you are acting as conservator rather than consumer
At The AJC we stand behind every item we sell with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and are confident that your jewelry purchase will exceed your expectations.
However, if you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, we offer a 30 Day, Full Money-Back Guarantee on all purchases.
You must pay for the return postage and any taxes and duties applied.
Contact us within 30 days of receipt of the item to let us know of your intention to return the item/s.
We strongly recommend that you return the item/s via DHL Express Worldwide as we are not responsible for items that do not reach us. Import tax/duty may also be applied by UK customs if the item/s are not shipped correctly.
Return the item/s to us within the original packaging (including padded envelope). Attach the DHL return label supplied with your order to the outside of the parcel. If you are only returning part of your order, we will need to send you a new DHL return label.
Drop off the parcel at your nearest DHL Service Point, and hand the shipper the Antique Declaration that was attached to the outside of the original DHL envelope. Please request a copy from us if this has been misplaced.
Please be aware that taxes and duties are NOT refunded for shipments to the USA.
We will accept returned goods for a refund under the following conditions:
Please contact us within 30 days of receipt of the item to let us know of your intention to return the item.
Please return the item/s to us within 48 hours of notifying us of your intention to do so.
Item/s must be returned in the same condition as they were in when received by you – damaged, broken or altered items will not be accepted for a refund.
We will refund you the full purchase price of the item(s) within 48 hours (or two working days) of receipt, via the mode or payment used in the original purchase. If paid via credit card, please allow 5-10 days for the processed refund to show up on your statement, depending on your issuing bank.
If the item is a ring that we have sized for free, we will deduct the cost of sizing ($105) from the refund amount.
For USA orders, return shipping costs (including taxes and duties) will be deducted from the refund amount.
Please note that international import tax/duty charges are not refunded for shipments outside the UK.
You have 60 days to exchange or part-exchange an item. Please contact us to discuss your specific arrangements.
We value our customers' peace of mind over everything. We therefore created our 5 point promise.
We take great pride in our collection of vintage jewelry, one that embodies only the very best from across the ages. Under no circumstances will you find any reproductions and, unless stated clearly, all our items are in good condition and 100% original, free from enhancements.
All our items are one-of-a-kinds, quite often commissions, meticulously handmade by skilled craftsmen of old. With the steady increase in international, mass-produced jewelry, our vintage jewelry has a timeless beauty and charm that simply cannot be replicated.
With over 50 years of experience in the London trade, Olly Gerrish has a reputation as one of London's leading vintage jewelry authorities; only the best examples from her stock are selected for the site.
Investing in a piece of antique jewelry can be a daunting process. We value our customers' peace of mind above all and strive to uphold a culture of trust and decency at all times. Our reputation for providing expert advice and support for our customers should reassure prospective customers. Should a customer for any reason be unhappy with their online purchase we will not hesitate to offer them a 30 day full money-back guarantee.
Finding the perfect piece should be a fun and enlightening experience. To help achieve this we are here to lend our customers a helping hand and provide impartial expert advice. Building lasting relationships is far more important to us than a quick sale.
We are pleased to offer Complimentary Sizings on all ring purchases, undertaken by one of the best jewellers in the business.
You can find out your ring size now by downloading our nifty Ring Measurer Thingy.
Sometimes it can be tricky finding out her size without being caught. In these circumstances we recommend saving your free sizing until after you've proposed or the recipient has received their ring. Just send your ring back to us via secure post or visit us at our London showroom and we will measure your partner's finger and take it to get sized.
Please note:
Our offer is only valid on the first ring sizing per customer.
Your free sizing will remain valid for 1 year after purchase.
Thereafter, ring sizings are charged at £72.00 (not including postage).
Sizings usually take 2-3 working days but can vary depending on our jeweller's workload. We always try and get rings sized as quickly as possible.
We have marked clearly beneath our items which rings can be sized. If you are unsure please let us know.
Certain rings are not able to be sized due to their design, eg. eternity rings or Georgian rings with ornately carved shanks. In these cases we feel the integrity of the rings would be damaged if sizing took place.
To ensure as smooth and pain-free an experience as possible, we calculate all applicable customs, taxes and duties at checkout and add them to the total cost of the order. In doing so, we take on the responsibility of shipping logistics and customs clearances (using the DDP shipping arrangement) so you don't have to. Most importantly, it means your item/s will be with you as quickly as possible.
In the USA, import tax/duty does not apply when purchasing antiques aged over 100 years old. We declare these items as 'Personal adornment, over 100 years old', providing a signed and dated Antique Declaration form.
Georgian and Victorian jewelry (around 40% of our inventory) falls into this category.
For items under 100 years old you will be liable to pay local tax/duty or handling fees on imported goods.
Jewelry from periods other than Georgian and Victorian (around 60% of our inventory) falls into this category.
Please let us know if you are contacted by US Customs requesting supporting documents.
Please note we have no authority over the US Customs department.