We are based in Florence on The Old Bridge.

Our address is:

Ponte Vecchio 44r 50125 Firenze Italia

Our premises is not a conventional shop, but an iconic Florentine Boutique , where you can arrange to view items in person, should you wish.

Yes! We are a family business and we always work with antique jewelry!

We believe that antique jewellery has an enduring charm and distinction that modern equivalents simply cannot match (don't get us started!).

Antique jewellery is also an investment rather than an expense, with immediate advantages over other ways of investing for the future. It is cheaper to buy and sell through a dealer than an auction house with their spiralling commissions. A dealer's knowledge, experience and passion add value to a purchase which will give life long pleasure.

Our jewellery varies in age from the early 18th Century up until the 1960s and later. We have categorised our jewellery into different periods. Each period has many different designs and characteristics. These periods include Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro, Mid-Century and Modern.

Georgian Jewellery (1714-1830)

Georgian era jewellery is handmade, making the quality of each piece variable. Needless to say, Georgian jewellery is very rare. Often featuring nature-inspired designs such as leaves and birds, Georgian jewellery frequently includes precious stones.

Early Victorian, Romantic Jewellery (1839-1901)

Like jewellery of the Georgian era, early Victorian era jewellery features nature-inspired designs. Frequently, these designs would be delicately and intricately etched into gold. Lockets and brooches were popular everyday jewellery during the early Victorian era whereas colored gemstones and diamonds were worn during the evening.

Mid-Victorian, Grand Jewellery (1860-1880)

Because the Grand or Mid-Victorian era corresponded with the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, many jewellery pieces have solemn, grave designs. Known as mourning jewellery, the pieces feature heavy, dark stones. Jet, onyx, amethyst, and garnet are frequently found in jewellery from this period. The jewellery also became especially creative during this period. More colorful designs were born featuring shells, mosaics and colorful gemstones.

Late Victorian, Aesthetic Jewellery (1885-1900)

During the Late Victorian or Aesthetic period, jewellers used diamonds and feminine, bright gemstones such as sapphire, peridot, and spinel. Star and crescent designs as well as elaborate hat pins were also popular.

Art Nouveau Jewellery (1890-1915)

Inspired by Rene Jules Lalique in France and other jewellers in America, Art Nouveau jewellery features natural designs such as flowers and butterflies.

Edwardian Jewellery (1901-1914)

The Edwardian period was born when Queen Victoria died and her son Edward became king. During this period, expensive gemstones such as diamonds, emeralds and rubies and elaborate designs were the fashion.

Art Deco Jewellery (1920-1935)

Influenced by African, Egyptian and Japanese themes, Art Deco jewellery is famous for its geometric designs, sharp lines, and bright colors. Bakelite, celluloid, eidl and doublets were used frequently during this era. Necklaces were long and bracelets were worn many at a time. Amber and murano beads were worn as well as chokers.

Retro Jewellery (1940s)

Inspired by Hollywood, Retro jewellery is colorful, bold and elaborate. Commonly worn were large cocktail rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces and charm bracelets.

As we develop as a business we hope to focus more on the educational side of antique jewellery, as we feel it is such fun and well worth sharing. Watch this space!

We use our vast knowledge to date each piece based on the item's materials, construction techniques, hallmarks, signatures, and cultural context. Some people may even refer to our ability to identify the age of our jewellery as diamond whispering! After decades of experience, vintage and antique pieces just speak to us, and by using our knowledge, experience and network of resources, we can usually identify the age of each item. While we cannot guarantee the exact age of each piece, we can determine to the best of our ability when it was likely manufactured and during which era it was designed.

This is the most frequently asked question and a highly guarded trade secret. We scour the country for the most high quality and exquisite pieces so you don’t have to!

Our jewellery is in excellent condition, taking into account its age. We pride ourselves on selecting only the finest examples of antique jewellery. In exceptional circumstances when an item is not in excellent condition, we will mention it in our item descriptions. Of course, please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to see some more hi-resolution images of the item or view the item in person at our Boutique.

We are constantly looking for fine quality pieces to add to our collection. You can always rely on us to settle instantly and provide maximum discretion when doing so. If you have jewellery that you are considering selling, whether it’s an entire estate collection or just one piece, please contact us at: info@bernardoantichita.com .

Please note we only buy items that are antique, ie. at least 50 years old, and in general we do NOT buy costume jewellery, loose coloured gemstones, pocket watches or watches.

We've tried to make purchasing on our website as easy as possible. Navigate to an item you want quickly and easily and click the 'Add to Bag' button. When you are happy to proceed to payment, click on 'Shopping Bag' in the top right of the screen and follow the simple steps, using our secure payment gateway

We endeavour to dispatch items the same day we receive the order, so long as the payment has been received before 2pm (GMT) that day. However, we cannot always guarantee that this will always be the case.

Please note we are unable to dispatch orders on Saturday or Sunday.

Yes, we can hold items for up to 72 hours. Please contact us at: info@bernardoantichita.com to let us know if you wish to put an item on hold.

Alternatively, items may be reserved for up to 2 months, with a 10% non-refundable deposit.

Please note that this is offered on a case-by-case basis depending on the item in question.

No. We price our items fairly based on the current market. However, if you can't resist haggling we won't not listen to your offer.

For international orders we used DHL Express International. All items are fully insured and sent at the risk of Bernardo Antichità . Items will be sent out as soon as your money has been cleared. Please note an adult signature is required to receive all packages.

Yes, we’ll email you your tracking information once your item has been dispatched.

-What is your returns policy?

We offer a 'no quibble', 3 days full money back guarantee on all online purchases. Items must be returned in the same condition we sent them in.

With international orders the buyer pays return postage and any customs duties and sales taxes that may be incurred.

Yes, we do offer sizing.

Sizing can generally be done in 2 working days, depending on the workload of our jeweller.