Inspired by jewels
Eva Antiques sells antique & vintage jewellery, mainly gold and gemstone pieces, from all eras. Personally, I am drawn to all types of jewels and feel that there are no rules as to what you can and can’t wear together or alone. I am a huge fan of mixed metals and chunky gold and my taste has certainly changed over time. I prefer to focus on stylish, well-made pieces that will stand the test of time.
I love the cyclical nature of this business and the idea that you are reviving old or forgotten pieces. The discovery of a piece that is so beautifully made and is over 100 years old, yet has a strong presence now that is timeless, fills me with absolute joy. And it is the idea of sustainability and revival surrounding the antique industry that particularly interests me.
I began my career in the fashion industry and have 10 years experience as a buyer of female clothing and accessories, yet my passion has always lain in the world of antiques & vintage. Both my parents were antique dealers for the majority of their working lives; my father dealt in antique furniture in the crazy heyday of the '80s, and my mother was an antique silver dealer. They made a living solely from this intriguing trade and I have been brought up in an alternative, vintage world. They say, once it is in your blood, it never leaves!
Since 2007 I have been scouring the UK for the best in antique jewellery, paying particular attention to quality and design. I have traded jewellery at antiques fairs all over the UK and online since then. I still maintain a presence at a London fair once a month, at the Horticultural Hall in Westminster, though I now sell mainly online.
I lived in the USA for 3 years from 2015 and learnt the trade from a different angle. It was a very worthwhile experience and it was amazing to gain some ‘inside’ knowledge of an alternative marketplace. Instagram has also played a large part in expanding the business and we continue to operate on an international platform sending to many worldwide locations every week.
Early morning finds.
The UK antique business seems to operate at ridiculously early hours and this has always been the case. Something about the need to find the best piece first keeps every antique dealer rising at dawn (or before in the winter!). There’s nothing better than a sunrise treasure hunt and the early hour creates a form of camaraderie amongst the trade.
As a child I would accompany my parents on these sunrise trips and I was always looking at the clothes and in the jewellery cases. Secondhand and vintage clothes and jewels have always been a part of my wardrobe and I finally realised that I wanted to work in this amazing trade. I made my dream a reality by working with a jewellery dealer at Portobello Antiques Market in London for a number of years, firstly working alongside her and then progressing to working alone. From there, I have spent time with a bench jeweller in the back rooms of Hatton Garden, the diamond district in London, and studied the details of diamond grading.
The antique & vintage trade is forever changing despite the pieces that we admire and buy staying just the same. There is no end to what you can learn and discover and truly, there is nothing else I’d rather do.
Newsletter
Be the first to know about our new collection
launches, special offers & other updates.