We created The Vintage Ring Company to bring a little more ease, joy and storytelling into the way we buy pre-loved engagement rings. We’re so glad you’re here.
How it all began...
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 and their resistance to the disposable.
Our Founders
Claire Roberts
Claire Roberts is a jewellery journalist and editor with more than 20 years of experience in luxury publishing. For seven years she was Managing Editor of The Jewellery Editor, one of the most widely read independent jewellery publications in the world, and has since edited Graffiti, the bi-annual magazine published by high-jewellery house Graff. She is currently a contributing writer and newsletter editor at Katerina Perez, and continues to work as a freelance editor and writer for a wide range of independent luxury brands, including Garrard and Maddox Gallery.
Claire has long lived and breathed jewellery. 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. She co-founded The Vintage Ring Co. in 2018, bringing her editorial expertise and deep knowledge of fine jewellery to the curation of the collection.
You can read Claire's work at The Jewellery Editor and Katerina Perez.
© Tilda Nowell Photography
Arabel Lebrusan
Arabel Lebrusan is a jewellery designer, visual artist and pioneer of the ethical jewellery movement. She began her formal training as a Goldsmith, a Gemmologist and in Fine Art, before completing an MA in ethical jewellery design at London's Central Saint Martins. She has since worked with precious materials for over two decades.
In 2011, Lebrusan was one of a handful of jewellers worldwide selected specially to launch Fairtrade Gold. Shortly afterwards, she delivered the first ever TEDx talk on ethical jewellery in 2014. Since founding her ethical jewellery design studio Lebrusan Studio in 2015, Arabel has been recognised by a number of accolades - including two-times Jewellery Designer of the Year (2017, 2022) by the National Association of Jewellers.
Arabel's work is a celebration of traditional craftsmanship, meaningful
materials and jewellery as a force for good - socially, politically and
environmentally. She co-founded The Vintage Ring Co. in 2018, applying her knowledge of gemmology and her passion for circularity.
© Emma Hare Photography
Claire and Arabel's 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 of these rings listed with little to no context, when what makes them special is their history?
And so, in 2018 - joined by business partner Philippe - The Vintage Ring Co. was born. Together, we present to you a curated collection of vintage engagement rings and wedding bands, hand-picked with care and clarity, for people seeking something meaningful.
Every piece of pre-loved jewellery is independently assessed by the Goldsmiths' Company, lovingly restored where needed by our expert craftspeople in London's Hatton Garden, thoroughly cleaned and polished, delivered with a certificate of authenticity, and ready to propose with. To further support you, we also offer one free resize within the first year of purchase.
In 2024, we launched Reclaimed Vintage, a collection of one-of-a-kind jewellery crafted from forgotten fragments: Victorian Albert chains, charms, T-bars and other beautiful parts from the past. Each piece is a celebration of sustainability and sentiment, giving new life to what once was, and inviting it to be worn and loved all over again.
Reclaimed Vintage
In 2024, we launched Reclaimed Vintage, a collection of unique editions centred on previously forgotten fragments: Victorian Albert chains, brooches, charms and T-bars from the past.
Crafted in London through a process of alchemy - uniting discarded components with newly designed details - each piece is a celebration of sustainability and sentiment. This collection breathes new life to what once was, and inviting it to be worn and loved all over again.
Our ethics
When we founded The Vintage Ring Co. our aim was simple: to offer jewellery with history, heart and a lighter environmental footprint. Every pre-loved ring we offer is conflict-free by nature and gentle on the planet because its precious materials and craftsmanship are already in circulation with us. No new mining, and minimal expenditure of energy; because joyous jewellery shouldn't cost the Earth.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Vintage Ring Co. is an online antique and vintage ring shop co-founded in 2018 by jewellery designer and ethical jewellery pioneer Arabel Lebrusan, and leading jewellery journalist and editor Claire Roberts. Based in the UK and shipping worldwide, we've curated a collection of one-of-a-kind antique and vintage rings spanning the Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco and Mid-Century eras. Each of our rings is carefully selected based on our profound knowledge and appreciation for special jewellery, restored by expert craftspeople where necessary, cleaned and polished, independently authenticated, and delivered ready to wear.
Every ring in our collection is independently assessed by the Goldsmiths' Company and comes with a signed and stamped certificate of authenticity.
The Goldsmiths' Company is one of the oldest and most respected assay authorities in the world, and their certificate independently verifies the age, metal content and gemstones of each piece. This means you have third-party confirmation of exactly what you are buying, with no need to rely on our word alone.
Yes. Every ring purchased from The Vintage Ring Co. comes with one free resize included within the first year of purchase - and any subsequent resizes charged at a small fee. We'll deliver your unique ring unsized in the first instance, packing a ring sizing kit in your parcel so you can measure your ring size at home. If you need to adjust the size of your ring after receiving it, we can facilitate this.
Most antique and vintage rings can be resized, though the extent of adjustment possible depends on the design, size and structural integrity of each individual piece. If you have any questions about a specific ring, we're happy to advise before you buy.
Yes. Buying a vintage or antique ring is on of the most sustainable choices you'll ever make in fine jewellery, because no new mining is required for its existence. The precious metal and gemstones already exist: they were mined, refined and crafted generations ago. Choosing a pre-loved ring means no new land is disturbed, no new water used, and no new supply chain created. Every ring in our collection is conflict-free by nature, continuing its cycle of life by way of our collective responsible decisions. For anyone seeking a ring that is genuinely gentle on the planet, reclaiming an antique or vintage piece is the straightforward answer.