Help & FAQs

Yes, our showroom is in Hatton Garden, where you can see our a whole product range including fine jewellery, precious loose gemstones, and meet our team to discuss anything you have in mind or ask questions. Please note, some of our online items are kept off-site. Please call in advance if you would like to view these by appointment.

Holts Gems, 1st Floor,  39 Greville Street, London, EC1N 8PJ

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7405 5286 Email: info@holtsgems.com

Mon – Fri 9.30am -17.00pm. We are closed on Bank Holidays

By public transport, the nearest tube stations are Chancery Lane (Exit 4) or Farringdon which are a short walk away. Buses: 8, 17, 25, 45, 46, 242, 341, 521 and X91

When buying jewellery and gemstones we recognise the importance of being able to reassure our customers about the quality of those items. An increasing number of gemstones and diamonds have been artificially enhanced or synthesised in a laboratory. Whilst some processes are legitimate, any enhancement or treatment should be disclosed to the customer at the point of sale.

Holts Gems Guarantee

Holts have been buying and selling gemstones for over 75 years.

• We have a team of qualified gemmologists on-hand to examine and inspect every gemstone. Each team member is either qualified by the Gemmological Association of Great Britain or the Gemmological Institute of America.
• We have our own in-house, fully equipped gemmological laboratory that our gemmologists use to undertake all tests required. We do also have associated laboratories to undertake further tests if required.
• Each piece is examined under magnification and where necessary has undergone more rigurous testing in our in-house laboratory.

This means that every gemstone supplied (loose or in an item of jewellery) has undergone a strict process of inspection and testing. We confidently put our name and reputation on everything we supply, knowing that we have taken meticulous care with the process of testing. Our 75 years reputation is underpinned by you being able to trust Holts Gems level of care taken and the duty to their customers.

Where requested by you, we can also supply the following: 

Test Certificate for your Gemstone

This includes information such as:

• The identity of the gemstone
• Is it natural or synthetic
• Has the gemstone been filled/heat treated/dyed
• The technical specification of the gemstone (dimensions, cut, clarity and colour), weight, condition, method of manufacture (if a jewellery item), size, valuation amount (based on current market value to re-make) 

Jewellery Insurance Valuation Certificate

We can provide a fully detailed report of your jewellery (full specifications listed) so should you need to replace something or have it re-made you have the confidence that you have all you need in the one document.

Our Team

Our vast experience guarantees to you that our staff can advise you on almost any gemstone or rough gemstone/mineral material from the most recognised stones through to the more rare/unusual.

Our craftsmen and women take great pride in their work and are highly skilled at what they do. You will only receive your jewellery once it has been fully approved by our team of gemmologists.

We are members of:

• the NAJ (National Association of Jewellers)
• GEM-A (the Gemmological Association of Great Britain)

We will not try to sell you something just because we stock it. Holts Gems is a knowledge resource and we will help you find/source what you want, within your budget.       

Our customer service is second to none. We will always go above and beyond to help you if we can.

Product Imagery and Photography

We take every care to depict our jewellery and gemstones as accurately as possible through imagery online.  However colour will vary per device and screen resolution and we cannot guarantee that colours on the website will be true to life.  If you are unsure of the colour of one of our products, please do contact us for further images and advice.

Images may also appear smaller or larger than their actual size in order for you to see the entire product or to see the item in better detail.

When your jewellery is not being worn, store each item separately in a soft, lint-free pouch to prevent rubbing and scratching.

Avoid contact with household chemicals such as chlorine bleach, as this may discolour the metal.

Remove jewellery prior to partaking in manual work such as gardening and vigorous exercise – strong impact may lead to fractures.

Ensure that your jewellery is cleaned and inspected by a professional jeweller once a year. 

You can clean your diamond jewellery in a commercial ultrasonic cleaner and follow the instructions provided. Alternatively, place in a bowl of warm soapy water and rub gently but firmly with a soft toothbrush, then rinse and repeat if necessary. Dry well with an absorbent cloth. 

Place in a bowl of warm soapy water and rub gently but firmly with a soft toothbrush, then rinse and repeat if necessary. 

Dry well with an absorbent cloth. Keep stored away from harder gemstones such as diamonds. 

Place in a bowl of warm soapy water and rub very gently. Emeralds are delicate gemstones due to their numerous inclusions or ‘jardin’. Do not place in a commercial ultrasonic.

It is essential that you apply body lotions, perfume, hairspray etc before putting on your pearls. As these products are acidic they will eat into the nacre, and your pearls will lose their iridescence. After wearing your pearls, wipe with a soft damp lint free cloth to remove any perfume, dirt, body cream or perspiration on the surface of the pearls. 

Do not ever use any cleaning liquids such as bleaches and ultrasonic cleaners. Only use cleaning lotion specifically formulated to be used with pearls. Store your pearls in a suede box or pouch, away from any other items of jewellery, especially Diamonds, which will scratch. 

If you wear your pearls frequently, take them to a professional jeweller to have them restrung once a year. A tell-tale sign that they need restringing is if the silk thread has stretched or turned dark. 

To prevent possible damage, the following gemstones should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner; Amber, Opal, Tanzanite, Pearl, Turquoise, Emerald, Lapis Lazuli and Malachite. 

Yes, we can value jewellery and gemstones for insurance purposes for which we will produce a certificate of insurance replacement value. At Holts we have been dealing with stones and jewellery for over seventy years. The experience and knowledge we have acquired over this time is available to you in our valuation and gem testing service. Our on-site service will provide you with detailed identification of the jewellery pieces with their descriptions and values for the purpose of insurance valuations. Our insurance valuation service starts from £160+ VAT, but depends on the individual item. We only perform valuations during the week (Monday – Friday). We require at least 24 hours to perform a valuation although we may be able to offer a same day turnaround depending on workload. When left with us, you will be given a full record and receipt of the items in our care. This includes a photocopy and receipt of all items . We pride ourselves in being thorough and all valuations will contain photographs of the item(s), estimated weights (or specified where certificates are supplied) and colour stones will be tested and verified in our laboratory. Your items will be kept on our premises at all times and be insured whilst in our care. We kindly ask that you bring along any documentation associated with the piece to be valued.

We do provide testing services for which we issue a Test Certificate.

The fee for this service starts from £60 + VAT.

Certificates do not state pound values, but will state the species and variety of the gem material and in some cases comment on any treatments performed. We do not issue reports regarding the geographical origin of gemstones.

Yes, we have a team of award-winning designers in-house to work with you creating a unique item.

We are particularly proud of our design and goldsmithing skills, having provided these services to the trade for over 75 years. It is thanks to our incredible team that we were awarded Jewellery Retailer of the Year, for our exceptional bespoke jewellery services.

Our team specialises in bringing unlimited flexibility to the design process thanks to the in-house design, gem and manufacturing expertise at their disposal.

You book directly online via our website and we will contact you to confirm your appointment.

Alternatively, call us on 020 7405 5286 or email info@holtsgems.com

If you would prefer to discuss your budget in the absence of your intended, please contact your designer to make a note of your requirements prior to your appointment. To further add to the occasion, we can issue an appointment gift postcard.

How do I know my bespoke design will turn out the way I imagined?

During the bespoke process, there is a design review meeting where your designer presents you with unique hand-drawn creations for you to choose from and to approve. We will listen to your feedback and incorporate this into the designs.