At Berganza, we pride ourselves on having one of the most extensive collections of antique rings in the world. As a family-run business, we also believe in a 'service for life' approach.
We supply only the finest quality pieces available, and ensure all our gems are natural untreated stones without enhancements. What's more, we source just those rings that represent the very best of every period. From Roman, Byzantine and Georgian to Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco. Not to mention, the retro fashions of the 1940s and 1950s.
In short, when you purchase a piece of fine vintage jewellery from Berganza, you are investing in a rarity. Each article was handmade by a craftsman at a time when there was no mass production of gemstone rings and jewellers considered themselves artists. It's no coincidence, therefore, that we are proud sponsors of the prestigious Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Awards, and have been for the last twenty years, in support of the enduring craftsmanship within the jewellery trade.
The team at Berganza combine experience with vision, practical expertise with academic excellence. A family business, our most important shared characteristic is a passionate devotion to antique jewellery. Our profound understanding of gemstones, supported by our extensive knowledge of the heritage of jewellery design, ensures that we are uniquely placed to select only the very finest for our collection, and to help our customers make informed choices in investing in pieces which, in many cases, will become their own heirloom.
With a service that is unrivalled by any, we are confident that when you buy from us, you are buying peace of mind.
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The Chairman and founder of Berganza, Paul Daughters’ passion for gems and jewellery was first ignited at the age of ten whilst in Australia on prospecting trips for gold and opals with his father. On returning to England, he undertook an apprenticeship in a prestigious lapidary company in Hatton Garden. Having gained immeasurable experience in a relatively short time, he ventured out on his own to create the largest lapidary company in England whilst still a teenager.
Over the years he grew the lapidary business and added diamond dealing and cutting to the company’s portfolio. Forever searching for unique precious stones, a natural progression was for the company to turn to not only mining, but also purchasing antique jewellery, where the finest gemstones were found. This was to be the beginning of a new era for the company when Paul realised that the incredible craftsmanship of these pieces was just as important as the stones themselves. This heralded the beginning of Berganza’s antique and vintage jewellery collection.
One of the highlights of his career was being asked to repolish the sapphire in a ring that had just been bought by Prince Charles. It would later be presented to Lady Diana Spencer, and is famously worn today by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Justin Daughters, Managing Director of Berganza, is continuing to build on the Daughters’ family legacy. Having worked at Berganza since the age of sixteen, he is an expert in both vintage and antique jewellery, with an incredible eye for quality, craftsmanship and the finest gemstones. He is responsible for sourcing and acquiring pieces for the collection from across the world. With over 2,500 pieces, Berganza is proud to have one of the largest collections of ancient, antique and vintage jewellery in Europe!
Whilst Justin has a great appreciation for all fine gemstones and antique jewellery from across the eras, he is particularly drawn to the vivid hue of Colombian emeralds. He brings enthusiasm and a wealth of knowledge to every piece he encounters.
Alexandra is the manager at Berganza, responsible for overseeing the sales department on a day to day basis. One of our antique and vintage specialists, she also writes many of our articles, often featured in publications. With a specific interest in our ancient and early pieces, Alexandra researches the history of our earlier and important jewels. Alexandra has her Cert GA from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (Gem-A), a degree in History of Art with Museum Studies, as well as a Masters in the Art Market and Appraisal, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the Berganza team.
Having worked at Berganza for over 10 years, Emma is an intrinsic part of the Marketing Team. She is the creative vision of Berganza and her role focuses predominantly on photographing recently acquired pieces for the website. With the largest collection in Europe of ancient, antique and vintage jewellery, Emma keeps our continuously changing collection up to date online. Emma also creates content for our popular social media channels, including Instagram and Youtube.
With a passion for gemstones, Zoe is a graduate gemmologist from GIA. In addition to this, she has her FGA, making her a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Zoe is an integral member of the sales team and specialises in highly sought after, unusual and rare gemstones such as cat’s eye chrysoberyl and colour change sapphires. She can often be found in the lab researching our latest acquisitions. Zoe is fluent in English, French and Spanish and often converses with our international clientele.
With a long-standing career in the jewellery trade that encompasses many facets of the industry, Gitte is a member of the sales team, and one of our fully qualified in-house gemmologists, having studied with the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Alongside offering her expert opinion on our diamonds and gemstones, Gitte is a strong admirer of the old traditional techniques and craftsmanship found in antique and vintage jewellery.
With degrees in Graphic design and Fashion, Izaak captures the beauty of our antique pieces in luxurious photo shoots. As an intrinsic member of the media department, Izaak is always found behind a camera, whether shooting product images for the website, or creating high-end imagery for our social media. Drawn to the rainbow of coloured gemstones, Emeralds and their rich velvety green are a firm favourite of his to capture. Utilising his skills from his fashion degree and his photography talent, Izaak brings the exquisite pieces in the Berganza collection to life.
With experience in the antique jewellery industry and a background in design, Roisin’s love for antique and vintage jewellery blossomed over the years, before joining the Berganza team as one of our antique jewellery specialists. Her favourite pieces hail from the nineteenth century, and she has a particular love for the intricately carved rings this era was famed for creating, believing the craftsmanship of these pieces to be second to none. Roisin is our wedding band specialist, helping you find the perfect ring to commemorate your special day.
With years of experience working in E-Commerce, Lisa is a key member of the media department, maintaining the smooth running of the Berganza website. Lisa’s favourite gemstone is a yellow diamond and she has a particular love for Art Deco pieces!
As our stock manager, Coral sees our jewellery through from its acquisition to being listed for sale. As well as being a Graduate Gemmologist from GIA, Coral also has a creative eye, having studied Jewellery and Metal at the Royal College of Art. Fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese and Catonese, she brings a breadth of experience to the Berganza team.
