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Want to learn about Vintage Asprey of London Jewelry? Learn about the history, materials used, how to identify a fake, and where to buy in this guide.
A Brief History of Asprey of London
Asprey was founded by William Asprey, in 1781, and originally based in Mitcham, Surrey. Later, they moved their head office to central London. The company advertised their wares as “articles of high quality”. Today, Asprey of London sells jewelry, silver, tableware, leather, and other luxury goods.
Master jewelers design using the highest quality gemstones. Flora and fauna have long been motifs of the company, playing to the English love of nature, while harkening back to Victorian times. Some of the most iconic collections include The Woodland Collection, with its notable oak leaf motif, The Daisy Collection, The Sunflower Collection, and the 167 Collection.
The British Royal Family have been particularly fond of Asprey of London, which has further promoted their stellar reputation over the many years. The company has also been commissioned to design some pieces for some very famous films. Read on!
Celebrating 240 Years
To celebrate 240 years in business, Asprey of London opened a new flagship store, located at 36 Bruton Street, in posh Mayfair, in London. Today, the company have boutiques in jewelry mad Switzerland, including Zurich and St. Moritz. In Japan, there is a boutique in Tokyo and another in Osaka. Closer to home, in the United States, you can visit locations New York, Beverly Hills, Miami, Palm Beach and South Hampton.
Materials Used in Crafting Asprey of London Jewelry
- Platinum
- 18k white gold
- 18k yellow gold
- 18k rose gold
- Diamonds
- Sapphires in blue, yellow, and orange
- Aquamarine
- Garnet
- Amethyst
- Tsavorite
- Peridot
- Blue topaz
- Citrine
- Green tourmaline
- Pearls
- Mother of Pearl
- Enamel
The Woodland Collection
This collection focuses on the beauty of the English countryside. Charms are both timeless and collectable. Each charm, on diamond studded clasps, can be worn individually or combined on whimsical charm bracelets. Acorn, pinecone, clover, mushroom, and apple charms are available in pure gold and diamonds.
More colorful options are cherry charms, designed in yellow gold and red enamel, with a leaf set with glittering green tsavorite gemstones. Red enamel strawberries have flecks of gold to create seeds. Other fruit charms include a black current, blackberry, and gooseberry.
Two golden butterflies make stunning additions to a jewelry box. The first resembles a royal blue Morpho butterfly, with extended enamel wings, outlined in round diamonds. The purple enamel and yellow gold butterfly is covered in gemstones, including pavé amethyst, orange sapphires, and diamonds.
Vintage 18K Gold Leaf Earrings by Asprey from WeilJewelry on Etsy
Oak Leaf Motif
The oak leaf motif is part of the Woodland Collection, but so popular, it is easily identified on its own. Look for white and yellow gold designs, including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, with or without diamonds.
For bigger bling, designer Shane Leane took the oak leaf design a step further. The Oakleaf Earring Peridot is crafted from yellow gold. Dazzling oak leaves are festooned with green tsavorite and drop from an oval peridot at the ear. Underneath is a pear-shaped peridot. Another version is set with diamonds.
The Daisy Collection
The English daisy has been a symbol at Asprey for decades. This floral jewelry collection has stunning pieces made with colored stones and diamonds. The Daisy Heritage Ring is comprised of marquise cut colored gemstones to form the pretty petals. In the flower’s center rests pavé diamonds.
Stunning yellow sapphires are set with white diamonds on yellow gold. Light blue aquamarine daisies are paired with diamonds on white gold. Garnet and diamonds are combined on rose gold. Look for matching stud earrings, pendants, and daisy chain bracelets to match.
For jewelry aficionados who love diamonds, the Daisy Heritage Collection also offers a large ring, drop earrings with three dangling and connected daisies, as well as a pendant.
The rings come in medium and small sized daisies too. In this range Asprey has a multicolored daisy, with petals in a mix of amethyst, aquamarine, peridot, and sapphires.
The Mini Daisy collection offers a simpler 10 petal floral motif, crafted from 18 karat white gold. A diamond rests in each petal, with a bezel set yellow sapphire in the center. Here you’ll find single pendants, double daisy drop pendants, and stud earrings in two different sizes. The Mini Daisy Bracelet has three daisies, with a bezel set diamond on either side of the flowers, along with a charm in a capital A.
Vintage 18K Gold Earrings by Asprey from WeilJewelry on Etsy
Sunflower Collection
Each piece in the Sunflower Collection is hand sculpted. As in nature, you will not find two that are exactly alike. Crafted in 18 karat yellow gold, the center is white gold, with pave diamonds. Earrings, and continually connected sunflower bracelets make a complete set. Another option is white gold.
A less expensive, but equally charming option are the yellow gold sunflower pendent, bracelet and earrings, without diamonds.
The 167 Collection
The 167 Collection was named after 167 New Bond Street, the address of the former flagship stores. The 167 Button Pendent was launched in 2004, as a signature collection. The design was influenced by fashion, and buttons on fine clothing.
The popular pendant style features a round disc of white, yellow, or rose gold, with a round amethyst in the center, encircled entirely with round diamonds. Look for matching earrings. The 167 Button Pendent is also available in white gold, with a diamond in the center, encircled with blue sapphires.
Asprey Gold Diamond Ring from eBay
Engagement Rings at Asprey
Engagement rings for women at Asprey, lean heavily towards diamonds. All are set in platinum. Rocks are cut round brilliant, emerald, pears, oval, and princess. The Asscher Cut Diamond Engagement Ring has tapered baguette shoulders, while the Round Brilliant Cut Ring with Heart Side Stones, is a beautiful symbol of the joining of two hearts.
Two ruby rings appear in the collection. The Oval Ruby Engagement Ring has triangular diamonds at the shoulders, as does the stunning Cushion Cut Ruby Engagement Ring.
For brides-to-be hoping for a sapphire ring, these are available in other collections. The Round Sapphire and Diamond Ring Mounted in Platinum, features a sapphire entirely encircled by diamonds. It has two larger diamonds, one on either side of the sapphire, also circled with small diamonds. The Oval Sapphire and Diamond Ring Mounted in Platinum has two circles of diamonds around it. More run along the band.
Elegant Wedding Bands
Wedding rings for women are elegantly simplistic and come in one style—the Court Wedding Band. The style is available in various thicknesses, crafted in yellow gold or platinum. The same bands are offered for men. Other options include the Half Microset Wedding/ Eternity Ring or the Half Grain Set Wedding/ Eternity ring, both in platinum and diamonds.
Vintage Designs
There are a number of beautiful, discontinued items in the market. Cuff links range across all subjects from people like dancing women, to animals such as the rhinoceros, and even playing cards.
The Asprey Multi-Gemstone collection features brooches and necklaces, with a combination of blue topaz, peridot, citrine, amethyst, and green tourmaline. Some have added diamonds.
Florals dominate, in gold, with colorful gemstones, in rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings.
Brooches were once a popular part of a woman’s wardrobe. Look for butterflies in flight, woodpeckers, frogs and even monkeys. Some of the rarer pieces include brooches crafted in the 1800s, like the Eighteen Karat Gold Mother of Pearl Crown, that comes complete with the fleur de lyse symbol.
How to Identify Asprey of London’s Jewelry
The word Asprey will be stamped into newer pieces. Some of these pieces may even include the brand, within the design, as part of an overall design feature. Older marks include the initial AG in capital letters, A&C, or A&Co. You will also find letters, numbers, and symbol to indicate the content of the metal.
The Royal Family and Asprey of London
A Royal Warrant of Appointment is granted to the companies that regularly supply the British Royal Family with products and services. Asprey of London was awarded this by both Queen Victoria and King Edward VII.
In 1825, the company became the official makers of dressing cases for Queen Victoria. In 1925, Queen Mary commissioned a pearl necklace, that she later gave to her daughter Princess Margaret for her 18th birthday.
Queen Elizabeth owns gorgeous pieces of jewelry from Asprey of London. A sapphire and diamond suite were commissioned for her, as a gift from the ruler of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, when he paid a visit to the family, at Buckingham Palace, in 1979.
Princess Diana owned a large aquamarine cocktail ring from Asprey. Set in a white gold band, there are two diamonds on either side. Prince Harry gave it as a gift to Megan Markle, and she was spotted wearing it when they left their wedding reception.
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, also frequently wears pieces from Asprey’s jewelry collections. She owns daisy stud earrings in white gold and diamonds, a 167 Button Pendent, and pieces from the oak leaf design.
Asprey in the Movies
Did you know Asprey of London created The Heart of the Ocean necklace for the movie Titanic? The gigantic, Edwardian-style, heart shaped, blue sapphire necklace, set with diamonds, is a stunner. In the movie, the wrong love interest gave the necklace to the lead female character Rose. However, she later tossed it into the ocean. Oops!
The jewelry from Asprey of London has also appeared in films The Devil Wears Prada, Match Point, and the James Bond action movie Octopussy.
Collecting Vintage Asprey of London Jewelry
Find current collections of preloved pieces, and vintage items from reputable vendors on e-Bay or Etsy. Collecting fine jewelry from Asprey of London is worth the investment. These beautiful designs are heirloom pieces that will be passed down through the generations.
