Guilford & Company

Beautiful place to just browse, and if you’re lucky to be with the right person, you might just get lucky with a gorgeous piece of jewelry. No snobbery, just low key friendly people who look like they love where they work. A mix of old and new plus a nice selection for men as well.

Having ogled some gold estate/​signed pieces in the window over the past couple of days, I finally dragged my husband in for an impromptu first visit… I wasn’t expecting much, but, WOW. It turns out that the good stuff is hidden in the store. Case after case of antique diamond and gemstone jewelry! We may need to visit Guilford and Co. every time I’m in town!
I was surprised at how large this store is. The pieces are displayed well, grouped by era as well as stone type, as far as I could tell. I also couldn’t believe how many Edwardian and Art Deco pieces they had on site. I mostly browsed the gemstone rings, but I’d imagine that this would also be a great place to purchase a piece with dreamy old cut diamonds! They also have a GIA GG on-​site who is available to answer more detailed questions.
Some standouts –
–a warm L/​M round cut diamond in a glowing emerald halo with absolutely GORGEOUS tiny milgrain detail on the bezel
–an intricate and HUGE Art Deco diamond brooch/​pendant that I didn’t dare try on
–a high carat yellow gold ring set w/​a rich, dark amethyst cab
–a fireball of an orange sapphire set in a halo ring
–a blue moonstone ring set in an angular diamond and filigree halo
–several Edwardian diamond rings in the central case, including what looked like a three-​stone of old (mine?) cut diamonds in a filigree setting
–and… Well, I could go on and on, but I don’t imagine anyone is actually still reading this. :)
I should also mention that it is a very comfortable, low pressure environment to browse in. The SA was more than happy to dart from case to case, and even suggested different items for me to try on. She was friendly, informed, and very easy to get along with — No fake nicety or condescension here. I actually told her directly that I’d used up all my «spending points» on jewelry this month, but she just kindly asked what I’d used them on and then continued letting me try on the pretties. Can’t wait to make a return visit. I’m already (secretly, shhh) plotting another trip to St. Michaels.

Love this store! I just purchased another great bracelet from Julie, the owner, and cannot recommend this store enough. Great estate pieces to choose from and the value is so much greater than new jewelry. If you are looking for a wonderful piece of jewelry that you will love and wear for years to come, don’t miss a visit to this store!

This is hands down my favorite jewelry store on the planet.
There are a number of reasons why I feel this way:
1. Two of my favorite pieces came from this store, one of them being my engagement ring from the 1920’s and a Cartier yellow/​rose gold love knot from the 1920s.
2. Their pieces are incredible, and usually one of a kind. If not one of a kind, you would have to search pretty hard to find another version of the same piece.
3. The customer service is incredible. My fiancé and I come into this store whenever we’re visiting his mom and they’re always so welcoming. Granted, my fiancé has given them a lot of business over the past two years — but they treated us the same before we bought anything.
4. Vintage jewelry is my favorite. I love that the pieces you buy already have a story and you’re merely a chapter in it.
5. Every time we come in they insist on cleaning my ring.
6. I wasn’t apart of this process, but my fiancé said that when he was looking for rings that the staff there were incredibly helpful and patient.
7. Also, as far as prices go for jewelry, I think it’s reasonable.
So, I encourage all of you to go to this store when you’re in the area. Even if you’re not, but love vintage jewelry — it’s only an hour and a half drive from DC. Just saying.