The Art of Buying Jewellery - Gorringe's Talk & Lunch
Tuesday 24th November 2026
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about buying jewellery but have been too afraid to ask.
How do you know what a piece is really worth? Which gemstones hold their value? And how do you bid with confidence when the hammer is about to fall?
Join Sam Hug, Gorringe's Head of Jewellery, and Oliver Searle, Executive Director, for lunch and an afternoon of engaging conversation in our oak-panelled Private Dining Room. Sam and Oliver will reveal the secrets of the jewellery auction world: the gemstones worth watching, the stories and intrigue behind unusual pieces, and the insider know-how that makes for successful buying and selling.
No question is too simple. Perhaps you've wondered:
· Is my grandmother's ring worth more as it is, or for its stones?
· What's the difference between an estimate and a reserve?
· How can I tell a natural diamond from a lab-grown one?
· Why is an insurance valuation so different from an auction estimate?
· Is antique jewellery better value than buying new?
· Is now a good time to sell?
Sam and Oliver will also showcase highlights from Gorringe’s upcoming jewellery sale, giving you the chance to handle some items up close. Whether you're thinking of selling an item, starting a collection, or simply love beautiful jewellery, this lunch promises sparkle, expertise and a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes.
Guests are welcome to bring jewellery for a free, confidential valuation, held privately in our Oak Gazebo after lunch. Should you wish to bring items to be valued, please email clientservices@gorringes.co.uk to book a time slot.
The day begins at 1pm with a glass of sparkling served on arrival, followed by the talk. Guest will then enjoy a three-course Michelin-starred lunch with drinks. Afterwards, guests are invited to wander the gardens at their leisure.
Please note that guests will be seated at shared tables.
£135.00 per person, including a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, the talk, and a three-course lunch with drinks.
or call 01342 810567
About Sam Hug
Samuel’s love for jewels started at an early age, kindled through a Saturday job at his family’s jewellery shop, before doing his FGA and DGA qualifications at the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and Ireland. After university in London, where he specialised in Japanese language, Sam furthered his training in the jewellery department at Sotheby’s, cataloguing historic jewels from the collections of Vivien Leigh, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, and Marie Antoinette to name a few, as well as consigning important Cartier jewels from the collections of Annie Pearson, 1st Viscountess Cowdray, and a pair of superb Kashmir sapphires from the collection of the Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava. Sam worked at another auctioneers in the south of England before moving to Gorringe’s as Head of Jewellery. He has a particular interest in antique jewels, from medieval posy rings and Georgian rivières through to Art Nouveau and Art Deco, and, needless to say for any jewellery afficionado, loves anything Cartier.
About Gorringe’s
Founded in 1929 by Roland Gorringe, Gorringe’s is a fourth-generation family business now led by Roland’s great-grandson, Oliver Searle (as Executive Director), and John Holmes (as Managing Director). The company’s very first sale - the contents of Lewes House, home of American collector Edward Warren - included Auguste Rodin’s The Kiss, now recognised as one of the finest examples of modern sculpture and today a highlight of Tate Modern’s collection. For almost a century, Gorringe’s has been a trusted valuer and auctioneer of fine art, antiques and jewellery, serving clients across Sussex, Kent and beyond. Its principal saleroom and gallery is located in the historic county town of Lewes, East Sussex, with an additional office in Tunbridge Wells serving customers across Kent. A full-service auction house, Gorringe’s holds around 60 auctions each year, from its flagship monthly Fine Sales to its ever-popular weekly House & Gardens auctions.
