Have you noticed recently all those adverts on TV offering to buy your gold if you send it to them?…read moreApparently the value of gold has soared in the last year or so and everyone is cashing in their sovereigns and hoops. I came to May's to do that, and got a rather reasonable £60 for something I never would have worn again. If you're really desperate, you can pawn something you DO want back on the premise that they'll loan you the amount it's worth. They'll keep the item for up to 7 months, although I don't like the idea of not being able to keep up with the repayments (plus their interest) and losing that cherished heirloom forever... There's loads of great deals on second hand and new jewellery too, with diamond rings starting as little as £50 and continuing upwards of £2,000 but when I look at some pieces I can't help wondering whether the previous owners were unlucky or willing sellers.

I've shopped with Mays for over 20 years and have always received great service from the staff!…read more Their prices are really competitive and they offer great prices when pawning items too. Highly recommend to everyone I know!

There aren't many little, old-fashioned jewelry stores like this around anymore. They are like…read moremagnets to Mrs G (me to a lesser degree!). We found a beautiful, unique pre-owned gold charm at the oldest jewelers in the UK (Parsons in Bristol) a few years ago. So of course we had to look here too and success! In this lovely old (122 years) store right in the center of Manchester she found another unique piece. Obviously a tiny store like this doesn't have the broad selection of jewelry typical of a national chain - but they do have unique pre-owned pieces! Review #118 2019

Do not sell or buy here. I took jewelry in to sell and was offered £450 for the lot. I particularly…read moreasked about a ring for which i was given £55 . I was told the stone was glass and chipped and it would be melted down for the gold. The bracelet was sold for £165. Thinking i was being dealt with fairly and thinking that the company had integrity i sold the items. Imagine how disappointed i was when i looked in the window a couple of weeks later and saw the ring priced at £295 and the bracelet priced at £895. I went into the shop and questioned the extortionate price increase. No reasonable explanation was given. The manager offered to sell me back the two items which i was willing to do but when he pulled the receipt out he hadn't itemised the pieces sold and would only sell for £450. I was unwilling to do this as it would have meant the giving the other items away for nothing. Was the reciept deliberately vague to counter complaints such as mine? Makes me wonder. I feel as if i have been dealt with in a very underhand manner. I'd never really understood the meaning of daylight robbery before. I do now! I would advise anyone from buying or selling from Arthur Kay. They lack integrity and decency and you'd be better going elsewhere. I expected more from an established family company. Shame on you!

Ernest Jones used to be a single jewellery store in London's Oxford Street and now it has grown…read moreinto a chain of 190 stores! We're talking about the one in Arndale. They have a magnificent collection of diamonds, including engagement rings, eternity rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and much more. They also specialise in exquisite watches from the world's finest most prestigious watch brands, such as TAG Heuer, Gucci, Emporio Armani, Rado, Omega, Dreyfuss & Co and Rolex. They are rather very popular for wedding rings. You will always find a rich and famous crowd walking in and out of here with the biggest smile swept across their faces. Yes Ernest Jones has a big hand in keeping quite a few eternally happy!

If somebody has to tell you that they're honest then they're probably not…read more Don't turst a word that that gold peddler Jones says! Seriously, what kind of store has to get rid of all its walls just so that an unwitting 'customer' might stroll in?

I'd been putting off going into this shop until a friend of mine came to visit yesterday, as it's…read morenot the kind of place you'd take your straight, male, other half. Thunder Egg is filled with hundreds of gorgeously girly treats, from shiny handbags and purses, beautifully illustrated birthday cards and cool clothing, to vintage style photo frames, cute costume jewellery and chintzy home ware. You could easily spend a fortune here as it's one of those shops that leaves you believing you absolutely, positively HAVE to have that polkadot nail file or that coaster that says 'P*** OFF' on it, so I'd suggest leaving your credit card at home if you own one. Despite visiting this shop only a matter of hours ago, I'm already extremely eager to go back. Oh, and I discovered they stock official Moomin products (I love the Moomins)! Arrrrrrrgh! I feel a serious obsession coming on... HELP!!!

Got to be honest, I'm actually getting pretty sick of bleating on about how quirky, quaint and…read morefolksy every shop in the Northern Quarter is. I'm not a fucking pixie. I'm not setting up home with an elf. I'm not planning a vacation in Narnia- I don't need bricka brack, I don't need keepsakes, I don't need fecking chintz- that's why it's called chintz, if it was any use to me it would be called 'the essentials'!! The NQ has sold us a hippy dream that can never be. Being a boho mash head who sits in coffee shops talking about Neil Young, collects dolls and Japanese backpacks and is generally too arty to care about 'the system maaan' is an expensive past time so either these fakers are secretely high flying lawyers or daddy is a patient and giving man because the good ol' NQ is one of the most expensive and business minded monsters in Manchester! Sell me a dream I can achieve Thunder Egg!!

Selling jewellery whilst posing the question "What did we do before it?"…read more Thought provoking, deep and multi angled. Getting past the name, the jewellery itself is mostly vintage or handmade. The amount of work that must go into it is mind boggling, such is the level of detail and decoration. Considering this, the prices aren't astronomical. For one offs, vintage, and costume accessories there aren't many around to complete with Prior Jewels.

Fantastic jewellery shop with so many bits and bobs the place will keep your entertained for hours…read more I ended up spending a small fortune here- not because Prior Jewels is hugely expensive but just because there was so much I wanted in the end. I love all the cabinets full of treasure here, you will definitely find something totally unique and fabulous if you put the time in here.

I'll keep this one short and sweet. My boyfriend recommended a little shop on Thomas Street when…read morethe ring he bought me had its pearl go running off into the bowels of my dad's car (said boyfriend then found this little pearl like an absolute hero). In order to get it reattached, the reason he suggested Mutter's is because he managed to get a broken ring of his fixed for about four quid. Not bad, huh! So the saga goes like this. One day I went to this shop, took the ring and its detached pearl, and he said it wouldn't be a problem fixing it - just come back the next day. Amazing! When I did, there was a different chap there, so I gave him the details I was left with and he fetched my item. 'You must have fluttered your eyelashes at him yesterday,' he said, 'because he's very kindly attached a note here saying no charge.' What? I never flutter my eyelashes. Well, not in these situations. Anyway, evidently no job too small, but if it is particularly small, you'll barely get charged anything... IF anything! I was one happy customer, despite money never changing hands. They've bought me for life though. I'll certainly recommend this place to all my friends. One of those cute little traditional Thomas Street shops in amongst all the hubbub, I do hope it sticks around forever.

If you want to sell scrap gold i strongly advise you avoid this place. I tried them with a few…read moredifferent items and they tried to tell me a 22ct gold sovereign coin was only 9ct gold and they also tried to buy my antique silver as epns. Do not be fooled by the too eager to help attitude along with the posh accents the staff have in this place as they tell lies. I'm sure after 40 years plus in the jewellery game that the staff know a Sovereign coin is 22ct and not 9ct which has less than half the value. Just makes me think if i was a little clueless old lady these guys would be laughing at me when im gone.

A bit quirky, off the road, with surprises around every corner, Afflecks is a true "hidden gem."…read moreStumbled upon Afflecks while trying to find some ice cream (Ginger's); in addition to great ice cream, we also found a conglomerate of unique stores ranging from dainty/girly to punk/goth. There's also a creative space, where you can just relax and create art via music, drawing, painting etc. Recommend checking the place out, even if you aren't planning to buy anything! Best case, you finally find that one thing you've been looking for, worst case, you see some really interesting products.

Great spot for shopping. Lots of treasures. We loved all of the different businesses in building…read moreacross 4 floors.

She certainly does! Lord the things she makes…read more Hannah makes handmade bangles, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, broaches and other accessories all with a fun and quirky edge. Carry on Hannah.

Hannah makes AMAZING things!!! In fact she makes jewellery for mazine shoots, music videos,…read morecelebrity videos, music festivals. Hannah is a very talented lady indeed. Hannah is a self-taughtcostume jeweller and splits here time between this Manchester base and a base in London. Everyone who is well in the know knows that Hannah's jewellery is up there with the best. Don't be left out and branded uncool get down to this fab lil shop :)