15 William May watches and jewellery pieces to give your loved ones this Christmas
Vintage gold with a past, diamonds with a certificate and one very good Tudor: here’s how to give something that won’t be sitting in every other stocking.
Most Christmas jewellery comes off a high street shelf, still in its plastic sleeve and identical to a thousand others. William May works differently. The Manchester jeweller has been trading since 1825. It started as a small department store in Collyhurst, and over two centuries it has become one of the North West’s best-known names for pre-owned watches and second-hand fine jewellery. Most of what it sells is a one-off: a Victorian sovereign, a 1990s sapphire cluster, a Swiss sports watch with its box and papers. When a piece sells, it’s gone. Everything ships in discreet packaging, which matters a lot in December, and there’s 0% finance plus a layaway service that lets you secure a piece with a 25% deposit. Below are ten pieces for her and five for him, across every budget.
Jump to:
- For her: gold that has already lived a little
- For her: rings that say more than “Merry Christmas”
- For her: everyday sparkle, from stocking to statement
- For him: the watch for the man who’s always somewhere else
- For him: silver he’ll actually wear
FOR HER
Gold that has already lived a little
Vintage gold has a warmth that new pieces take decades to earn. These four have already done that work.
1. Pre-Owned 1892 Full Sovereign Coin in 9ct Gold Necklace Mount
This sovereign was struck in 1892, so it spent the reign of Queen Victoria in someone’s pocket before it reached your tree. The 22ct coin sits in a 9ct gold mount on a 23-inch belcher chain, and at 14.1g it has the satisfying weight of something real. Gold coins tend to hold their value, so this is a gift that’s also a small investment, and she can wear it with a white T-shirt.
£1,350, William May
2. Pre-Owned High Carat Fancy Chandelier Drop Earrings
At 47mm long, these earrings are made for the Christmas party where everyone else gave up and wore studs. High carat gold has a deeper, buttery yellow than standard 9ct, and the semi-solid build keeps the pair to 7.7g, so they move rather than drag. They’re a statement piece without anyone needing to be told so.
£1,195, William May
3. Pre-Owned 9ct Yellow Gold Twist Creole Earrings
The twisted finish catches light from every angle, which is the whole point of a good hoop. At 37mm by 33mm they’re big enough to frame the face, and the hollow construction keeps them comfortable from the school run to dinner. If you’re stuck, these are the safe-but-not-boring choice.
£599, William May
4. Pre-Owned High Carat Fancy Patterned Push-On Bangle
There’s no clasp to fiddle with. It just slides over the hand, and the high carat gold and engraved pattern do the rest. The 7-inch inner circumference fits most wrists, and at 11.3g it has real presence without feeling heavy. Stack it with a watch or wear it on its own. Either way, it’s the piece she’ll still be wearing in twenty years.
£1,750, William May
Rings that say more than “Merry Christmas”
One near-engagement stunner and two vintage clusters with plenty of personality.
5. New 9ct Yellow Gold 2.00ct Oval Lab Grown Diamond Solitaire Ring
Two carats of oval diamond for under £1,800 is exactly what lab-grown stones were invented for. The diamond is IGI certificated, F-G in colour and VS in clarity, which means it’s bright and eye-clean at a distance most people would struggle to fault. It sits in a classic claw setting on a yellow gold band. A note of caution: a ring this size will get a reaction, so think about how you present it on Christmas morning.
£1,795, William May
6. Pre-Owned 14ct Yellow Gold Sapphire & Diamond Cluster Ring
Blue sapphire ringed with brilliant-cut diamonds (0.20ct in total) is the cluster design that never really dates. This one was made in 1998, set in 14ct gold, and comes in a size P. Sapphire is September’s birthstone, so it doubles as a birthday gift if you’re feeling efficient.
£595, William May
7. Pre-Owned 9ct Gold Synthetic Ruby & Spinel Halo Cluster Ring
Few things look more festive than red stones in a gold halo. The centre is a synthetic ruby, honest about what it is, with spinel around it, claw-set in 9ct yellow gold in a size O. It’s ruby colour at a fraction of the natural-stone price, and an easy win for anyone with a July birthday.
£285, William May
Everyday sparkle, from stocking to statement
8. New 9ct Yellow Gold 7.5″ Onyx 3 Clover Petal Bracelet
Three black onyx clovers on a fine 1mm 9ct gold chain give you the quatrefoil look everyone is wearing, without the waiting list. It’s 7.5 inches long and only 2.5g, so it disappears on the wrist until the light catches it. It’s currently down from £465, which makes it one of the best-value gold gifts in this list.
£348.75 (was £465), William May
9. New Platinum 0.87ct Diamond Stud Earrings
Diamond studs are the gift people secretly hope for and rarely buy themselves. This pair carries 0.87ct of brilliant-cut diamonds in total, set in platinum, which won’t fade or need re-plating. At 5mm across they’re big enough to notice and small enough to sleep in. She’ll wear them every day for decades.
£1,575, William May
10. New Sterling Silver Celtic Heart Locket & 18″ Necklace
A locket only works if you put something inside it, and that’s what makes this one special. The Celtic knotwork heart measures 23mm by 24mm and hangs on an 18-inch trace chain. Add a tiny photo before you wrap it and this under-£70 gift will beat anything else she unwraps.
£67.95, William May
How to buy pre-owned jewellery as a Christmas gift
Get the ring size first
William May lists ring sizes by letter (the cluster rings here are an O and a P). Borrow a ring she already wears on the right finger and have it sized at any jeweller, or draw around the inside on paper. Guessing is how rings end up in drawers.
Act fast on one-offs
Most pre-owned pieces are single items. If one catches your eye in early December, don’t wait for a better price. It will probably sell before that happens.
Use layaway for the big buys
For the Tudor or the bangle, the layaway service lets you secure the piece with a 25% deposit and spread the rest. It takes the pressure off January.
Watch the delivery cut-offs
Standard delivery is free over £150 and express is free over £250, but there’s no dispatch at weekends. Order well before the final week if you want it under the tree.
FOR HIM
The watch for the man who’s always somewhere else
11. Tudor Black Bay GMT S&G 79833MN (2023)
The brown and black “Root Beer” bezel tracks a second time zone, which makes this the ideal watch for anyone who calls family abroad or spends too much time in airport lounges. Inside the 41mm steel and 18ct gold case is Tudor’s in-house MT5652, a COSC-certified automatic with a 70-hour power reserve, so it survives a weekend off the wrist. It’s rated to 200m, comes with its box and papers, and was serviced by Tudor in October 2026, so it arrives in about as good condition as a pre-owned watch can. It’s a splurge, but a sensible one, and it comes with a 12-month warranty.
£3,995, William May
Silver he’ll actually wear
Men’s jewellery works best when it doesn’t try too hard. These four are solid, simple and easy to wear every day.
12. New Sterling Silver Gents Solid Torque Bangle
A solid 3mm torque in 14.8g of sterling silver feels substantial without looking like jewellery for the sake of it. The 8-inch inner circumference fits a man’s wrist comfortably, and it sits well next to a watch. It’s the gateway piece for the man who claims he “doesn’t wear jewellery”.
£149.95, William May
13. New Sterling Silver Black Agate Celtic Shoulder Signet Ring
The signet ring is back, and this one has a little more character than most. A 13mm by 14mm black agate face sits between Celtic-carved shoulders, and the 10.6g of silver gives it a reassuring weight on the little finger. It comes in a choice of sizes, so check his before you order.
£299, William May
14. New Sterling Silver Compass Pendant & 20″ Chain Necklace
It’s a gift with a message built in, whether he’s leaving home, starting something new or simply always lost. The 30mm compass pendant is slim at 2mm deep, so it sits flat under a shirt, and it hangs on a 20-inch curb chain. It’s thoughtful without being sentimental.
£175, William May
15. New Sterling Silver 8.5″ Double Curb Bracelet
A 6mm double curb link is about as classic as men’s bracelets get, and this one is solid silver at 12.1g, so it won’t kink or feel flimsy. At 8.5 inches it sits loose and relaxed rather than tight on the wrist. It’s the best-value gift for him in this edit.
£115, William May
