I am always a big fan of places where the items on sale feel like a random collection of things…read morethat someone has collected over the years......If you are a fan of one offs and items with charm this little place in the Custard Factory is well worth a visit. You can pick up furniture and household items right through to clothes and accessories if you are not afraid to have a bit of a rummage. The things on sale here change all the time so it's not the kind of place I go looking for something specific. This is more a curiosity shop type vibe to browse through and discover what it is you went in there for along the way.

One thing you must do in your life-time is visit an auction. Whether you're a serious buyer or…read moreseller these places are fascinating. I had the opportunity of visiting Fellows with a friend who's into this sort of thing and I was impressed with the professionalism of how things are done. Quite traditional, using techniques of old to sell all manner of things called "lots". In the catalog on today's visit were old watches, antique clocks, framed pictures, furniture, jewellery, the book was full of interesting things. It's exciting stuff when the auction is in full swing and becomes extremely competitive as thousands of pounds are spent in minutes. It's hard to work out what's going on for a newcomer like me but it was a great experience and I urge you to pay a visit

As well as auctions for watches, fine art, antiques, silver, coins, medals, toys and dolls, Fellows…read morehave added vintage jewellery to their roster. My interest in Fellows came when I started running vintage events although have always had more than a passing interest with vintage jewellery. Having never been to an auction, it's safe to say I was petrified the Monday morning I walked into this auction house in Birmingham's jewellery quarter. It really did help that the lovely people from Fellows (Louise, Mary, Stephanie - all very friendly and helpful) had invited me into the preview evening (with champagne indeed!) so I got to glimpse at what I may like to bid for to re-start my vintage jewellery collection. I still couldn't bring myself to bid on the day but have since found their online auction to be less fearsome.

This is the kind of review where you hover between three and four stars....I am feeling generous…read moretoday but also decided on four because for the Bullring this place is a real breath of fresh air. A lot of high street stores offer a 'vintage' line these days which is basically an excuse to offer second hand clothes for a stupidly high price tag....however Harper & Lewis is a more classic vintage shop with well selected garments but in an unusual high street location. This is a bit of a hit and miss shopping experience for me but I think all vintage shopping can be. Usually when you are looking for something you never find it but when you have no money or you are not looking for anything specifically you find 20 things you literally love....always the way!! The staff here are always really friendly, up for a laugh and seem to know the stock pretty well. If you are looking for vintage in the city centre I wouldn't make this your first choice but definitely worth popping in.

As a totally avid vintage collector, specialising in CC41, 30s, 40s, and the odd 20s item, and as a…read moreregular vintage repairer and reproduction crafter for clothing and costume, I know my vintage. General rule of thumb, Antique, 100+ years Vintage 50-100 years Retro 20-50 years Sorry guys, but there wasn't a thread in here over 50 years old, it's a solid retro shop, it's cheap because it's thrift, mostly 90s grunge, 80s shoulder pads, and the marks and spencer throwbacks to the 40s filled with nylon and plastic zips in cheerful busy as heck prints. You will find this stuff in charity shops, which is quite possibly where they found it with a big mark up, and that's how they can afford a space in the bullring. I know a lot of shops call themselves vintage under this vain, but it aint correct. I was shocked and delighted to think there was a vintage shop in the bullring, but it was;t to be. I found the staff a little abrupt and judgemental, whether i caught them on a bad day I don't know. I just find places like this a but misleading, marking up thrift like that, and chopping at genuine vintage items and sewing on cuffs and white collars is not good for genuine vintage items. I guess in the end, this is a gateway drug of vintage buyers, that gets some people on to the proper stuff. If you're a true vintage lover, head to the custard factory instead, if you love retro, this place is fine. I will say though, there are some more modern tweed jackets in here that are a steal if you can;t be chewed rummaging in charity shops. Worth a gander, but definite thrift, not vintage.

Moseley Emporium is an Antique shop in Moseley Village, the shop proudly flies a union flag and…read morefittingly sits next to The Prince Of Wales at the lower end of Moseley Village. They have a wide range of stock with a range of items out front that is updated frequently. My favourite of which was an antique Dentist's tool with a foot pump that powered a hydraulic hose used to turn the dentist's drill! Not always so macabre, often you will find a nice piece of antique furniture or an old fire place sitting out front, proudly on display for all to see. Upon entering the shop you find much more inside than you might think with antique dressers and items that might have come out of Canal boats and be warned if you do enter with an Antiques enthusiast, you won't be leaving anytime soon, as the place opens up to reveal more and more, but then you could always slink off to the Prince next door.

Under lots of dust you can find some beautiful furniture in Moseley Emporium. When I went there for…read morethe first time, I was amazed with how much cool stuff they had just on the first floor. Antique chairs, chandeliers, vintage tables. Then the owner told me they had another two floors, one of them solely had items on sale. The furniture is very well kept and the prices are good, considering. It's easy to get lost inside the store, you could be in there hours. I bought a nice antique mirror for ten pounds. It is worth taking a look in there if you are an antique enthusiast or even if you just like to have a mooch, like me!

Nothing but praise for Greg and his team: they made and delivered my self-designed wedding ring…read morejust in time, spot on budget, and the personal service was outstanding. Two reviews in one: --I first visited Element in January 2010 when looking for a palladium engagement ring. Element is situated in the heart of the jewellery quarter. Their shop is relaxing, with wooden display cases letting you see what's what. No overwhelming 'huge selection', just a range of very tasteful modern jewellery. Lots of helpful display materials: examples of diamond cut and sizes, examples of wedding ring profiles and thicknesses, that kind of thing. They also have their jewellery making workshop out back and you can see the work through a large window in the store. Like restaurants that have the kitchen on display, you can see the machinery and the craftsmen at work. In an age of outsourced mass production, I find this reassuring :). Overall it's a great place to learn and choose a ring. The staff are relaxed and helpful. They're quite unlike the pushiness or salesy approach demonstrated at some places in Jewellery Quarter. I can't imagine a better place to help you select your wedding or engagement ring. -- Later in 2010 I used Element's bespoke service for my palladium wedding ring. They were specifically recommended for this by a friend I know at the design school nearby. Here's how it went: * First, I faxed them my sketch of what I wanted it to look like. Soon I had a call back from Greg who asked me more details and gave me his direct line. * They then sent me, by registered post, a wax model to try on and approve. * My fiancée suggested the ring profile be made wider and less heavy. I called Greg to discuss this and suggested he go ahead with the change but with no need for a further wax by post as I trusted his understanding. The price did not change - like I say, excellent customer service. * They had the ring cast in palladium in very quick time. * The finished ring, polished asymmetrically and engraved just as I'd hoped, hallmarked in Birmingham (palladium is now hallmarked), arrived by recorded delivery just in time for my wedding day. It looks perfect, fits perfectly, and my (now wife) was stunned. On the basis of this experience I'd be happy to recommend Element Bespoke Jewellery to anyone looking for a custom design. You only get one chance to buy wedding and engagement jewellery; how valuable it was to have someone trustworthy and helpful to make it for me. Five stars.

Whilst I haven't bought anything from Element I have seen first hand and heard about their amazing…read moreservice from a few friends now. When a close friend went in search of their wedding bands and engagement ring this was one of the places they went to first after a recommendation from another friend. Greg remembered exactly who the friend was, asked about the wedding and how they were getting on, and frankly that level of customer service, passion and love for the work you're in is what you want if you are out buying wedding bands. If you have a budget they will make your ideas work for you and they want everyone to have the best, so much so they are more likely to haggle themselves before you get a chance to try. Brilliant service and craftsmanship whether you are after traditional or more modern deisgns.

Antiques and Curios Creations is an eccentric, wild and downright charming little shop. Which is a…read morereflection of a really nice owner. I can't summarise the antique, aged and authentic goods that they have in store other than under the phrase weird and wonderful - which really doesn't do it justice. I bought a Matisse print from there framed for £15, which is ludicrously cheap in comparison to most places that would charge you triple that (if not more) just for the print. It is full of quaint jars, mirrors, candle holders, chests, tin helmets, lanterns, snow shoes etc. all of which give this shop a historic quality. I feel as though I could be in 1920s Paris when I'm in there. It's really worth visiting, even if its just to mooch around and see an assortment of items and ponder how so many strange and delightful things converged on a little shop in Birmingham. You never know, you might just be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

I love having a good old root around in this bazaar. I have never committed to buy anything because…read moreI'm not always sure of the usefulness of the things I pick up. They have all sorts of weird and wonderful things in there and what's great is that every time you go in there the selection has slightly changed. They have a collection of tins and trinket boxes which always catch my eye. I'm a sucker for bags and they have a whole section of vintage leather suitcases and bags. I once saw a perfume bottle which looked like something dug up from the sea bed of the Titanic wreck. Another eye-catching item I wish I could afford is the big brass-finished globe; it's pretty special.

Roberts Jewellers is the perfect place to shop--especially if you're not quite sure what you're…read morelooking for. Their variety is incredible, with something for everyone--from stunning silver pieces and beautiful gold jewellery to an impressive range of watches. The staff are welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful, making the whole experience enjoyable and stress-free. Whether you're treating yourself or buying a gift, you're in great hands. 5-star service from a shop that truly knows jewellery!

Robert's Jewellers is a lovely addition to the mini Jewellry Quarter that has sprung up around the…read morefirst few yards of Corporation Street in Birmingham. One of about a dozen used and new purveyors of fashioned metal, Robert's stands out from the crowd for its mostley collection of used jewelry. Going to Robert's is like going to an auction: some of the stuff is worthless Argos jewellry, and some of it is a genuine antique find. My (now) husband and I went to Robert's when searching for my engagement ring. I'd had a "holding ring" for awhile, until we could find something we realy liked. All we had as criteria were the following: -not a rock -- I'm too clumsy, and would end up putting my eye out with a big gem -something with a patina, WWII or older was our goal So with that in mind, we hit every jewellry store in Tamworth and Lichfield, then headed into Brum. We found some absolutely amazing rings, but none of them quite fit the bill. We'd had a mosey around Robert's in the past, just to laugh at some of the more interesting pieces, but headed in there as we knew they had some genuine antiques. And lo and behold, we found the ring: in 1947, some fine English jeweller decided to surround an ovular sapphire with eight teardrop diamonds, and worked gold "drops" in between. It whispered "classy" and dripped "antique". One of my favourite bits about it is, when viewed from the side, it shows tiny gold curlicues. Heaven. It was too large for my finger, so Robert's agreed to have it fitted for me. We'd come in on a Saturday, and it was ready to pick up on a Monday. The sales ladies at Robert's are a bit salesy. They like showing jewellry, but love to "help you find a bargain", so be prepared to haggle a bit. The head jeweller there has studied his craft, and worked in the business for over 20 years, and knows what he's talking about. If he knows you're there to buy a piece that lasts for posterity, and you've taken a liking to a more common piece, he'll guide you to a piece with more patina and a similar price tag. Worth it's weight in baubles, that kind of advice.