TOP FIVE VINTAGE SILVER VALENTINE PICKS

Here’s our top five picks for Valentine’s Day gifts from the London Silver Vaults’ cast of thousands. Buy her some gorgeous, colourful chunky jewellery. Try Belmont William Walter or Wolfe for semi-precious and precious stones in silver and gold settings as rings, necklaces or bracelets. shown here Seed pearls, peridot and gold earrings and bracelet by Wolfe Buy her pretty enamelled perfume bottles, hand mirrors, picture frames or trinket boxes in bright fruit drop colours at Linda Jackson, Choose a mirror or picture frame. Virtually every dealer has silver frames, heart shapes for her, ships for him. Three unusual picture frames by Barry Collins. The choice is huge.



For him there are vintage watches from all the big watch brands like, Rolex, Omega, or Patek Philippe. This stunning Omega Constellation with a solid gold waterproof casing in its original 1950s red leather box is from Anthony Green. And also for him a glass and silver claret jug is both a sophisticated object to own and a great way to accessorise the Shiraz. Most of the dealers sell these and Stephen Kalms has some very striking examples from the 19th and 20th centuries. Find the contact details for all the dealers and their specialities under Shop Details on the Silver Vaults website.

UNIQUE SILVER GIFTS FOR WEDDINGS

For couples getting married in 2011 here's a thought for putting a little sparkle into the wedding list. Once you've settled on the shop for the pots and pans take yourselves off to the London Silver Vaults in London's historic legal centre, Chancery Lane and dive into an Aladdin's cave of silvery things that would look just fabulous whether you are starting in a prefab or a palace.

You could set up a wedding list with one of the cutlery specialists. Then guests can buy into a clasically sleek 'English pattern' cutlery set a fork at a time. Or what about silver goblets? You can get C20th matching sets or you could ask people to put their giving towards six individual Georgian or Victorian goblets. Or choose a silver and cutglass claret jug and suggest fractional contributions until you have the whole thing.

And if there is one item where silver really scores in the home setting it is candlesticks or candelabra. Candlelight reflecting off silver is quite stunning. Vintage or modern can be found at the Silver Vaults at prices from around £180 depending on style and date.

The added attraction of vintage silver, apart from its good looks, is that every piece is unique and carries its own built-in sign of quality and authenticity through the hallmark stamps. These denote maker, date and place of creation. So extra special ways to choose a gift of silver can be to buy a picture frame for example that was made the year one of you was born or the date your parents married or your grandparents; you can of course buy new silver with this year's hallmark date stamp. And most silver items can be engraved with your initials or a wedding day message.

If you can't get to London, there are ideas galore to be had through the websites of the dealers at the London Silver Vaults.