About Us

THE STORY

A hoard of 10 million pieces of original 1980s/1990s, 18ct gold- plated, Swarovski-encrusted, UK-made jewellery has been discovered in London, having lain hidden and untouched for over 20 years.

And it’s for sale!

Accessories of Old is owned by Jon Goldsmith and Lisa Goldsmith (née Danziger) and theirs is a fascinating story of two totally separate, but parallel businesses operating simultaneously, across two continents.

SOUTH AFRICA

HOW IT STARTED

In 1918 Solly Danziger (Lisa’s grandfather) arrived with his father in Johannesburg, off a boat from Lithuania – with just two little suitcases – in search of his fortune. They began buying and selling modern costume jewellery, haberdashery and hair accessories, and soon became Africa’s biggest distributor of these items, trading as ‘Danziger Bros’ (still a household name in South Africa for those over a certain age).

After buying a huge warehouse and showroom in Johannesburg’s downtown fashion district, they began accumulating very large stocks, chosen by Solly and meticulously stored for resale. When he retired the business passed to her father Gerald, who was left with the almost impossible task of selling these vast quantities of stock that his ambitious, exuberant father had amassed over the years.

After decades of highly successful trading, the business eventually closed in the 1990s, as high street stores started buying direct from China. Gerald shut the warehouse doors, while he decided what to do with the mind-boggling quantity of stock remaining. He never opened those doors again. The stock sits as it was when it was abandoned, frozen in time. Dusty boxes contain original stock, on original cards, in original packaging and in perfect condition.

Of course, this modern costume jewellery, haberdashery and hair accessories, after three decades, had become vintage (1940s-80s) and highly sought after. Lisa moved to America 25 years ago, changed the business name to ‘Accessories of Old’ and began selling to dealers, designers, TV and film companies globally, as well as to private customers. The word spread.

The operations and management of the business transferred to London in 2014, when she met her English husband Jon. While maintaining an established foothold still in the USA, the majority of the stock is now in UK (apart from the vast quantity of stock that still remains in Johannesburg). For the past eight years, (except during Covid), they’ve organised twice-yearly trips to the warehouse there, taking their biggest vintage customers, and returning with a container of fresh stock each time.

From their two warehouses in London, the Railway Arch and Parsons Green Depot in Fulham, they sell to the Public, Film, TV & Theatre Companies, Jewellers and Vintage Dealers.

LONDON

EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS AND A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

During lockdown, Jon was taken on a mystery trip, by a customer (now very good friend), eminent fashion designer Basia Zarzycka, to a secret warehouse near Richmond, just outside London. Offering no details en route, she said he wouldn’t believe his eyes when he saw what she was about to show him. She was right. The warehouse doors opened to reveal towering hoards of boxes containing over 10 million items of vintage 1980s/90s,18ct gold-plated and silver-plated jewellery (brooches, necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings), most encrusted with original Swarovski crystals.

The jewellery had been manufactured in England by West Products, the country’s largest supplier to the UK market (stores like Liberty, Harrods, John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, M&S, River Island, Next & House of Fraser), between the early 1920s and 1999. Predictably the factory closed when high street stores began buying direct from China to save money. The business was left with mind boggling levels of unsold jewellery. The manufacturing plant was sold and the stock stored while they decided what to do.

Two unconnected jewellery businesses – one in Johannesburg, one in London – both established prior to 1920, both ending in the late 1990s, both ceasing trading for the same reason, and neither selling their unsold stock when the businesses closed.

After seven months of negotiation, Jon and Lisa bought this vast haul from the owner and received the keys to the warehouse which they then rented. This was a great find as the jewellery is largely 1980s/90s (some earlier), and so complements their Danziger stock – largely 1940s-70s. Of the highest quality it is guaranteed original vintage… but has never been worn. As ‘dead’ warehouse stock it’s in its original packaging.

After two years, this warehouse was sold and so, Accessories of Old was faced with the task of moving this enormous amount of stock to a new warehouse. This took 6 men 3 months, and because of the weight of the stock, 50 lorry loads, one after the other.

The majority of this stock is now held in the Parsons Green Depot warehouse, from which the Arch is supplied with all its replacement stock on a daily basis.

Accessories of Old now supplies this jewellery too, to vintage jewellery shops, jewellery designers, costumiers, trade buyers, prestigious film/tv/theatre companies… and even drag queens.

The original warehouse also contained original vintage jewellery findings and manufacturing stampings, plus 20,000 packets of original decades-old Austrian Swarovski and Czech Preciosa crystals – left-over stock from the manufacturing process, all in original packaging. Thousands of rhinestones of all sizes, colours, shapes and cuts.

Fortunately, managing the complex where the original warehouse stood, is Renato, an original jewellery plater who’d worked for West Products since he was 15. Now in his fifties he’s an invaluable source of information on the background of each piece of jewellery for buyers’ questions.

Interestingly, in one of the old West Products jewellery boxes, a decades-old price list was found addressed to none other than Danziger, Johannesburg. So, it appears that at some stage West Products was supplying Danziger Bros too… A book on the fascinating story is currently being written, and is expected to become a documentary in 2025.

Thanks to such vast stocks, Accessories of Old sell at extraordinarily low wholesale prices to trade jewellery buyers, allowing for excellent margins on resale. Buyers return over, and over again, to purchase more of this, seemingly unending, supply of jewellery stock. The range and variety of stock ensures that there’s always something for every buyer.

Naturally, this hoard will additionally appeal to those wanting to contribute to the sustainability and recycling movement – existing dead stock means no manufacturing involved.

It is wonderful to watch this huge hoard of dead stock begin a whole new life and create such happiness.

Public and Trade are both welcome at our two warehouses, both in Parsons Green, Fulham, London.

PARSONS GREEN DEPOT

Unit 15, Parsons Geen Depot, Parsons Green Lane, London SW6 4HH.

RAILWAY ARCH

1st Railway Arch, next to Safestore, 37 Munster Road, London SW6 4ER

Public do not need an appointment – just walk in.

Trade buyers should make an appointment first by emailing info@accessoriesofold.com or calling Jon on +44 (0) 7768 242 789

Both warehouses are open 7 days a week 11am to 6pm.

A TIMELINE OF ACCESSORIES OF OLD

We found some original historical photos taken of staff making our jewellery at a factory in Hampton Hill, Middlesex in in the 1980s! Here’s a brief history for you of our jewellery, that was produced in the UK:

1919
The existing business, (West Products (Jewellery) Ltd), started with the initial production from a small unit in Teddington.
1953
Due to huge growth, the factory moved to Hampton Hill in Middlesex.
1988
Manufacturing was moved to Legacy House, near Richmond.
1999
The business closed due to competition from China - the manufacturing plant was then all sold, and the stock remained in situ.
2003
The dead stock was moved to a warehouse just around the corner from Legacy House, where it remained for over 2 decades, stored, frozen in time.
2021
We took over the stock and began selling from this warehouse!
2022
All the stock was moved to Imperial Studios in Fulham, London
2023
We moved everything again, in 50 lorries, to its current home at Parsons Green Depot, also in Fulham.

HOW DO WE KNOW THE STOCK IS 'VINTAGE'?

The original jewellery moulds from West Products (and the pieces that we stock today!)
Original catalogues - all these pieces can be found at our warehouse!
Original dated production sheets dating back to the 1980s/90s.