Etrusca Auctions is looking for a competent, reliable and hardworking Auction House Assistant to join our busy jewellery auction house in Hatton Garden.
This is a varied, hands-on role covering the day-to-day operation of the auction house, including stocking in jewellery, photography, preparing lots for auction, stock organisation, packing and shipments, and general auction-house assistance.
We are looking for someone who is practical, organised and willing to get involved wherever needed. The right person will have a genuine can-do attitude, a strong work ethic and excellent attention to detail.
As we handle valuable antique and fine jewellery, accuracy, care, trustworthiness and responsibility are essential.
Key ResponsibilitiesAuction House & Stock Assistance
- Assist with stocking in newly received jewellery and auction consignments.
- Check incoming items against paperwork and ensure stock is correctly recorded.
- Label, organise and safely store jewellery in the appropriate locations.
- Help prepare lots for upcoming auctions.
- Retrieve and return jewellery from stock as required.
- Assist with stock checks and general inventory organisation.
- Help ensure items can be quickly and accurately located throughout the auction process.
- Assist the team with viewing preparation and other pre-sale requirements.
- Help process sold and unsold lots following each auction.
- Maintain an organised, clean and secure working environment.
- Carry out general auction-house duties and assist other members of the team when required.
Packing, Collections & Shipments
- Assist with packing sold jewellery securely and professionally.
- Prepare items for domestic and international shipment.
- Match sold lots accurately with invoices and shipping documentation.
- Help organise courier collections and outgoing parcels.
- Assist with customer collections where required.
- Ensure valuable items are handled carefully throughout the packing and dispatch process.
- Help maintain records of outgoing and incoming items.
- Work with the team to ensure shipments are processed efficiently following each auction.
Jewellery Photography
- Photograph antique, vintage and modern jewellery for our online auction catalogues.
- Produce clear, attractive and accurate photographs of diamonds, gemstones and jewellery.
- Understand lighting, reflections, focus, positioning and colour accuracy.
- Photograph important details including hallmarks, signatures, condition and construction.
- Edit and prepare images while keeping jewellery looking natural and representative of the actual item.
- Organise and correctly assign photographs to their respective auction lots.
- Handle jewellery carefully throughout the photography process.
The Person We Are Looking For
We are particularly interested in someone who is:
- Competent and practical
- Reliable and trustworthy
- Hardworking with a strong work ethic
- Positive and equipped with a genuine can-do attitude
- Highly organised
- Accurate and attentive to detail
- Comfortable taking responsibility for tasks
- Able to follow procedures carefully
- Able to work efficiently in a busy environment
- Happy to move between different jobs depending on what is required that day
- Comfortable working independently as well as part of a small team
- Careful and confident when handling valuable and delicate objects
- Willing to learn and develop their knowledge of jewellery and the auction business
Experience
Previous experience within an auction house, jewellery business, antiques business, pawnbroker or luxury-goods environment would be highly advantageous.
Experience with jewellery or product photography is also highly desirable.
An understanding of the auction process — including receiving stock, cataloguing, photography, lot preparation, sale, packing and dispatch — would be particularly valuable.
Knowledge of antique jewellery, gemstones, precious metals and hallmarks is beneficial but not essential if the candidate is keen and capable of learning.
Most Importantly
We are not looking for someone who only wants to perform one specific task.
This is a hands-on auction house position, and we need someone who is prepared to help wherever required — whether that means photographing jewellery, stocking in a new consignment, organising lots for an auction, finding an item from stock, preparing parcels or helping the team process shipments after a sale.
The successful candidate will be someone who sees what needs doing and gets involved.
Job Types: Part-time, Freelance
Pay: £26,000.00-£40,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
