Prestige Pawnbrokers

Prestige Pawnbrokers: lending against luxury assets across the UK

Prestige Pawnbrokers presents itself as the UK's number one luxury pawnbroker and operates as a trading name of Prestige Asset Finance Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit-related activities under registration number 676907. The company lends against or buys a broad range of valuables and positions pawnbroking as an alternative to conventional borrowing or to selling a treasured possession outright.

What can be pledged or sold

The catalogue of accepted assets is unusually wide for the sector. According to the company, it makes offers on jewellery, watches, gold, cars, art, designer handbags, antiques, fine wine, cherished number plates, rare stamps, coins, rare books and scripts, gemstones, collectables, and even boats and airplanes. The site also lists specific luxury brands it deals in, among them Rolex, Hermès, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci, Bulgari, Omega, Tudor, Breitling, Van Cleef, Boodles, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and Mercedes Benz.

How the loan process works

The published procedure has three steps. A client first contacts the company by phone, through an online enquiry form or in person at a branch to receive a free loan or sale offer. Specialists then assess the item and issue a loan or purchase offer. Once accepted, payment is made immediately in cash or by bank transfer, at the client's choice.

No credit checks are required, although every client must provide valid proof of identification before entering into an agreement. On the lending side, the company describes flexible terms: interest is charged only for the period a loan remains outstanding rather than for the full term, there is no minimum loan duration and no monthly repayments, and the balance can be repaid in full at any point within the seven-month contract term.

High-value and specialist assets

Founder and director James Constantinou is described as having pioneered lending against high-value assets, with the company regularly arranging loans secured on items worth a million pounds or more. Its stated specialities range from luxury yachts, helicopters and supercars to designer handbags, luxury watches and jewellery.

Television exposure and the Posh Pawn connection

Prestige Pawnbrokers was the setting for the Channel 4 documentary series Posh Pawn, which went behind the scenes at the business across eight seasons, all available on demand. The programme is used by the company as a reference point for its public profile.

Shop Prestige: pre-owned luxury retail

Shop Prestige is the official online store of Prestige Pawnbrokers and is presented as part of the same business. It offers pre-owned luxury goods at prices described as substantially below recommended retail, covering designer handbags, luxury watches, fine jewellery, rings, art pieces and cherished plates. Every item is described as triple-authenticated by the company's experts; pre-owned watches are serviced, cleaned and polished where necessary and carry a six-month guarantee.

Memberships and regulatory standing

The company states that it is a member of the National Pawnbrokers Association (NPA) and the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), in addition to its FCA regulation. It also notes that calls may be recorded for quality control and training purposes.