Hatton Labs Review UK 2026: London's Best Men's Jewellery?
Hatton Garden is roughly half a mile of jewellery shops in central London. It's been the UK's traditional jewellery district since the 1700s. If you walk down it on a Tuesday morning, you can find sterling silver chains assembled by craftsmen whose grandfathers learned the same trade.
Hatton Labs took its name from the street. The question is whether the brand has earned it.
I bought a sterling silver tennis chain at £285. I wore it for six months. I held it next to pieces from older Hatton Garden shops to see if the new brand could stand next to the traditional craft. Here’s what I found.
You can see the current men's rings line-up for reference as you read.
Quick verdict
Hatton Labs is a genuine London-rooted brand with real materials. Their sterling silver and 9K gold pieces are well-made, often hand-finished, and carry a distinct hip-hop-meets-English-craft aesthetic.
What holds it back for accessible-spend buyers: the entry price is £100 and most pieces are £150-500. The plated pieces use sterling-base vermeil rather than the stainless + electroplate of UK D2C brands, so the value math is different.
Who is Hatton Labs?
Hatton Labs was founded in London in the late 2010s. The name references Hatton Garden, London’s traditional jewellery district. The brand’s aesthetic blends hip-hop influence (chunky chains, signet rings, pavé settings) with English craftsmanship (hallmarked sterling silver, recognisable design language).
Quick facts:
- Founded: late 2010s
- HQ: London, UK
- Manufacturing: London and Veneto (Italy)
- Price range: £100-1500+ (most £150-500)
- Categories: chains, rings, pendants, bracelets, signet rings
- Materials: 925 sterling silver, 9K and 18K solid gold, vermeil options
- Audience: men 25-40, London/UK lifestyle, hip-hop adjacent
A 20 inch sterling silver tennis chain set with CZ stones in pavé prong setting.
The piece I tested
Tennis Chain (sterling silver, 5mm)
A 20 inch sterling silver tennis chain set with CZ stones in pavé prong setting. £285.
First impressions: the chain has weight. The sterling silver feels denser than equivalent stainless pieces. Stones are uniformly set, no obvious gaps or wonky prongs. The clasp is a custom Hatton Labs design.
The packaging includes a small Hatton Labs box and an authenticity card with the piece’s weight and hallmark.
Materials and craftsmanship
Hatton Labs operates one tier above the typical UK D2C men’s brands. Their main range is 925 sterling silver (not stainless steel), with options for vermeil plating, 9K solid gold, and 18K solid gold for premium pieces.
Material comparison:
- UK D2C mid-tier (Craftd, Cernucci, Twojeys): 316L stainless + 18K gold electroplating, 0.3-0.5 microns
- PVD-declared brands (Monrich, Vitaly): 316L stainless + 18K gold PVD, 1-2 microns
- Hatton Labs base range: 925 sterling silver, sometimes with vermeil (2.5+ microns)
- Hatton Labs premium: 9K or 18K solid gold
The pieces are partly hand-finished in London or Veneto. The stone setting on the tennis chain I tested is genuinely well done. This is a different value proposition than stainless + plating.
The sterling silver developed a faint warm patina over the first 2-3 months.
Wear test
I wore the tennis chain for 6 months.
The sterling silver developed a faint warm patina over the first 2-3 months. Wearing it shower-side and at the gym did not cause structural issues, but the stones (CZ) lost some of their initial sparkle around month 4. This is normal for prong-set CZ on any piece, but worth noting.
A 30-second polish with a silver cloth restored the base metal mirror finish. The chain links and clasp remained tight throughout.
Conclusion: Hatton Labs sterling pieces age well and are buy-once items. The vermeil pieces (sterling + gold electroplate at 2.5+ microns) have a 2-5 year typical lifespan before visible wear, significantly better than UK D2C mid-tier electroplated brands.
Pricing
Hatton Labs prices are 2-4x UK D2C average. The premium reflects sterling vs stainless base, London brand positioning, and partial UK craft component.
| Piece | Hatton Labs | UK mid-tier (stainless) | Monrich (PVD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis chain (CZ) | £280-450 | £80-120 | £45-80 (with BOGO) |
| Sterling signet ring | £180-350 | £75-110 | £30-50 |
| Sterling Cuban chain | £350-700 | £79-150 | £40-100 |
| Pendant | £120-400 | £45-90 | £30-65 |
Hatton Labs prices are 2-4x UK D2C average. The premium reflects sterling vs stainless base, London brand positioning, and partial UK craft component.
Shipping and returns
- UK shipping: 2-5 working days. Free over £100.
- Returns: 14 days standard (UK statutory). You pay return shipping.
- Refunds: within 14 days of receipt.
UK-based operation, no customs friction. Operational quality matches the price tier.
Hatton Labs vs Monrich
Where Hatton Labs wins: - Sterling silver base (a different material tier) - London craft heritage and authenticity - Some hand-finishing - Established cultural positioning
Where Monrich wins: - Accessible entry pricing (£25 vs £100) - BOGO permanent (effectively 50% off) - Stainless + PVD lifespan with no sterling polish maintenance - Classic shape coverage
| Feature | Hatton Labs | Monrich |
|---|---|---|
| Base material | 925 sterling silver / 9-18K solid gold | 316L stainless steel |
| Plating | Sterling vermeil (2.5+ microns) or solid | PVD gold (1-2 microns) |
| Tarnish behaviour | Sterling patinates (polishable), gold doesn't | PVD lasts 12+ months guaranteed |
| Manufacturing | London + Veneto | Multi-source (HK / EU / IT) |
| Price range | £100-1500+ | £25-200 |
| Aesthetic | London hip-hop + English craft | Classic men's (Cuban, signet, dog tag) |
| BOGO | No | Permanent |
| Best for | Investment pieces, sterling collection | Daily-wear rotation, accessible quality |
For these buyers Monrich is built specifically.
Who should buy Hatton Labs?
Hatton Labs makes sense if you:
- Want sterling silver or solid gold as the material (not stainless)
- Care about London / English craft positioning
- Have £150-500 budget per piece
- Want a piece for long-term ownership and occasional polishing
Look elsewhere if you:
- Want classic men’s shapes at accessible prices
- Prefer maintenance-free metals (PVD stainless does not tarnish or need polishing)
- Are building a rotation of multiple pieces on a normal budget
For these buyers Monrich is built specifically.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hatton Labs real silver?
Yes. Their main range is 925 sterling silver, hallmarked. Some pieces are 9K or 18K solid gold. They also offer sterling vermeil (sterling base with 2.5+ micron gold plating).
How does Hatton Labs jewellery age?
Sterling silver patinates naturally over time and is restored with a 30-second silver cloth polish. Solid gold pieces do not tarnish. Sterling vermeil ages differently to stainless + plating, with the gold layer thinning gradually with wear. The behaviour is fundamentally different from stainless steel jewellery, where care priorities sit on the plating method rather than on the base metal.
Is Hatton Labs worth it?
For sterling silver and solid gold pieces in distinctive London-craft aesthetic, yes. For everyday rotation in classic shapes at accessible prices, no, the entry is too high. Different use cases.
Where is Hatton Labs made?
Partly in London, partly in Veneto (Italy). Both are legitimate jewellery manufacturing centres with real craft traditions.
What's the best Hatton Labs alternative for UK buyers?
For accessible classic men’s pieces (Cuban chain, signet, dog tag) with PVD plating and BOGO: Monrich. For French minimal at premium: Le Gramme. For US sterling: Miansai.
Are Hatton Labs pieces hallmarked?
Yes. Their sterling silver pieces are properly hallmarked at UK assay offices (London or Birmingham typically). The hallmark confirms 925 sterling silver content and country of origin. Solid 9K and 18K gold pieces are also hallmarked.
How long do Hatton Labs sterling pieces last?
The sterling silver base is essentially indefinite. The metal does not corrode. A sterling piece worn daily for 20+ years has natural patina and minor scratches but the structure holds. Periodic polishing with a silver cloth restores mirror finish if wanted.
Can Hatton Labs pieces be re-engraved or modified?
Yes for most pieces. Sterling silver can be resized within 1-2 sizes, engraving can be added or modified by specialist engravers. Solid gold pieces also accept modifications. Tungsten / stainless pieces (if any) cannot be modified.
Built after wearing the others.
Different by design.
PVD-plated 316L. 1-2 micron thickness declared. 12-month tarnish guarantee in writing. Permanent buy one get one free across the full catalogue.
Browse Monrich → UK shipping 2-4 days / 30-day returns / no customsShop the pieces mentioned
