Question 1

How do I submit an item to Xene?

Accepted Answer

Begin with an enquiry through our Contact form, by email or telephone. The head of department for your discipline will respond within one working day to confirm tier, packing instructions and an appointed insured courier. We accept items from any country.

Question 2

What does Xene cost?

Accepted Answer

Standard tier begins at £60 per item for declared values up to £5,000, with a 30-day turnaround. A full schedule across our five tiers, plus add-on services, is published on the Services page. Volume rebates begin at 25 items.

Question 3

How long does the process take?

Accepted Answer

Economy: 60 days. Standard: 30 days. Express: 10 days. Specialist: 5 days. Private Office: bespoke. The clock begins on the day your item reaches our Hatton Garden office, not the day you ship.

Question 4

What is included with every grade?

Accepted Answer

The Xene archival holder (or clamshell, for books), a hand-signed and embossed paper certificate, a public registry entry accessible by NFC and QR, and the lifetime Lloyd's-backed guarantee of authenticity.

Question 5

Is the guarantee really for life?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every certificate carries a transferable, indefinite guarantee of authenticity, underwritten by Lloyd's of London under policy LM/2024/8841. Should an item we have certified be proven inauthentic, we compensate the bearer at the prevailing market value, regardless of how many times the item has changed hands.

Question 6

Are my items insured in your possession?

Accepted Answer

Items are fully insured from the moment they leave you in our appointed courier's hands. Insurance is held with Hiscox to the full declared value, up to £5m per parcel. For items above £5m, we arrange bespoke cover before shipping is authorised.

Question 7

Will my name appear publicly?

Accepted Answer

Only with your consent. Certificates can be issued in your name, your nominated solicitor's name, or anonymously with a registry reference only. Institutional clients commonly submit under solicitor.

Question 8

Do you buy or sell items?

Accepted Answer

No. Xene is an independent house. We do not buy, sell or broker any item that we grade. No specialist may hold a beneficial interest in any item submitted to the firm.

Question 9

Can I have a previously certified item re-graded?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Items in PCGS, NGC, PMG, PSA, BGS, RPSL or other recognised holders may be submitted for Xene cross-certification. The item is examined out of the original holder, graded fresh, and placed in a Xene holder. The original holder is returned to you.

Question 10

Do you work with auction houses?

Accepted Answer

We work with the principal auction houses of Europe, North America and Asia, both for pre-sale authentication and for catalogue cross-references. Auction-house clients are billed at standard tier with priority queue position.

Question 11

Where is the holder made?

Accepted Answer

Every Xene holder is machined in our atelier in Guildford, Surrey, from optical-grade acrylic billet. Certificates are letterpress-printed in Clerkenwell, and labels foiled in Holborn. Nothing physical bearing the Xene mark is made outside the United Kingdom.

Question 12

Is the holder reversible?

Accepted Answer

No. The seal is sonically welded; opening the holder requires destroying the seal, which is then immediately visible. If you require an item to be removed (for conservation or photography), Xene will perform the work and re-encapsulate at no charge.

Question 13

What happens if I lose the certificate?

Accepted Answer

Your registry entry survives. We will issue a replacement certificate on receipt of a notarised declaration of loss, for an administrative fee of £45.

Question 14

Do you offer valuations for insurance or probate?

Accepted Answer

Valuations are offered as a separate service through our Private Office, by chartered appraisers. Speak with the Director of the Private Office on enquiry.

Questions, answered.

Write to the office.