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Legal
Scintessa respects your privacy. This policy explains what personal data we collect when you use our saleroom, why we use it, who we share it with, and the rights you have under UK data-protection law.
Last updated 19 July 2026
Scintessa operates this saleroom. We are the “controller” of the personal data we hold about you, which means we are responsible for how it is used.
You can reach us about your data:
Under UK data-protection law we must have a “lawful basis” for using your personal data. We rely on the following:
We send transactional messages you would expect from a saleroom — such as bid confirmations, outbid alerts, invoices, payment reminders and dispatch updates — as part of providing the service. If we ever send wider marketing, we will do so only where the law allows, and every such message will include a way to opt out. You can change your preferences, or ask us to stop, at any time using the contact details above.
We do not sell your personal data. We share it only where necessary, and with appropriate safeguards, with:
Where we source or authenticate stones through trade suppliers and independent gemmological laboratories, we share only what is needed to fulfil and verify an order — not your browsing activity.
Some of our providers may process data outside the United Kingdom. Where they do, we make sure your data is protected by an adequacy decision or by appropriate safeguards (such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or Addendum), so that it receives a level of protection equivalent to that under UK law.
We keep your personal data only for as long as we need it. We retain your account details while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterwards. We keep records of transactions and invoices for at least six years to meet accounting and tax requirements, and any anti-money-laundering records for the period the law requires (generally five years after our relationship or the transaction ends). When we no longer need your data, we securely delete or anonymise it.
Under UK data-protection law you have the right to:
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in section 1. We will not charge you and will respond within the time the law allows. Exercising your rights will not affect your ability to use the essential functions of the saleroom, though some rights are subject to legal limits — for example, records we must keep for tax or anti-money-laundering reasons.
We hope to resolve any concern you raise. You also have the right to complain to the UK’s data-protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. We would appreciate the chance to address your concern before you approach the ICO.
We take the security of your data seriously. Access to your account is protected by authentication, passwords are stored only in hashed form, connections to the site are encrypted, and access to personal data within our systems is restricted to those who need it. Our especially sensitive details — such as bank information — are held under strict access controls and are never exposed to the public site.
Scintessa is a saleroom for adults. It is not directed at children, and you must be at least 18 to register and bid. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.
We may update this policy from time to time. When we make material changes we will update the date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, let you know. Please review it periodically.
For any question about this policy or your personal data, please contact us at support@scintessa.com using the details in section 1.