Quick Answer: Izzie Balmer is a British auctioneer, jewellery expert, gemmologist, television presenter, and antiques valuer best known for appearing on BBC shows including Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt, and The Travelling Auctioneers. After studying geography, she trained as a professional gemmologist and built a career in the antiques industry before joining the BBC in 2019.
She’s someone who can price a diamond one minute and pick up a viola the next. Not a combination you see every day, is it? Izzie Balmer is the English auctioneer, valuer and jewellery expert who became a familiar face on the BBC through Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt and The Travelling Auctioneers.
Born back in 1989, she gave up on a music career for the buzz of the saleroom and honestly, Izzie Balmer’s career journey has been anything but planned.
- Born in Derbyshire in 1989, raised in Quarndon.
- Studied geography at Durham University.
- Trained as a gemmologist and holds FGA and DGA diplomas.
- Head Valuer and Auctioneer at Wessex Auction Rooms (2018–2023).
- Joined Antiques Road Trip in 2019, now freelance.
Izzie Balmer at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Izzie Balmer |
| Profession | Auctioneer, Gemmologist, TV Presenter |
| Known For | Antiques Road Trip |
| Birth Year | 1989 |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Durham University |
| Qualifications | FGA, DGA |
| Current Role | Freelance Auctioneer & Valuer |
Early life and a Musical Start
Izzie Balmer grew up in Quarndon, Derby, with her mum and dad — Sheila and Toby — and her younger brother, Hugh. But antiques weren’t her first passion. Music was. She got to Grade 8 on the viola and played with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain from the age of 16.
For a while she thought that was the whole plan — a life on stage. Then music college came along, and the dream fell apart. She told Great British Life: “I planned to be a professional musician but didn’t enjoy music college. It wasn’t for me.” Fair enough.
Falling Into Antiques
So there she was, geography degree from Durham University in hand, and no real clue what came next. She took a part-time job in a vintage shop and waited for something to change. Nine months on, it still hadn’t.
Then her mum had an idea. Why not try a bit of work experience at the local auction house? MyLondon captured just how blunt Izzie was about that period:
“After I finished my degree, I had no money, no job and nowhere to live. So I did some work experience at the local auction house.”
Two weeks later they offered her a proper job. And that, as she likes to say, was that.
Training as a Gemmologist
It turns out she has always been drawn to anything that glitters. So she headed to Birmingham’s School of Jewellery and came away with two diplomas — one in gemmology (FGA) and one in diamonds (DGA).
Speaking to the Bristol Post in 2019, she summed it up nicely: “I kind of fell into this job but I absolutely love it. I have always loved jewellery and been a fan of sparkly things, like most girls. I cannot think of anything I would rather do”.
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Career in the Saleroom
Her first proper gig was at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire, under a certain Charles Hanson. She stuck around for four and a half years before packing up for Wiltshire. From 2018 to 2023, she ran things as head valuer and auctioneer at Wessex Auction Rooms.
At the end of 2023, she left Wessex Auction Rooms and began working as a freelance valuer, auctioneer and presenter in 2024. By 2024, she was freelancing as a valuer, auctioneer and presenter and had picked up a consultancy role with Clevedon Salerooms.
Manchester Evening News flagged it in a piece on her career — an oil painting by Derbyshire artist George Turner that normally sells for £3,000 to £7,000 went under the hammer for a whopping £22,000.
She’s been honest about working in a “male-dominated” trade. As she put it to Stylist: “I do sometimes get older men presuming that I don’t know anything.” Her answer? Don’t make a fuss — just win them round and earn their trust.
The Road to BBC Fame
Her telly break was pure luck, really. She had to fill in for her boss and auction the Bargain Hunt lots when nobody else was free. The Daily Record shared her recollection: “There were no other auctioneers available; it had to be me.”
From there, things snowballed. She co-presented Street Auction and then joined Antiques Road Trip in 2019 – and you’ll spot her on the celebrity version, too. These days, she also co-presents The Travelling Auctioneers and has made appearances on Flog It!, Make Me a Dealer, and Curiosity along the way.
As the Mirror pointed out, she works alongside big names like David Harper and Natasha Raskin Sharp.
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Awards and Recognition
The Express has followed her climb, and the trophies tell the same story. In 2019, the Antiques Trade Gazette named her one of its “30 Under 30 Rising Stars.”
A year later, in 2020, the National Association of Valuers and Auctioneers put her forward for its “Young Achiever of the Year” award. Not bad for someone who “fell into” the job.
Izzie Balmer’s Partner and private life
Now, this is where Izzie keeps things firmly zipped. Izzie Balmer has not publicly discussed her relationship status and keeps her personal life private. — her Instagram is basically all work, no gossip.
If you want the full picture on Izzie Balmer’s Partner, this guide digs into what fans are actually searching for. OK! has noted just how private she stays about it all.
What She Gets Up to Off Camera
When the cameras stop rolling, the viola comes back out. She told the BBC she loves to “socialise with my friends, go out for dinner, go on walks, visit new places” and “attempt to grow flowers and veggies”.
She’s even tried beekeeping once, wearing a full protective suit and posting a snap with the caption “I’m ready for you, bees.”
FAQs
Q. Who is Izzie Balmer?
A. She’s an English auctioneer, valuer and jewellery expert. Most people know her as a regular on BBC shows like Antiques Road Trip, Bargain Hunt and The Travelling Auctioneers.
Q. How old is Izzie Balmer?
A. She was born in 1989 in Derbyshire, which puts her in her late thirties. She grew up in the village of Quarndon.
Q. What did Izzie Balmer do before Antiques Road Trip?
A. She worked as an auctioneer and valuer, first at Hansons Auctioneers and later at Wessex Auction Rooms. She joined the show in 2019.
Q. Is Izzie Balmer married?
A. She keeps her love life well out of view. There’s no public word on whether she’s married or in a relationship.
Q. Where does Izzie Balmer work now?
A. Since 2024 she’s been freelance—valuing, auctioneering and presenting. She also consults for Clevedon Salerooms.
Q. What is Izzie Balmer a specialist in?
A. Jewellery and silver, mainly. She’s a trained gemmologist with diplomas in both gemmology (FGA) and diamonds (DGA).
Sources & References:
- Express – In 2019, the Antiques Trade Gazette named Izzie Balmer one of its “30 Under 30 Rising Stars.
- The Mirror – At the BBC, she works alongside big names like David Harper and Natasha Raskin Sharp.
- Daily Record – There were no other auctioneers available in Bargain Hunt, so she filled the place.
