Buying at Hairloom
Hairloom Auctions Cayman runs timed online auctions every week, each featuring the curated contents of a single Cayman property. Every lot is professionally photographed and described — what you see is what you get.
Bidding is straightforward: find the lots you want, place your maximum bid, and we'll keep you in the running automatically. You'll be notified immediately if someone outbids you, and any last-minute bids trigger an automatic extension so you always have a chance to secure your piece.
All lots are collected from the property itself on a designated collection day — typically within 48 hours of auction close. No warehousing, no couriers. Just you, the piece, and where it came from.
Creating an Account
Registration is free and takes two minutes. All intending bidders are required to provide their name, contact details, and a credit card to complete registration. This is for identity verification only — your card is not charged unless you win a lot.
New buyers may be asked for further identification such as a passport or driver's licence. This is standard practice in the auction world and protects all parties.
What you get with a free account
- Bid on any current or upcoming auction
- Set up lot alerts — receive an email when items matching your keywords go live
- Track your bids and purchase history in your dashboard
- Receive outbid notifications in real time
- Be first to know about upcoming estates in your preferred areas
Browsing & Notifications
Browsing Auctions
All current and upcoming auctions are listed on the Auctions page. You can filter by status (live, closing soon, upcoming) and browse individual estate catalogs. Each lot has full photos, a written description, condition notes, estimate, and current bid.
Lot Alerts
Set keywords in your account preferences — for example "teak", "B&B Italia", or "oil painting" — and we'll email you when a matching lot appears in any of our catalogs. It's the best way to find what you're looking for before anyone else does.
Auction Notifications
Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified when a new estate goes live. We send one email per new auction — no spam, ever.
Condition Reports
Need more detail? Click the "Request Condition Report" button on any lot page and our team will send you a full written condition report, including any detail photos, within 24 hours of your request.
Estimates
Pre-sale estimates are a guide to the likely range within which a successful bid may fall. Reserves, where set, are always at or below the lower estimate — meaning every lot could sell from the first bid.
Bidding at Auction
All Hairloom auctions are timed online only. There is no saleroom, no phone bidding. Everything happens through the website.
How timed online bidding works
Enter your maximum bid — the highest amount you're willing to pay. The system will bid on your behalf, in increments, up to that maximum. Other bidders will only see the current bid, not your maximum. If someone outbids your maximum, you'll be notified immediately.
Bid extensions
If a bid is placed in the final 5 minutes of an auction, that lot's timer automatically extends by a further 5 minutes. This prevents last-second sniping and ensures a fair result — the most motivated bidder always wins.
Registering to bid
You must be registered and logged in to place a bid. If you haven't registered yet, get started here. It takes two minutes.
Bidding Increments
Increments are applied automatically by the system. The table below shows the minimum increment applied at each price level.
| Current Bid (CI$) | Increment (CI$) |
|---|---|
| CI$10 – CI$199 | CI$10 |
| CI$200 – CI$299 | CI$20 |
| CI$300 – CI$499 | CI$25 |
| CI$500 – CI$999 | CI$50 |
| CI$1,000 – CI$1,999 | CI$100 |
| CI$2,000 – CI$2,999 | CI$200 |
| CI$3,000 – CI$9,999 | CI$250 |
| CI$10,000 – CI$99,999 | CI$500 |
| CI$100,000+ | CI$1,000 |
All amounts are in Cayman Islands Dollars (CI$).
After the Auction
Invoicing
Invoices are sent by email to all winning bidders within two hours of each auction closing. If you don't receive your invoice, check your spam folder. If you can't find it, contact us at info@hairloomauctions.ky.
You can also view all successful purchases in your account dashboard under "My Lots".
Your Invoice Number
Your invoice number is your authority to collect. If you're sending someone else to collect on your behalf, make sure they have it. Our collection team will not release lots without it.
Payment
Payment is due within 24 hours of receiving your invoice. Lots will not be released until payment is confirmed.
Accepted payment methods
- Bank transfer — preferred. Details provided on your invoice. Please allow up to 24 hours for transfers to clear.
- Credit card — via the secure "Pay Now" link in your invoice email. A 1.5% surcharge applies to card payments.
- Zelle / wire transfer — available on request for larger purchases.
Cash payments cannot be accepted.
Collection
This is one of the things that makes Hairloom different. Every lot is collected directly from the property it came from. There is no warehouse, no storage facility. Items stay in their home until collection day.
How it works
- After payment is confirmed, you'll receive the full property address and collection day instructions by email
- Collection is typically on a Saturday, within 48 hours of auction close
- Bring your invoice number — this is required to collect
- Bring appropriate transport for your lots (trailers welcome)
- Our team is on-site to assist with loading large items
Important notes
- All lots must be collected on the designated collection day. We cannot store items or offer alternative collection times.
- The property address is never published publicly — it is only provided to winning bidders upon payment.
- Lots not collected by the end of collection day are forfeited and will be re-offered in a future auction.
Please plan ahead. Make sure you have transport arranged before bidding on large items. We're always happy to answer questions about the size or weight of any lot — just ask before bidding.