FAQs

Can I have a longer or shorter chain?
Yes of course! We are happy to accommodate any custom chain length. Please contact us for details. There may a small additional charge for some chains.

Can I order a different size circle or metal combination?
Most styles are offered in various circle diameters and metal combinations. We are happy to accommodate custom requests.

When will my order ship?
Each of our artisan jewelry pieces are handmade and generally ship within one week or less. Please allow up to two weeks for shipments and up to three weeks for special orders.

What is Sterling Silver? 
Sterling silver is an alloy (mixture) of silver containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper, but several other metals are also used depending upon the ultimate use. Fine silver (99.9% pure) is generally too soft for use in many jewelry applications; therefore, silver is usually alloyed with other metals to give strength while preserving the ductility of the metal.

Why does Silver Tarnish? 
As the copper alloy present in Sterling Silver reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air, it forms the compound silver sulfide, commonly referred to as silver tarnish, an inevitable characteristic of Sterling Silver. It appears as a grayish/brownish discoloration on the surface of the metal; it can also make the metal appear dull, and is caused by the copper in the metal undergoing a process known as oxidation. Certain preventative measures however are very effective in reducing the appearance of tarnish or in slowing down the process all together, please refer to our jewelry care section for more details.

What is oxidized silver?
Oxidization is a naturally occurring process due to the presence of metal alloys in sterling silver. In our oxidized pieces we accentuate this process with a specialized solution resulting in a lustrous gunmetal grey/black color. This surface patina is durable, however, it is also sensitive so please refer to our jewelry care section for more details on care and maintenance.

What is Vermeil?
Vermeil refers to a surface treatment of gold over another metal. All of our jewelry is 14K gold over sterling silver giving the luxurious look of gold without the added expense. It is important for us to maintain a high level of quality with all of our jewelry, so we opt to use sterling silver core rather than a base metal.

What are the differences between 14K gold, vermeil, and gold fill?  
14K ("Karat" is a variant of "carat") gold refers to the carat quality of gold.

Carat purity is measured as 24 times the purity by mass. Pure gold, 24K, is alloyed with other metals for strength, ductility and affordability. The higher the carat, the more parts pure gold to other metal alloys. 

Gold fill is an actual, measure-able, layer of gold which is pressure bonded to another metal and is extremely durable and can be worn and treated just as solid gold, while vermeil is a thin coating of gold chemically bonded to sterling silver that is sensitive and special care muct be taken to preserve the surface treatment.