FAQ
I want a particular gemstone not listed to be set in the mounting I am ordering, can you provide it?
I have a gemstone I want set in your mounting, will you set it?
Will my cabochon work in your mountings?
How come my card has not been billed yet?
The funds were taken and now they are showing back in my account?
My item says 1 to 2 weeks to manufacture, can I get it sooner?
When will my order be shipped?
How come I can not track my international order?
How come this sterling silver ring is turning my finger green or black?
I want a particular gemstone not listed to be set in the mounting I am ordering, can you provide it?
Yes. We only have listed the popular gemstone selections and sizes but can quote you for any gemstone you desire. Just email us with the stone size or item# of the setting and we will email you a quote.
I have a gemstone I want set in your mounting, will you set it?
Yes. Customers can send in their gemstones to be set in mountings. We do charge a stone setting fee based on the stone size and setting type which you will be quoted. Your stone must not be damaged, fractured or deemed a fragile stone (emeralds, opals, etc.) in order for us to set it. Large diamonds not purchased from us are best set by a local jeweler, as you would have to pay for insurance coverage both to us and the return in addition to the stone setting. By the time you figure in the shipping, insurance and stone setting fee it will in most cases be less costly to set locally.
Will my cabochon work in your mountings?
Most settings are for faceted gemstones. Certain styles of settings can be modified for a cabochon to fit but there is an additional labor fee to cut a flat seat, lengthen or re-locate prongs, etc. You may inquire with the item # your considering to discuss the possibility and cost of setting your cabochon.
Not at this time. Hand shots seem to be growing in requests and are a lot of work in locating the item and pairing it with the requested bands, etc. The photos then need to be down loaded, edited, cropped and resized for email formatting. Many times the items do not fit the hand being photographed properly and this offers no help in visualizing what the ring will look like on your own hand. We do however have a display prop hand shot on all new listings. So we will be working on providing hand images in the future.
How come my card has not been billed yet? or The funds were taken and now they are showing back in my account.
Payments from credit & debit cards are run through automatically in real time for approval purposes only when the order is placed. That means your funds are "reserved" initially by your bank/card company and then these reserved funds are released back to your account until we capture the transaction. The approved funds on our transactions are not captured immediately, we hold approvals until shipment or up to 7 days which is the maximum time allowed before approvals expire. This gives credit card buyers a break on not paying for interest while your order is being processed or manufactured.
My item says 1 to 2 weeks to manufacture. Can I have my order shipped sooner?
In many cases a rush can be put on production. If you have a deadline or a tight schedule and need your order sooner or exactly by the noted time frame please make a note of this on your order. As long as you communicate any deadlines up front or that an order is a rush upon receipt of it, we can do what we need to do in order to meet your schedule. Notifying us 2 days before you need it is often too late to do anything to speed up production, so let us know as early as possible.
When will my order be shipped?
All items have the shipping time frame noted in the description. The 'ships by', 'ships in' or 'turn around time' stated is the amount of time expected for the item to be shipped by us. The shipping time frame is not a delivery commitment but an estimate of the time needed to process or manufacture the item for shipment. The delivery time can be estimated by adding the 'ships by' time plus additional days for the selected method of shipment you chose. It is best to use the maximum time frame given to ship as a guide. We do email a shipping confirmation the day your order is shipped so you will be notified.
How come I can not track my international order?
International orders can not be tracked unless you select USPS Express International for your shipping method. The customs bar code provided on our 1st Class Air Mail and USPS Priority packages will only track when the shipment has entered the mail system, only if it was scanned when it arrived at the customs point of exit and again upon delivery of the item. Basically it will only prove a shipment was made and that it was delivered to the destination. If your ordering a valuable item internationally, it's best to use USPS Express for complete tracking information.
How come this ring is turning my finger green or black? Does this mean I have fake sterling silver or a low quality item?
Silver is a beautiful and affordable precious metal, however pure silver is soft, so it is alloyed with copper to make Sterling Silver (92.5% silver+7.5% copper). This is why your sterling silver item is marked 925, .925, Sterl or Sterling. Green or black smudges are alarming to see and that it occurs actually has nothing to do with the quality of sterling silver jewelry being "cheap" or not "genuine". If this has happened to you don't panic, these are common reactions that occur in sterling silver due for various chemical or environmental reasons. Once the source or a reason is determined for sterling silver leaving a residual mark, it most likely will solve the problem. In rare instances where the reactions keep occurring it is recommended to rhodium plate for a protective barrier.
Green smudge - The "green finger effect" happens to a percentage of people that have a reaction to the copper alloy in sterling silver, especially if you have high body acidity due to diet, medications or sweaty hands. When manufacturing, assembling or re-sizing heat is used to fuse or solder the alloys together. As a result the entire surface of the item or surface area around the solder joint may become coated with red copper oxide. Usually it is removed with solution which still leaves copper residue remaining on the surface. It is this remaining residual copper on the surface of newly cast or repaired sterling silver items that reacts with your perspiration, cosmetics or cleaning products trapped around or under your ring producing a green copper compound that stains your skin. Fortunately this green finger effect is always temporary (when occurring on genuine sterling silver) and is more alarming to the consumer than it is harmful to the item. Follow the below helpful solutions to stop 'the green finger effect':
- Mix general household Ammonia with water: half Ammonia and half water. Soak your ring in that solution overnight. The Ammonia solution will turn blue as it forms Copper Ammonia ion, which will remove the Copper from the ring. Don't worry, it won't hurt the the silver at all (do not immerse porous gemstones).
- Clean the ring every day with a silver polishing cloth. After about a week or two, the reaction will stop occurring once all residual copper residue has been removed.
- Applying a thin layer of clear nail polish on the inside of the ring will prevent perspiration & body sweat from reaching the metal and reacting to it. Another great product is Renaissance Wax for a protect barrier layer over sterling silver, this also prevents tarnishing.
- To remove the green off of your finger, you can mix some baking soda with water, making it into a paste. Coat the green area with this paste mixture and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Depending on how green your finger is, you might need to repeat the process. If the ammonia & water solution doesn't irritate your skin that can be used in place of the baking soda mixture.
Black smudge - Many different chemicals can cause a ring to leave a black or green stain on your finger. The most significant offender is chlorine. Many metals, including sterling silver, can be damaged by chlorine which is very corrosive. Chemicals in household cleaners, makeup. hair products and body lotions can also will cause this reaction when trapped around and under your rings. There are many abrasive elements in cosmetics that are harder than metals used in jewelry. These elements can wear off microscopic pieces of metal, causing the black discoloration around the finger. Salty air can also create a chemical reaction when mixed with sweat. Ways to prevent the black smudges:
- Remove your rings before swimming in salt water, swimming pools or hot tubs.
- Avoid wearing your rings when handling any household chemicals, hair products or cosmetics.
- Remove your rings at night and clean them regularly.
- If these tips fail, consider having the bands coated with rhodium on the inside to prevent a reaction.
