Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

We realize many people have some general questions concerning jewelry. We have a list of questions that are frequently asked by customers. We hope this helps in any question you may have.

What type of crystals are used?

We use beautiful Swarovski Austrian crystals that are known around the world for their individual beauty and elegance. Swarovski is a brand name. The Daniel Swarovski Company was founded in Wattens, Austria, in 1895. Swarovski crystals are considered the best manufactured crystals in the world.

Swarovski crystal is made at the factory in Wattens (Austria) using basic formulae perfected by Daniel Swarovski and his three sons in the earlier part of last century. Swarovski crystal is fired using a combination of natural minerals and quartz sand, and then cooled slowly to avoid stress and inclusions.

What is the difference between glass and crystal?

Crystal is made by adding lead oxide to glass, which makes crystal heavier than glass. The lead in crystal is what makes it sparkle and reflect colors much more than plain glass.
When the lead content is higher - the crystal is a better quality. In Europe, glass must contain at least 4% lead to be called crystal. In the US, glass must have at least 1% lead content to be classified as crystal. In contrast, Swarovski (Swore-off-ski) crystal has at least 30% lead content.
Swarovski crystals are regarded as the highest quality machine cut and polished crystal beads in the world.
Swarovski crystals are perfectly uniform. This means that the height, width and slope are consistent. Swarovski uses machinery that precisely cuts each crystal. They cut hard materials such as crystal and gems, in a way that they have a hundred identical facets in several directions. This a very complicated task: each direction of the reflected light must first be calculated by computer, simulated in 3D, optimized and finally converted into control programs for complex machinery.
The precision cutting of Swarovski machinery allows each crystal to have its facet juncture "pointing up". This means the facet junctures all meet at precisely the same point. This is a similar aspect of diamond faceting.
Swarovski crystals with an AB finish have a uniform surface luster. There are no swirling marks from the vacuum process that produces the AB finish, and generally there are no scratches. When you look inside Swarovski crystals, you will see no bubbles.

What is an Aurora Borealis crystal or AB crystal?

This shimmering prism effect is caused by the reflections of light from surrounding colors in the environment. You can compare this to the extra sparkle jewelry would have if millions of microscopic mirrors were inside.
During the 1950s the Daniel Swarovski company made important advances with Austrian Swarovski crystals and the aurora borealis effect. It experimented with manufacturing processes with the stones coated with wafer thin metal particles in order to increase the sparkle. This process required the material to be steamed in a vacuum. In 1956 Manfred Swarovski, the grandson of the founder, created the Aurora Borealis effect on the crystal, which shimmers in every color of the rainbow.
Swarovski still continues to demand the highest possible quality to their products to distinguish them fro the rest of the market. They are very secretive about their process. Even the workers in the factories do not see what the other workers are doing so they cannot share secrets with them.

What type pearls are used?

We only use the finest, most magnificent manufactured pearls in all the world.
Swarovski crystal pearls 5810 are perfect imitations of natural pearls. They have the heart of an actual crystal bead that has been finished with layer of highly luminous pearlescence, ensuring a flawless surface and exact curves.
As with natural pearls, these pearls adjust to skin temperature, are abrasion-proof, resistant to perfume, perspiration, the sun's rays, electroplating, UV light and scratches. They can be washed and dry cleaned.

What are freshwater pearls?

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
Freshwater pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan, China, and the United States, and were formerly produced in Scotland. Freshwater pearls come in various pastel shades of white, black, pink, peach, lavender, plum, purple, and tangerine, depending on the type of mussel.
A single mussel can produce up to 50 pearls. While saltwater pearl-bearing oysters are nucleated in a small organ known as the gonad, freshwater mussels are nucleated in the actual mantle tissue. Each side of this bivalve can handle up to 25 nucleations at one time.

What are Bali beads

Bali silver refers to a classification of hand-made silver beads that are produced by individuals on the island of Bali, although many Bali beads are crafted in other regions of the Indonesian archipelago, some are produced in India, Turkey and other countries. Bali beads are known for their beautiful, intricate designs, and since each bead is hand made -- not mass produced -- there will be slight variations among each bead. They are each very unique and lovely in appearance. With Bali beads, our designers create some fabulous one-of-a-kind jewelry.

Do you only use Swarovski beads

Most of our jewelry uses the beautiful Swarovski crystals and pearls, however, we import beads from many places around the world. We are able to design more unique jewelry when more options are open to us for supplies. Individual and clay beads are some of what we import. Some of the handmade beads may be similar to another, but since each is made by hand, there is some variation which helps give a unique look to our jewelry.

What type of gemstones do you use

We use a combination of real gemstones, synthetic gemstones, simulated or man-made gemstones, Cabachon gemstones, along with others when they are available. Simulated gemstones are a man-made gemstone product that resembles a natural stone, but has none of the chemical or physical properties.A synthetic gemstone has the same physical, chemical and optical properties of a natural stone. Cabachon gemstones are a semiprecious gemstone that has a flat back and a rounded ront.

What is .925 Sterling Silver

(Source: http://www.aboutgems.org/Silver.php).
Fine silver, which comes in a 99 percent natural state, is too soft to use as jewelry, so most silver jewelry comes in the form of Sterling silver, an alloy with a silver content of 92.5 percent. Items can also be silver plated, which is when another metal is simply coated with an outside layer of silver. In order to be called Sterling silver, the silver content must be at least 92.5%, or .925 silver.

What is 14k Gold-filled - Gold vermeil - Gold plated over pewter

14k gold-filled is a process where a layer of gold is mechanically bonded with heat and pressure to a base metal, such as Sterling silver, then rolled to a given thickness. We use beads designated as "14K/20," which means that 20% of the total weight of the bead is 14K gold.
Gold-filled is superior to gold-plated products, which have a very thin layer (seven-millionths of an inch) of gold. Gold-filled items will remain gold for a lifetime if cared for properly. The occasional silver spot is from solder holding joints together. Unless you are using harsh chemicals or abrasives, the gold layer will stay gold for years to come!
Gold Vermeil
Pronounced "vermay," is a French word describing Sterling silver that has been electroplated with at least 100 millionths of an inch of karat gold. We use gold vermeil 22kt gold over Sterling silver.
Gold-plated over pewter
Gold-plated products have a very thin layer (seven-millionths of an inch) of gold.

How do I place an order?

You simply browse through the site until you find an item you like. You click on the ADD TO CART link and the item will be included on the rder page. Then you can browse for more. When you are ready to check out, you click on the SHOPPING CART at the top of the page and it will take you to the checkout. Click the CHECK OUT and fill in the required information and your order will be filled and sent ASAP. If you have any questions or problems, please use the Contact Us form below. We love to hear from you.

How do I pay for my order?

We accept Master Card, Visa, or Pay Pal. We will also accept checks, however your order will not be processed and shipped until the check clears at our bank.

How much does shipping cost?

We only ship items within the United States. You may choose USPS Priority Mail at the current rate ($6.00) per item. USPS Express Mail (for faster delivery) is $19.00 per item.

How long will it take to receive my order?

Most orders are handcrafted and mailed within 7-14 business days after your order is received by us. Items can be sent by Priority Mail or Express Mail (at an additional fee).

Can I return my order if I don't like it?

You can return your order for a refund (minus shipping costs from the original order). You must notify us by e-mail within 14 days of our shipping date, prior to returning the order. You will be given a special return item number with the address needed for returning. The item must be returned in it's original condition and packaging. Items that show signs of wear or abuse cannot be returned.

How do I return my order?

You must contact us via e-mail for a return item number and the address to return to. Your acount will be credited the amount paid minus our original shipping cost. You must notify us within 14 days of our shipping date to return an item. The item must be returned in it's original condition and packaging. Items that show signs of wear or abuse cannot be returned. Please include a copy of the original order form and a note explaining the reason for the return.

Do you restring jewelry or add or replace lost crystals and beads?

We will restring jewelry for a $15.00 fee plus $6.00 for shipping, if all the original crystals and beads are returned. If extra beads are needed, there will be a charge for each bead that needs replaced. Some of our one-of-a-kind items cannot be reordered, but we will do our best to restring the beads you do send back. You can e-mail us for information on restringing.

Will gold plating show signs of wear?

With excessive wear, silver plated and gold plated objects will fade in areas of constant body contact, but the jewelry will still be lovely.

Will silver and Sterling silver tarnish?

Both silver and Sterling silver will tarnish if not worn regularly. The Argentiun Sterling Silver is highly tarnish resistant. It requires nothing more than light dusting or an occasional wipe with a soft cloth to keep its lasting shine. Some people prefer the antique appearance the tarnishing adds to silver jewelry. If you want the silver or Sterling silver to shine, you can just buff with a jewelry cleaning cloth.
Silver jewelry will tarnish (or oxidize) when exposed to air and moisture, giving the silver a dark, dull appearance.
Here are some tips to help care for your silver:
1. When the silver jewelry is not being worn: store it in an airtight, moisture free container, such as a Ziploc bag, jewelry box, or special anti-tarnish jewelry pouch.
2. Cleaning and pool chemicals can permanently damage the smooth finish of silver jewelry. Always remove your jewelry before you clean house, go swimming or use a hottub.
3. When getting dressed, do not put on your jewelry until after you've applied makeup, hairspray or other cosmetics. The chemicals in these products can damage silver jewelry.
4. Clean your silver jewelry with a soft cloth, such as chamois or a special cloth designed for jewelry. Liquid silver cleaner or polish are very harsh and will strip away your jewelry's finish, so avoid using these products on your jewelry.