SSMDesign ~ Jewelry Personified FAQs

FAQs

☞Your Questions Answered

 

☞Covid-19 - During these uncertain times please know that I take cleanliness very seriously!  I am taking every precaution to keep you safe! 

☞Can I create a wishlist? Yes! Click the person icon in the upper left-hand corner of any page and create an account. Once your account is created you can add to your heart's content.

☞When will my order ship? Creation time depends upon the intricacy of the design and details. Unless stated as Ready to Ship most of my handcrafted pieces require a minimum of 1-2 weeks for creation, some 2-3 weeks, and custom orders can require a bit more. Each item's listing states its allotted time frame within the description.

☞How will my jewelry arrive? All jewelry arrives packaged in my signature gift boxes ready for gifting.

☞Can I track my order? Absolutely! Unless otherwise requested your order will ship via USPS First Class or Priority Mail Insured with tracking. I will send an email with tracking information as soon as your order has shipped.

☞Is you your jewelry nickel free? Yes! All components of my jewelry including sterling silver, gold fill, and solid gold are ethically sourced within the USA, are made from recycled reclaimed precious metals, and are free from nickel. Due to the now inflated cost of precious metals stainless steel, bronze, brass and copper are joining the party.

☞What is gold fill/gold filled? Gold fill is a heat bonding process bonding solid "gold" to a central "fill" of other alloys. Gold fill wears like solid gold because its outer surface is solid gold. Electroplating (gold plate, a very thin layer of gold chemically bonded to base metals) is NOT part of this process. Gold fill jewelry is considered as lifetime wear jewelry, not costume or fashion jewelry, which is generally worn a few times before the plating begins to degrade and wear off.

☞What does conflict free mean? Gemstones originating from ethical and environmentally responsible sources. My gemstones are sourced from the USA, Canada, Spain, Russia, and other ethically responsible countries.
• Gemstones - Every gemstone is handpicked by me from honest reputable sources. the raw/rough diamonds I purchase do not come with a certificate of authenticity as they have been deemed uncuttable. Every Charles & Colvard Moissanite is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

☞Can I send my diamond(s), gemstone(s), pearls to be set/added to a piece of jewelry? I'm sorry, but no. Due to sentimental value and liability, I choose not to work with customer supplied diamonds/gemstones/pearls.

☞What does recycled/reclaimed precious metal mean? Precious metal (gold, gold fill, fine, and sterling silver) supplies that come entirely from scrap purchased from jewelers, electronics manufacturers, and other sources processed back into reusable forms. Precious metals are mined from the earth in much the same way as many valuable resources. Mining is a very destructive and dirty business which produces environmental waste, contaminating water and lands and endangering the health and lives of humans, animals, and plants. To do my part I use only recycled reclaimed precious metals! ♻︎

☞What is the difference between .999 fine silver and .925 sterling silver? Fine silver is pure silver designated as .999. Fine silver is softer and lacks the alloys (namely copper) that make up sterling silver designated .925. Alloys make sterling silver harder (stronger) than fine silver and a more suitable choice for rings and jewelry likely to sustain abuse due to regular wear. Fine silver being a bit softer is better suited to charms and items less likely to receive a lot of abuse.

☞Do you sell your work anywhere else? Yes. I've been selling on Etsy since 2009, you can read over 300 customer reviews. Locally my work is available at The Old Florida Gallery and Outdoor Center on historic Dearborn Street in Englewood Florida.

☞What if I ordered the wrong ring size? Many rings cannot be resized easily due to gemstones, pattern, intricacy or design, etc... I offer inexpensive reusable sizing bands for purchase if you are uncertain of your size. Any local reputable jewelry store can provide your ring size as well. If your ring requires resizing (and can be) I charge a fee of $10 for sterling, $20 for gold fill, and $60 for solid gold. Resizing will be worked into my current workload and shipping charges are the customer's responsibility. Click here for more on sizing including necklace lengths and measuring for a bangle.

☞What if my order is a gift? If your order is a gift going directly to the recipient I'm happy to include a gift card with personal sentiments. Please leave your message in the instruction box during checkout.

☞What does Ready to Ship mean? Much of my jewelry is made when ordered to your specifications, however pieces noted as Ready to ship are handcrafted, often one of a kind, items I have already made which are ready to be shipped when your order is placed. There's no waiting for these items, they will ship out to you generally within 24-48 hours.


❇︎PLEASE NOTE❇︎

Handcrafted jewelry takes time and while I am so very honored to be a part of your wardrobe and/or celebration, in most cases I cannot work miracles. All items listed have a creation time frame shown within the items description and while I can usually shave off a few days the allotted times are added with careful consideration to workload, prep time, creation, finishing, etc...

***I do not work on weekends. My weekend days are reserved, so that I may spend time creating memories with loved ones.***

☞Price Quotes

So as not to charge unnecessarily my prices are based on materials used, meaning I'm not just pulling a number out of thin air. That said putting a quote together requires all of the necessary details up front (i.e. gemstone(s) length, inscription, engraving, metal(s) intricacy etc...) and takes time to calculate. Be prepared for some messaging back and forth. In addition due to the current high cost of gold, I do not keep a lot in stock. Quotes are based on the spot price at the time and can (and probably will) fluctuate if you wait to order. 

☞Custom Requests/Orders

I love working closely with customers on custom design requests and custom orders make up a very large part of my repertoire! If you have an idea or request, please don't hesitate to ask! Custom orders require full payment upfront.

☞Refunds and Exchanges

I put a lot of love, care, and time into each and every piece of jewelry and each is handcrafted with the utmost attention to detail using only the finest quality components. I also take great care in describing the details of each piece so that my customers may make an informed purchase, so please take the time to read the full item description before purchase and if you have any questions at all please ask before you make your purchase! Each piece is photographed before shipping to ensure quality control.

☞Ready to Ship Items:

Ready to ship items are marked as such for convenience. If you are unhappy with your purchase upon receipt, please contact me ASAP so that I can make it right. I will accept returns within 14 days of delivery confirmation and items must be in original, unused, unworn, unaltered condition. Depending upon our conversation, I will issue either a refund (minus shipping), exchange the item for another (of equal value), or issue a boutique credit once the item is safely back in my hands. RETURNS MUST BE APPROVED BY ME BEFORE SHIPPING! I recommend insuring your return as I cannot be held responsible for items lost in transit. A 10% restocking fee will be deducted from the original purchase price.

☞Custom/Personalized/Made When Ordered Items:

These items are final sale, non-returnable/non-refundable. A custom/personalized/made to order piece is any item that is created after purchase to your specifications either during checkout, messages, or a custom listing. These pieces are handcrafted just for you to your unique specifications and include choice of metal, gemstone, initial, personal inscription, name, size etc... Again, I take great care in describing the details of each piece that I offer so that my customers may make an informed purchase and I am always available to answer questions.

☞EARRINGS:

For health and hygiene purposes all earrings are final sale.

☞Order Cancellation Requests:
Fees are paid by me when an order is placed, therefore order cancellation requests will be granted only within the first 24 hrs of purchase if the order has not already been shipped or creation begun, and less the fees associated with your order (fees vary by payment method).

***For any item returned to me due to an incorrect address or missed delivery - refunds will be minus shipping/return shipping/freight/ and/or customs or any other charges and a 10%-20% restocking fee (to cover charges, fees, materials, time etc...) will be deducted from the total.

☞Shipping

Domestic (USA) Standard domestic shipping is via USPS First Class or Priority Mail (depending on item) with upgrades available during checkout. Upgrading to Express shipping does not alter creation time only the shipping method.*

International Sorry, but I no longer ship internationally.

*Not responsible for packages lost in transit. Orders will be shipped to the address provided unless otherwise requested. Items returned as undeliverable or returned to sender will incur a restocking fee. Please see my full shipping policy page for details.

☞Wholesale

Please feel free to inquire with terms, location, and details about your shop and I'll be in touch shortly.

☞Privacy Policy

Your privacy is as important to me as it is to you! Any personal information given is solely used of the purpose of processing and completing your order. SSMDesign~Jewelry Personified does not share customer information with 3rd parties and personal information provided is kept strictly confidential. From time to time I may send my customers updates regarding upcoming events/sales/promotions/giveaways/shop local dates and locations, however, should you prefer not to receive any such communications please send an email by clicking the link within the email indicating your preference to opt out.

☞Sales Tax

SSMDesign~Jewelry Personified is registered in Sarasota County, FL. Florida residents are required by law to pay 7% sales tax applicable to all items purchased here. Sales tax will be applied during checkout.

☞100% Secure Ordering

Payments are processed through your choice of secure portal, directly through Shopify or PayPal. Credit card and bank information remain secure and unseen.

☞Shop Local

My jewelry is available at the Old Florida Gallery and Outdoor Center on Historic Dearborn Street in Englewood Florida and at Beach Company on Englewood Beach. I'm in the Gallery from 10-4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so if you're in the area please stop in and say hello! 


❈ All SSMDesign~Jewelry Personified jewelry is proudly created by me in Venice, FL USA in my smoke free studio.❈

When you buy handmade an actual person does a happy dance

                                                                                                                     

Sizing

 

Tools and guides to help you find your correct jewelry size.

 

If you are unsure of your ring size I offer inexpensive reusable sizing bands. You can also visit a reputable local jewelry store and ask to be sized.

 

 

How to measure for a bangle bracelet