FAQ

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Primary Materials

Please note: There may be slightly visible solder marks on the pieces, this is normal as they are all handmade.

Gold-Filled

Despite the name, gold-filled metal is not actually filled with gold - it’s the opposite. Gold-filled metal is made by bonding a sheet of 12 or 14 karat gold on top a base metal core, most commonly brass. The pure gold itself makes up at least 5% of the total weight, providing a beautiful gold layer while keeping prices down. Unlike gold-plated metal that has only a microscopic film of gold, gold-filled metal has an actual layer of karat gold, about 100x more gold! This allows gold-filled jewelry to be much more tarnish resistant - it doesn’t easily rust, flake off, or change color. Gold filled jewelry can be worn in water, making it ideal for everyday wear. Please be sure to check out the recommended jewelry care instructions below for more details.

Sterling Silver

An alloy of silver, sterling silver contains 92.5% (by weight) of pure silver, and 7.5% of other metals, most commonly copper. Unlike fine silver which is 99.9% pure silver and very soft, sterling silver is durable and strong for long-lasting wear. Sterling silver has all of silver's beauty without its weakness, however it is more prone to tarnishing. Please see the below jewelry care section for tips on keeping your jewelry in great condition.

Fine Silver

Soft and malleable, fine silver is 99.9% pure silver and therefore only suited for specific types of jewelry such as a tightly woven chain that won’t break or become distorted. Fine silver doesn’t tarnish like sterling silver, but still needs to be cleaned once in a while to keep its beautiful shine.

Jewelry Care

To prolong the life of your jewelry, it’s best to remove all jewelry before going to bed, exercising, or going in water. Keep all jewelry away from chemicals such as perfume and hairspray. When not wearing, store away in a dry, closed box or bag to protect from moisture in the air.

While both gold-filled and sterling silver metals are tarnish resistant, that doesn’t mean it will never tarnish - with improper care, any piece of jewelry will tarnish.

The truth is all metal tarnishes overtime, the key is to prevent and delay these effects. And the good news is it’s easy to clean - you can simply wipe your jewelry with a polishing cloth to shine your pieces and keep them looking new. Many options can be found on Amazon, like THIS ONE.

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Order Shipping

U.S. DOMESTIC ORDERS

  • Ship via UPS Flat Rate: typically between $9.00 - $12.00 added to the cost of your purchase.

  • It takes 1-2 business days to prepare orders after payment has been made and an additional 3-5 business days for the package to be received, depending on the destination.

  • Occasionally there will be delays that are out of my control; cannot guarantee that packages will arrive on time.

If your purchase has been damaged during the shipping process or you need a different size (rings only), it can be replaced as long as you provide notice (email akjewelrydesigns1@gmail.com or DM @ak.jewelrydesigns on Instagram) within 24 hours of receipt and proof of damage or incorrect fit. Shipping fees will be applied.

Seller is not liable for any lost or stolen packages after they have been shipped and reserves the right to update the return policy.