Frequently Asked Questions - Barbara Michelle Jacobs

WHAT IS YOUR ECO/ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY AND HOW DOES IT INFLUENCE THE WAY YOU RUN YOUR BUSINESS?
Our ultimate goal is to leave as small a footprint as possible and we take responsible sourcing seriously.

PRECIOUS METALS – (Gold and Silver) 95% is 100% recycled. It is recycled and refined by Hoover and Strong into Harmony Metals and by United Refiner’s into Re-Defined products. Both suppliers have undergone a rigorous audit by Scientific Certification Systems(SCS), a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, testing and standards development. Of the remaining 5%, much of it is recycled as well. This small percentage accounts for solder and some findings which cannot be tracked.

DIAMONDS - Please see each listing for specific information. Diamonds are conflict-free and acquired from reputable wholesale sources who participate in the Kimberley Process Certification System. GIA certified, newly mined Canadian diamonds and vintage diamonds, are available at a premium. Canadian diamonds are laser inscribed with a tracking number which traces it back to the mine it came from. Antiques diamonds, in the spirit of recycle-reuse-reduce waste, offer a sensible and charming alternative to mining. They can often be dated by cutting style and wear. If you are ordering a made-to order diamond ring we will discuss this in more detail.
Diamonds .25 carat and smaller are kept in stock. Larger stones are selected and purchased especially for you.

COLORED STONES - Whenever possible, Fair Trade stones are sourced. See item listings for more specific information.

WHY 18 KARAT AS OPPOSED TO 14 OR 10K?

Because it is the best and the end result is fantastic. 18K is a testament to the quality, workmanship and longevity of your investment. It’s the real deal and used by the most well respected jewelers. 18K means that by weight, an item contains 75% PURE gold and 25% other alloys. By weight, 14K contains 58% pure gold and 42% other alloys. This means that 14K contains less than 50% gold by volume.

ARE TWIG RINGS COMFORTABLE?

Yes, very. The magnified photos show you enlarged detail. In actual scale, the ridges are very subtle. In some rings the integrity of the organic details continue inside the band. You won’t feel the tiny ridges when you are wearing the rings but if it’s a concern they can be removed at no extra charge. The buds are gently worked down leaving the visual suggestion there. I am always mindful of the reality, that it’s important for rings to be comfortable. If you would like me to remove the details inside a band Just mention under notes to seller when you check out.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE A CUSTOM MODIFICATION OF A PARTICULAR STYLE?

Probably. Please tell me specifically what you would like.

I NEED A SPECIAL SIZE, WILL YOU MAKE IT FOR ME?

Probably, I need to know which style and the size you would like.

CAN I SEND YOU MY OLD JEWELRY TO BE MADE INTO SOMETHING NEW?
The gold I purchase to make your jewelry is recycled from old jewelry that had been sold to middlemen (cash for gold stores) before going to a refiner to remove impurities such as solder and other alloys. I buy recycled gold directly from the refiners and also through casters who purchase from Hoover & Strong and United Precious Metals Refining. As much as I would love to, I cannot recycle your old treasures into something new. The price I would have to charge for the extra time and effort required would exceed any savings from supplying the gold and it would compromise quality.

WILL YOU MAKE ME A CUSTOM ORDER IN STERLING SILVER?

Again, the price I would have to charge to cover my time makes it cost prohibitive so it doesn’t make economic sense for you.

HOW BIG IS A mm (millimeter)?

I know it can be difficult to picture. Here’s a quick visual that may help: Most of the plastic credit cards in your wallet are 1mm thick.
1/8 inch = 3.2mm
1/4 inch = 6.5mm
1/2 inch = 13mm

CAN I SUPPLY MY OWN STONE(S)?

No, I’m sorry, this is not an option. For liability reasons I do not work with customer supplied stones. Only completed pieces with genuine stones set in place are shipped. Ring mountings or any other piece with unset stones are not available for sale.

DO YOU OFFER A WARRANTY?

There is a one year warranty on loss and replacement of small accent stones. You will be responsible for the cost of shipping one way and I pay the shipping back to you. (Please contact me for shipping instructions). If another jeweler works on the piece, the warranty becomes void. This includes stones falling out after another jeweler resizes. There is no warranty on center stones. To protect your investment, center stones and/or complete pieces are commonly covered as a rider on your homeowner’s / renter’s policy or by insurance firms such as Jeweler’s Mutual or Chubb. Please see my blog for more about insuring your jewelry.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO MAKE MY ITEM? Production time for custom made-to-order items is up to 4 weeks unless specified otherwise. Actual lead times are dependent upon factors such as raw material inventory at the time, the day of the week the order comes in and supplier’s casting schedules – all of which constantly change. My tasks are grouped for optimum efficiency and I do keep to an organized production schedule. If you have a specific request please contact me and I will try to accommodate. I need to know 3 things – style, shade of gold and when you intend to place the order. Inside Hint: Orders placed by 9:00 Tues morning EST tend to move fastest through the system.

MY PURCHASE WILL BE A SURPRISE GIFT, HOW WILL THE SHIPMENT BE PACKAGED?

No worries, your secret is safe. Your purchase will be carefully packed and boxed in a Federal Express branded box (or a padded envelope for purchases under $299. which ship USPS Priority). The sender will not be BMJNYC or Barbara Michelle Jacobs Jewelry. Jewelers often ship under an alternate name to deter theft. It’s an unintended coincidence that this also impedes curious others :) If you prefer delivery to your office make sure to specify the correct ship to when you purchase. I am required to ship where you tell me and this info MUST appear on the order.

CAN I PAY A RUSH FEE TO GET IT FASTER?
If I can accommodate, I am happy to. I don’t think rush fees are fair – all customers and their orders are equally as important. Sometimes, due to casting schedules it’s not possible to guarantee a sooner ship date and I will never promise something I can’t deliver. Please contact me with specific questions and I’ll do what I can to make it happen.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO REACH YOU?

Email If I happen to be in front of the computer you’ll get an immediate response. Other times it may take a day or until after the weekend for a reply.

WHAT IF I ORDER A RING AND IT DOESN’T FIT?

The good news is, it’s often easy to fix. The charge to resize is $40.00 plus shipping. Many opt to resize locally to bypass the time and expense of shipping back to NY. Contact us for tips on selecting a repair person near you. Please be aware that rings with stones set all around the band are more complicated to resize and sometimes cannot be resized. Please take extra care when ordering these styles.

Determining your ring size- Forget measuring with a string and I don’t love those plastic strip things either. Metal sizing rings will give you the most accurate size. You can purchase a set for about $10.00 or stop by a local repair shop and ask to be sized at no charge. Keep in mind that fingers are not the exact same size all day every day. Humidity, salt intake, time of day etc affect size. Do your best and in most cases the size can be adjusted if necessary.

CAN I SEE YOUR JEWELRY IN PERSON?

I am delighted to work with clients who are interested in commissioning one-of-a-kind pieces. Appointments are available during regular business hours in my midtown location.

You can also find me at some crafts fairs and trunk shows. For announcements and info about these special events, please “Like” my Facebook page. I love meeting customers in person!

Thanks so much for your interest in Barbara Michelle Jacobs Jewelry (BMJNYC). Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts, ideas, custom inquiries or questions