FAQ

It is important to measure your wrist accurately before purchasing it.

For bracelets, measure around your wrist with a paper or fabric tape measure.

In order to put it on your wrist or to fit your wrist comfortably our bracelets allow a gentle stretch of the open part up to 1.5cm / 0.6in but no more.

If the wrist size of the bracelet (plus 1.5cm / 0.6in) is less than your wrist measurement then the bracelet will likely be too small for you. If you force it to fit or in order to put it on your wrist by widening the open part greater than 1.5cm / 0.6in then it may break the stone or damage the wire work. If you try to adjust it in any other way then it will be damaged. As you would expect, damaged jewellery cannot be returned.

When putting your lovely, new bracelet on always use the open part of the bracelet over the narrowest part of your wrist to avoid over-stretching it.

Place the item on a flat surface. When looking down on it: Length is the largest size of the item; Width is the next size down. Now, as if looking at it at an angle like the item photo: Thickness (or breadth) is the top to bottom size.

This is the weight of the item as you wear it. g = grams and oz = the ounces equivalent to grams

Internationally, gemology is the science of gemstones. A Gemologist is a professional who has studied all aspects of gemology, passed theoretical and practical examinations, and has a diploma to prove it.

As well as Kathleen being a Registered gemologist, we look for gem sources who have one or more qualified gemologists on their staff.

Here at d’Elegance Designs Kathleen is very particular about grading since she wants our clients to be happy with the quality of their jewellery.

Kathleen, who is a Registered Gemologist, grading at d’Elegance Designs using her professional laboratory instruments as appropriate for the type of stone. Since each gem is unique Gemologists may differ with their assessments, however they should be fairly close.

Where our supplier is a Registered Gemologist, Kathleen checks the grading of each gem to be sure there are no mistakes. If the source is not registered she determines the grade herself. For natural pieces such as rock or pearl Kathleen gives a grade indicating its quality in order to assure our clients of its value.

Kathleen selects only fine silver wire (99.9%) for all her silver creations except for the findings. Findings, such as clasps or simple necklace chains, are made using sterling silver (92.5% silver and 7.5% copper) which is stronger than fine silver preventing an accidental tug on the jewellery causing it to fall and become damaged.When we make a chain of fine silver (99.9%) it is made to be strong by its design. In this case we state it is made of fine silver in the creation's specification section.

All three names are synonymous.

These are pieces of mineral crystals or other stone types which are cut or polished to be used to make jewellery, with examples like sapphire, agate, amber and amazonite.

They may be minerals (eg diamond), mineral aggregates (eg lapis lazuli), and rocks (eg onyx marble).

Corundums come in many colours with only red being called rubies. Other colours of sapphire include, for example, green, yellow, colourless, blue, light red, violet and pink.

Crystals are highly organized lattice structures, such as with diamond, topaz, quartz, and sapphire. Crystal glass and lead crystal are not crystal. They are glass.

A natural stone is neither synthesized nor an imitation and is a constituent part of the Earth’s crust, like marble and granite, and comes processed through polishing or shaping.

This is natural, unprocessed stone, that comes directly from quarries. It retains its natural shape and texture, requiring minimal processing. In stone websites they may be described as 'chips'.

These are crystallized man-made products whose physical and chemical
properties correspond to those of their natural gemstone counterparts. They are stones manufactured through artificial processes such as in the laboratory.

We prefer to use natural gems. If we find a synthetic gem that is particularly beautiful, then we always identify these in our jewellery as “synthetic”. Otherwise, they are natural.

As you would expect, imitations are made to look like natural or synthetic gems, imitating the colour, look and effect of the natural stone. Imitations include synthetic stones that do not have a counterpart in nature.

We seldom use imitations, only those that are particularly beautiful. We prefer to use natural gems. If we find an imitation gem that is particularly beautiful, then we always identify these in our jewellery as “imitation”.

Coloured stone is a trade term for all gemstones except diamonds (even diamonds that are colourless, yellow, brown, rarely green, blue, reddish, and orange black)

Glass is non-crystalline but made of different elements in the silicone
composition.

We seldom use glass. If we find a glass stone that is particularly beautiful, then we always identify these in our jewellery as “glass”.

Rock is a natural aggregate of two or more minerals. Lapis lazuli and unakite (granite) are examples of rock.

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solid parts of the Earth’s crust, having definite chemical compositions and crystal structures, such as sapphire.

Here at D’Elegance Designs only Fine Silver (99.9% - 999) is used. Findings, such as clasps and simple necklace chains, are made using sterling silver (92.5% silver and 7.5% copper) which is stronger than fine silver preventing an accidental tug on the jewellery causing it to fall and become damaged.

Only fully annealed, Premium Quality solid copper is used in our jewellery.

When copper wire is annealed, the wire becomes softer, more flexible, and resistant to breaking.

Patina is the thin layer of oxide that forms on the copper and silver surfaces over time.

With jewellery, this is speeded up using a chemical and then washing. The result is a black film that is then buffed on parts of the surface to remove the patina showing the unpatinated copper or silver. It's important to note that the patination will continue to darken over time since your lovely jewellery will be exposed to the air. Should its bright surfaces start to patinate please refer to the 'Caring for your d’Elegance Designs copper jewellery' and 'Caring for your d’Elegance Designs silver jewellery'FAQs.

This is where almost all gemstones contain foreign matter of some kind, from wasps inside amber or bubbles of gas or liquid trapped during mineral formation, or microscopic splits within the gem caused by pressure as they formed.

These inclusions devalue only diamond grades, whereas most gemstones’ values are determined by their beautiful inclusions.

Crystals can be split along flat planes to shape the crystal, for example, diamonds.

All copper tarnishes quite quickly which results in the dark patina on our copper jewellery.

To remove any grime, gently use a clean, soft toothbrush. Do not use any harsh chemicals, particularly for items with gemstones (see Caring for Silver in this advisory). If you can clean the bright copper surfaces without touching the stone then a copper cleaning cloth can be gently used. Otherwise we recommend taking it to a qualified jeweller to clean. Note that since copper cleaning agents tend to have abrasives and chemicals in them which will damage your stone. Please do not use them.

Fine Silver (99.9%) requires gentle polishing with a silver polishing cloth rather than abrasive cleaners.

Be sure to minimize contact with other metals to prevent transferring tarnish.

For home use we recommend ‘Connoisseurs Jewelry Wipes’ for gold and silver. It is a dry method and convenient to use.

For patinated silver jewellery, wipe those surfaces of the original item with this cloth to brighten it so as to contrast it with the blackened patinated parts. However, avoid cleaning the gemstones with the cloth since some stones will react chemically or may lose their shine. So use the cloth carefully around the gem when cleaning the metal.

For details on cleaning particular gemstones please check online or take them to an experience jeweller for cleaning.

Disclosure:
d’Elegance Designs does not receive any commission on any cleaning product.