|
FAQ's
Every product is professionally handmade by me from conception through completion and limited in quantity. My components used are sourced globally and are often exclusive. My mission is to produce beautiful and inspirational handmade jewelry designs for women of all ages and lifestyles. I hope you will enjoy my handmade jewelry as much as I am passionate about creating my collection.
My Guarantee :
In line with my commitment to quality, value and service, I stand by my products so you can buy with confidence. If you receive a faulty item, please return it in an unaltered condition within 7 days of purchase including a description of the fault. Replacement product will be sent at no extra shipping cost if goods are found to be faulty. Change of mind returns may be exchanged but not refunded nor will I cover exchange shipping.
Please keep in mind, the color on your screen is affected by the settings on your monitor & the type of web browser you are using.
Most pieces are presented over-sized for clarity of details. Please, refer to demensions for actual sizes.
Sterling Silver:
Sterling silver is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of some other metal (usually copper). Some countries require sterling silver products to be stamped .925 as a verification so you may see this on the back of some silver elements. The mixture of copper in sterling silver helps to slow down the tarnishing process as well as create a more durable alloy perfect for jewelry.
When your jewelry is not being worn, sealing your sterling silver jewelry in an airtight baggie or container is recommended. This will prevent tarnish build up, slow down the oxidation process and prevent scratching. You may also try gently buffing the silver with a 100% cotton cloth.
All the silver used in my jewelry is sterling silver unless otherwise stated in the product description.
Most of the silver I use is either from Thailand or Bali, Indonesia (Bali). Each piece is handmade one-by-one by highly skilled craftsmen with primitive tools in the way they have been done by their ancestors centuries ago, resulting in unique masterpieces of silver art. "Thai silver" content is higher than regular Sterling, over 92.5%.
Gold Filled:
14K gold filled jewelry items have a solid layer of 14K gold bonded over a core base metal. The outer layer of gold filled items have a thick layer of solid 14K gold and will last as long as solid gold jewelry with normal wear and care.
Natural Gemstones:
A natural gemstone is a mineral, stone or organic matter which has been created in nature without any human intervention. Natural gemstones are then cut and polished for use in jewelry. Since gemstones are formed in nature, no two are exactly alike. Natural gemstones often have inclusions or imperfections which is proof of a natural stone resulting in beautiful and a vibrant array of gemstones with their own unique characteristics.
Vermeil:
Vermeil products are a base of sterling silver which has been bonded with a layer of gold, usually 18K or better, overlaid onto the silver surface.
Lampwork Art Glass Beads:
Lampworking is an ancient technique of using a very hot flame to melt glass. It involves the process of melting and winding glass (usually from rod or strip) under a very hot flame onto a mandrel. (The mandrel is first coated with a bead release agent so the finished glass bead will come off easily after annealing). The molten glass is wound around the mandrel until the desired size and bead style are achieved. The flame used to melt the glass is produced by mixing gas, either natural or propane, and oxygen. Thus the flame produced is hot enough to melt the glass. A torch is the primary tool for lampworking and making glass art. Once a bead is formed and the artist is finished with the actual creation process there are several more steps involved before the bead is ready to be used in fine jewelry. The bead is then placed in a kiln to start the annealing process which slowly reduces the temperature of the hot glass. The annealing process makes glass beads very strong and durable. Artist made Lampwork glass beads are one of a kind, and are considered to be artwork that is wearable. These artists that create these beads have a gift from above. I will continue to use this wearable art in my jewelry for as long as I am designing.
The Secure Shopping Cart:
The secure shopping cart function of beadsofparadis.com is hosted and powered by Paypal.com. Having sold on E-Bay for 8 years, I have found that nearly 80% of my customers have paid for their items through Paypal. Paypal offers easy credit card payment methods for non Paypal members. All that is required by Paypal (from non-Paypal members) during the "check out" process is the creation of a Paypal user id (usually your e-mail address), a password, and obviously your credit card and shipping information. Non-Paypal members will be prompted for this automatically during the "check out" process.
Other Methods of Payment:
If for some reason you do not wish to use the integrated Paypal shopping cart, you can send an e-mail to clparadis@comcast.net listing the item(s) you wish to purchase. I will then reply back to you with the total amount plus shipping. Money orders, cashiers checks, and personal checks are accepted. Please wait 10 business days for personal checks to clear before items are shipped.
Shipping:
All items are shipped First Class US Mail until shipping calculates over $5.00. Then I upgrade to Priority Mail. Generally it takes 3-5 days for items to arrive after they've been shipped. First item $2.50, $1.00 for each additional item purchased. Free Priority shipping with purchase over $600. Please contact me if you live outside the United States for shipping quote. |
