Remodelling Terms and Conditions
Once we have agreed on a design and quote, you should send your jewellery to me in appropriate packaging with correct insurance. Alternatively, you we can arrange to meet in person to collect your jewellery.
If sending, please take a photograph of your jewellery and send this to me amywallisjewellery@gmail.com before sending it via Royal Mail special delivery. It is important that you insure your jewellery for the appropriate amount when asked for its value at the Post Office.
On receipt of your jewellery, I will check the pieces received and send you a photograph via email (or other means where we started communication), to show you what has been received. You must notify me immediately if there is any discrepancy between what you have sent and what you see in the image. No communication of this will mean that you are satisfied with what has been shown in the image.
When outsourcing (hallmarking, setting stones etc) I use Royal Mail Special Delivery for all my custom orders. It is extremely rare, but packages could possibly get lost, and we are not liable for missing parcels.
Deposit
Once you are happy with the design I will require written confirmation to go ahead with making the jewellery and a deposit of 50% (or an agreed amount) of the quoted figure. I will send an invoice for this and on receipt of the payment I will commence. The deposit payment is also understood to confirm agreement to commence and that the balance will be paid when the jewellery is completed – it also means that you have read, understood and agreed with these terms and conditions.
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable and that jewellery will not be made until the deposit has been received.
Lead Times
It will take approximately eight to twelve weeks for your jewellery to be finished, I will update you on progress throughout. I will also give you an idea of lead time if the piece is likely to take more or less time than this. I am happy to work to tighter time scales but there is a risk of unforeseen circumstances so the more time allowed the better.
If there are any delays I will inform you as soon as possible and offer an alternative timescale.
Once making has commenced it may not be possible to amend the design and charges may be due if there are significant alterations.
Gemstones
Remodelling gemstones and precious metals is undertaken at your own risk.
On occasion I may refuse to use client gemstones in the remodelling process, due to a variety of reasons such as internal fractures, chips or cracks. These are not always visible for instance if hidden under settings.
Often clients gemstones can be re polished or replaced with ethically sourced gemstones if the need arises. Repolishing is again at your own risk but may be a good way to retain sentiment.
I accept no responsibility for breakages to gemstones when dismantling to re-use due to unknown factors of pre-loved stones such as previous fixing with glue, weaknesses in gemstones, inclusions or fractures in gemstones. Every care will of course be taken when doing so and the same goes for setting client stones.
Precious Metals and Hallmarking
Hallmarking is a legal requirement for precious metals in the UK. For silver it’s items over 7.78g, Gold over 1g, Platinum over 0.5g and Palladium over 1g.
Following completion your jewellery will be sent to the London Assay Office for hallmarking. I am not responsible for the standard of hallmark applied by the Assay Office. Precious metals can be contaminated or altered and this may affect the final assay result. The assay office will mark to a lesser carat (they may also refuse to mark) if it does not meet the standard required. If mixing carats there is no guarantee of the final outcome though I will always endeavour to make the best out of the materials provided and advise you if there are ways we can get a better result.
From my experience, only UK hallmarks guarantee the standard of the metal and stamps added in other countries (eg. 9kt, 10kt etc) can often be incorrect. These items are remodelled at your own risk and may suffer with issues such as cracking or porosity. I do have the right to refuse metals which look to be problematic.
I have the right to refuse metals if found to contain dangerous materials such as Cadmium. Sometimes there is a way around with refining so these options will be presented to you if this arises.
By using your existing jewellery metal to make the new piece, I cannot guarantee the final colour, carat weight, colour match or usability of the materials provided and used.
Once your piece has been returned by the Assay Office and final polishing and setting complete, you will receive an electronic invoice for the outstanding balance. Once paid, your new jewellery will be returned to you via Royal Mail Special delivery or you can arrange to meet to pick up in person.
Sizing & Issues
If you find a fault in the jewellery upon receipt, please inform me immediately and I will repair the product free of charge. No refunds or compensation will be issued. I will not pay for the item to be taken elsewhere for repair.
Any redesigned rings will be sized in accordance with your instructions, if you would like me to send a sizing tool to you please let me know. If your new rings needs resizing, I am able to do this once at no extra cost, if notified within fourteen days of receipt.
Excess Materials
Upon completion of your redesigned piece any gemstones and metal from your original pieces not used in the new design, will be returned to you. Please be aware that the weight of the metal you send for redesign will not correspond to the weight of the pieces you receive back as an amount metal is lost through filing, setting and polishing. Casting also carries a 5% reduction in weight due to the process.
In some circumstances leftover metal can be used as credit towards your piece if it is hallmarked and if not at my discretion.
Photography
Amy Wallis Jewellery retains the rights to photographs and original designs for use on social media and marketing materials. If you would like images to be kept off the internet for any reason please do make me aware at the start of the commissioning process.