Why aren't all of your items available to purchase online?
Because we make all of our jewelry by hand, it is impossible for us to keep all of our jewelry designs in stock. However, many of our most popular pendant and earring designs, and some of our ring designs, are available to purchase on our website in 14k gold and in sterling silver. You will see an "add to cart" button next to these items. For most purchases, we invite you to email or call us for personalized service in making your jewelry selection.
How long will it take for me to receive my order?
If you order a piece of jewelry directly from our website, you can usually expect to receive your order within two weeks. We can sometimes accommodate 'Rush' orders. Please call or email us with this request.
If you request modifications to an existing design, you can expect your order to take 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the complexity of the design request and how full our schedule is at the time you place an order..
The completion time for a custom order can take up to eight weeks or more, particularly if we are supplying design drawings, creating a one-of-a-kind piece or supplying and setting multiple gemstones. Please plan ahead.
How does the custom design process work?
If you would like something made especially for you, we begin with a conversation to discuss your design ideas, time frame and budget. During this process we answer any questions or concerns that you might have. When appropriate, design drawings are provided to you by Margaret. Distance is never a problem, as we can easily ship or email the drawings to you.
When a design agreement is reached, we request a 30% deposit to begin the next stage of work on your special piece of jewelry. The balance of the payment will be due upon completion. We do our best to give you an accurate price quote for your piece, with a $200- cushion, plus or minus, owing to fluctuations in the metals market.
Where is your jewelry made?
All of our jewelry is handmade in Margaret's studio and then cast and hand-finished by either her or her associates .... all in the US.
Are the diamonds included with the ring prices online?
All rings shown on this site are priced without gemstones, with a few exceptions as noted. However, we do supply, and have access to many sources for, conflict-free diamonds and gemstones. We can discuss these options wth you during our design consultation. We have exacting standards in regard to gemstones and examine each stone under high power magnification in order to choose the perfect stone for you.
Can I use a colored gemstone instead of a diamond in one of your rings?
Of course! Rubies and sapphires are excellent choices for daily wear, being next in hardness to diamond. Many people don't realize that Sapphires occur naturally in a rainbow of colors, such as golden yellow, orange, green, purple and shades of pink, in addition to the most commonly seen blue. When a pink sapphire becomes very red it is called a ruby. (Yes, they are the same mineral; corundum.) So, don't be afraid of color!
We also often use colored diamonds and these are a particularly durable and brilliant alternative to some colored gemstones.
What if I already have my own gemstones?
We are happy to work with our clients' personal gemstones or family heirlooms, providing they are a good fit with the chosen design.
What quality diamonds do you use for your accent stones?
We adhere to high quality standards and we individually select each accent diamond. We go to extraordinary measures to ensure that our accent diamonds are perfectly matched. The diamonds we select have an excellent cut grade and are at least G color, VS clarity. If you have a diamond quality preference, we can usually accommodate special requests.
Are your diamonds conflict-free?
Many people are rightfully concerned over the atrocities that have occurred in the past in acquiring diamonds for jewelry. We are confident that all of the diamonds we use are conflict free and are obtained in a socially responsible manner, without child labor. We do business only with vendors that adhere to the Kimberley Process.
What metals do you use in your jewelry?
Our jewelry is available in your choice of 14k or 18k yellow, white or rose gold, platinum, sterling silver or platinum sterling. Platinum sterling is 6 times more resistant to tarnishing than the more common sterling silver. The platinum sterling alloy we use has a reduced copper content and contains 3.5% platinum. It does not require rhodium plating. All of our jewelry metal alloys are certified from recycled sources.
Can I have my own metal melted down and reused in a custom piece?
We have the capability to do this, but it is not as simple as just putting a torch to an old piece of jewelry. Certain contaminants such as solders and other unknown alloys are often within each piece. Recasting the metal would lead to porosity and possibly voids in the new casting.
However, we are able to refine and recycle old pieces, to make the gold useable again. This is achieved by separating the pure gold from the alloy materials and contaminants and re-alloying the pure gold with the proper metals in order to make 14 or 18K casting grain. So, if you have a sentimental piece of jewelry that you would like to be used in creating your new design, please let us know. We can certainly make that happen.
What are my payment options?
We accept Visa, MasterCard and PayPal for online purchases.
In addition to these, we accept personal checks and money orders at our studio location in Leavenworth and for phone orders.